• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Having Distortion Issues when Speakers Placed in Cabinet

#21
Dubious Aa said:
When you tested the speakers outside the cab did you hook it up with the cabs wiring?
Would it be out of the question that there is a bad connection in the harness or a crappy crimp or something?
Click to expand...
No, I used a wired jack that I had from a 1971 Eminence speaker that came out of my B-15NC. I found a 1964 Ampeg branded CTS speaker that was what was in the B-15 originally (all late 1964 parts with a early 1965 serial number). I used that wiring since I knew it was good. It is always possible that something is off on the new wiring or old jack. If still have issues after testing with my other Sunn amp, then the wiring will get ripped out and tested. The wiring I used was Monoprice 16 gauge copper speaker wire (black and red). I left the outer rubber jacket on so the individual wires wouldn't flop around. I tested continuity and mechanical strength of all the soldering joints. That doesn't mean something isn't funky with them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deleted member 365158
#22
I have the same cabinet. I suggest you examine the glue joints carefully including the bracing and cleats. There's also a chance that an area of the ply has delaminated.

PS, the cabinet is built of ply with cleated butt joints (pine cleats) using staples, nails and glue.

I had a crusty old cabinet with similar construction (not Sunn) where the baffle had come loose in one area, and had started to delaminate, and was vibrating horribly.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff Scott, Deleted member 365158 and Stealth57
#24
OldogNewTrick said:
Are you sure the baffle has no blisters near the speaker cutout areas?
If mounting and bolting down the speakers distorts the basket, that would explain the distorted in cab, clean outside you are observing.
Click to expand...
I did a full inspection of the cab with the speakers out. I didn't notice anything loose or warped. I banged on it pretty good.
 
#27
Stealth57 said:
I have a Sunn 215 cabinet and two sets of speakers (EV EVM 15L and Sunn Transducers). I have tried both with new wiring in parallel and once they are in the cab, they sound like massive overdrive or a fuzz pedal. Outside the cab, they don't sound like that. They are all roughly 8ohm speakers. The amp I used to test can handle 16, 8, and 4 ohms.

I checked for loose baffles and everything is solid. The only part I didn't replace was the jack, but it looked fine. The cab tests at 3.8 ohms, so a bit closer to 5 ohm impedance.

Any thoughts on why a pair of speakers would have massive distortion but only when in the cab?
Click to expand...

Just asking, but did this just start out of the blue or is this a recent purchase, and you didn’t or couldn’t check out the cab before purchase?

I hope you get this sorted out, because that cab powered by that 2000s amp is a great sounding combination.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stealth57
#28
dbsfgyd1 said:
Just asking, but did this just start out of the blue or is this a recent purchase, and you didn’t or couldn’t check out the cab before purchase?

I hope you get this sorted out, because that cab powered by that 2000s amp is a great sounding combination.
Click to expand...
New purchase. The cab was empty and the seller included the 2 sets of speakers. He said both sets were just reconed. The cones look new. I did the 9v test on the speakers before paying. Just a tap so as not to damage the voice coils.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dbsfgyd1
#29
Stealth57 said:
Any thoughts on why a pair of speakers would have massive distortion but only when in the cab?
Click to expand...

Where is your cat? :D

catfuzz.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stealth57 and Marko 1
#31
Stylee Mousse said:
Huh - sorry if i missed it but have you tested the cab with a know good speaker? If all the speakers were just, just say, reconed by a bozo, they may all be ok "outside the cabinet" and be donked when attached to the baffle.
Click to expand...
I only have one known good speaker that isn't already installed in a good, functioning cab. Not sure if putting one speaker in a 2 slot cab is a valid test, but I can do that if it provides any valid results.
 
#32
Stealth57 said:
No, I used a wired jack that I had from a 1971 Eminence speaker that came out of my B-15NC. I found a 1964 Ampeg branded CTS speaker that was what was in the B-15 originally (all late 1964 parts with a early 1965 serial number). I used that wiring since I knew it was good. It is always possible that something is off on the new wiring or old jack. If still have issues after testing with my other Sunn amp, then the wiring will get ripped out and tested. The wiring I used was Monoprice 16 gauge copper speaker wire (black and red). I left the outer rubber jacket on so the individual wires wouldn't flop around. I tested continuity and mechanical strength of all the soldering joints. That doesn't mean something isn't funky with them.
Click to expand...
Monoprice cable... this raises another serious possibility. I have seen copper looking cable that was in fact copper clad aluminum that had fractured inside the insulation. The result will have similar symptoms and is not uncommon with the poorest quality products. Another issue is a loose rivet that stakes the tip to the plug, I have seen this too and is common with poor quality products.

Can you try a different cable and connectors?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deleted member 365158 and Stealth57
#35
Not sure if this would help at all, but on some occasions, to find rattles in cabs, I'll actually use OTHER cabs to make them rattle.
For instance, if you set the empty cab with issues on top of another functioning cab that can rattle it like a bass signal would, you can see if the unloaded, troublesome cab has any kind of mechanical rattle at all. You can stick your head in and inspect, if you do hear something.
I have done this mostly with guitar combo amps where I could hear a noise, but didn't want to have it powered up and plugged in while I prodded for a fix. It works!

Not saying that this could be much different than what you've already tried with pounding on it, but it's an additional option for inspecting mechanical rattles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: agedhorse
#36
OK, I am tending now towards bozo recone...Ran the Sunn Concert Bass head into the cab with the Transducers, both upright, on its side, and with me sitting on the cab. No difference. I then cranked up the volume on the amp and bass and blasted an open E. The cones barely moved. They should have been jumping out of their skins.

So, bad recone or could that also be bad wiring? Given the continuity testing, etc. I am more inclined to bozo.

Since I don't have another speaker pair nor an empty cab, maybe a last test would be to take out the lower Transducer and put in the Eminence and see if it moves and/or is fuzzy...

P.S. Thanks to all of you for your generous suggestions. I love TB.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deleted member 365158
#37
agedhorse said:
Monoprice cable... this raises another serious possibility. I have seen copper looking cable that was in fact copper clad aluminum that had fractured inside the insulation. The result will have similar symptoms and is not uncommon with the poorest quality products. Another issue is a loose rivet that stakes the tip to the plug, I have seen this too and is common with poor quality products.

Can you try a different cable and connectors?
Click to expand...
I don't have any other speaker wire or jacks. But, if it comes down to that, I'll order new cable and a new Switchcraft jack.
 
#38
No, the speakers should not be jumping out of their skins.

Do you have a modern amp that may be free of “vintage” issues that you can try?

These are all partial troubleshooting methods that are inconclusive.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stealth57
#39
agedhorse said:
No, the speakers should not be jumping out of their skins.

Do you have a modern amp that may be free of “vintage” issues that you can try?

These are all partial troubleshooting methods that are inconclusive.
Click to expand...
But the cones should be moving visibly. These really aren’t. Given that both Sunn amps work perfectly when attached to my other Sunn 215 cab, it pretty much rules them out. Unfortunately, my amps with external speaker out are Sunn Concert Bass, Sunn 200S, Music MannSixty-five, and Ampeg B-15NC.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back