Hydrive 112 Power Handling - Did I Goof?

[Obese Chess]

Was it set to 8 ohms?

Yes, I triple-triple checked everything before I turned it on and made sure the volume and gain were both very, very low to start. When I say the gain was at 2 I mean it was at 2/10, not "2 o clock." Getting it slightly louder than "bedroom volume" was enough, it appears.

 

[definenredefine]

That happened to my second HD112. I opened up the crossover panel and found this -

In case it isn't clear from the picture, the bare, single-stranded wire that was running from the input to the extension jack was so hot that it melted. I fixed it with quality multi-stranded copper and haven't had any issues yet. Of course, the initial failure was from me doing something very stupid in the first place...

In any case, I would take a look in there. If the wires are burned out, your drivers may still be fine, and the fix should be relatively cheap.

 

[Obese Chess]

That happened to my second HD112. I opened up the crossover panel and found this - View attachment 4829404
In case it isn't clear from the picture, the bare, single-stranded wire that was running from the input to the extension jack was so hot that it melted. I fixed it with quality multi-stranded copper and haven't had any issues yet. Of course, the initial failure was from me doing something very stupid in the first place...

In any case, I would take a look in there. If the wires are burned out, your drivers may still be fine, and the fix should be relatively cheap.

thanks, yeah. It was on for under a minute and there's no visible damage to the driver, nothing got hot or smoked, so I am hoping it's not permanently damaged. I am planning to pop it open over the weekend.

 

[agedhorse]

That happened to my second HD112. I opened up the crossover panel and found this - View attachment 4829404
In case it isn't clear from the picture, the bare, single-stranded wire that was running from the input to the extension jack was so hot that it melted. I fixed it with quality multi-stranded copper and haven't had any issues yet. Of course, the initial failure was from me doing something very stupid in the first place...

In any case, I would take a look in there. If the wires are burned out, your drivers may still be fine, and the fix should be relatively cheap.

That had to have been REALLY stupid to overheat those wires like that...

 

[Obese Chess]

That had to have been REALLY stupid to overheat those wires like that...

I take it you're thinking my crossover is gonna look a lot worse when I open it up.

 

[agedhorse]

I take it you're thinking my crossover is gonna look a lot worse when I open it up.

Probably won't see any damage, it will be invisible inside the LF driver.

 

[Obese Chess]

Probably won't see any damage, it will be invisible inside the LF driver.

Got it - so there's likely damage, and if it's not visible in the crossover it will be in the LF driver, possibly invisibly so, and the only way to check for that, as a layman, would be to plug a CORRECTLY powered amp into the cabinet and see how it sounds?

 

[Killing Floor]

Solved post 2.

Your amp and speaker don’t have to be matched in that way. Just start with the levels low and use your ears as you raise.

 

[agedhorse]

Got it - so there's likely damage, and if it's not visible in the crossover it will be in the LF driver, possibly invisibly so, and the only way to check for that, as a layman, would be to plug a CORRECTLY powered amp into the cabinet and see how it sounds?

Yes, that will rule out an amp problem. If the problem is with the speaker, a qualified tech will be able to sort it out

 

[Tim de Martino]

I used those cabs for everything for years.Great cabs but I found that they are good for 200ish watts at either ohm setting, not the stated 300.

In ten years I burnt one driver out with misuse, replacement was easy to get, but if in doubt of volume needed, I always took two cabs. Two of them sounded awesome and were always powerful enough for stage volume and small to mid sized venues with no support.

Good luck!

 

[Obese Chess]

Yes, that will rule out an amp problem. If the problem is with the speaker, a qualified tech will be able to sort it out

Amp is definitely fine, I plugged it into another cabinet and finished out the gig with no problems. I'll take it to a tech soon but I only paid $150 for the cabinet so I'm not sure how much I want to spend getting it diagnosed/repaired. Thanks for all the help!

 

[agedhorse]

Amp is definitely fine, I plugged it into another cabinet and finished out the gig with no problems. I'll take it to a tech soon but I only paid $150 for the cabinet so I'm not sure how much I want to spend getting it diagnosed/repaired. Thanks for all the help!

Consider how much it will cost to replace the cabinet.

 

[Obese Chess]

$150-200, but then I'll still have a cabinet that can't hang with my amp.

 

[definenredefine]

That had to have been REALLY stupid to overheat those wires like that...

Oh, it was...

 

[agedhorse]

$150-200, but then I'll still have a cabinet that can't hang with my amp.

It's a good match a 8 ohms (assuming you are using the LX-5500)

 

[Obese Chess]

It's a good match a 8 ohms (assuming you are using the LX-5500)

GK MB500. I’m not sure how I overloaded it at 8 ohms but that’s what I assume happened unless it just coincidentally crapped out when I started to increase the volume. It was absolutely one hundred percent running at 8 ohms though.

 

[definenredefine]

GK MB500. I’m not sure how I overloaded it at 8 ohms but that’s what I assume happened unless it just coincidentally crapped out when I started to increase the volume. It was absolutely one hundred percent running at 8 ohms though.

My cab that blew the crossover started smelling with the same head. That's not the amp that blew it but there were warning signs with an amp that should be a good match.

 

[dbase]

would you explain why you sold the Hartke? Something you didn't like, just like to try something else...?

Sold them because of the weight. The LH500 was 42 lbs. My Mesa WD800 is 7 lbs, and the Subway 15 I can lift no problem. Other than that the Hartke's were workhorses.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

I'll take it to a tech soon but I only paid $150 for the cabinet so I'm not sure how much I want to spend getting it diagnosed/repaired.

If you are not going to do a direct replacement new from Hartke, Jamac on Sandy blvd and 86th is a great recone shop for a good price. I and others have used them for reconing musical instrument and pa speakers as well as old house speakers.


Jamac Speaker Co
8600 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR 97220

(503) 252-2929
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Obese Chess]

If you are not going to do a direct replacement new from Hartke, Jamac on Sandy blvd and 86th is a great recone shop for a good price. I and others have used them for reconing musical instrument and pa speakers as well as old house speakers.


Jamac Speaker Co
8600 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR 97220

(503) 252-2929
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Thanks for the recommendation! I’ve been taking my home audio speakers to Jamac for as long as I can remember, as did my father. If the crossover is cooked, I’ll take it to Arcane on Hawthorne, but if the driver needs to be re-coned I’ll take it to Jamac for sure.

Ended up finding a GK 410 Neo - rated for 800W and only slightly bigger and heavier than the Hartke - for $200 at a local shop, gonna go pick it up tomorrow assuming nobody walked off with it today.