Which blows up more speakers TUBE or SOLID STATE?

[megadan]

Solid state.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

The number one failure is burned out voice coils, usually at power levels lower than the rating. Once you reach xmax any additional power applied gets no additional output, just additional heat. If that additional heat alone doesn't toast the coil it will result in thermal power compression, which reduces output. That usually causes the player to turn up more, which doesn't get more output, but does add more heat, which adds more thermal compression, which reduces output, which causes the player to turn up some more, etc. until the coil gives out.
Mechanical damage is actually rare, as most drivers have at least a 2:1 ratio between xmax and xlim, the damage point.

I do think I moved towards a more mid prominent tone over the years. Early on I had Entwhistles fascination with having all frequencies represented. That worked well enough when I used pa cabs.

 

[DigthemLows]

I love thoughtful threads like this one, GREAT read with knowledgeable folks............I've never blown a speaker either, and I've always been a tube pre/ SS kinda guy.........

 

[Korladis]

The number one failure is burned out voice coils, usually at power levels lower than the rating. Once you reach xmax any additional power applied gets no additional output, just additional heat. If that additional heat alone doesn't toast the coil it will result in thermal power compression, which reduces output. That usually causes the player to turn up more, which doesn't get more output, but does add more heat, which adds more thermal compression, which reduces output, which causes the player to turn up some more, etc. until the coil gives out.
Mechanical damage is actually rare, as most drivers have at least a 2:1 ratio between xmax and xlim, the damage point.

Oh, I see. Thanks, that's good to know.

 

[JoshuaTSP]

I've toasted two 15" speakers in the last 1.5 years.

The first being a stock SWR 15", the second being a 15" Kappalite.

I'm fairly sure the kappalite sustained some damage when I let a guy use my 800RB and cab for a set. They were WAY too loud. During our set my 800RB fried.
After that, the kappalite died.
I opened the cab to check connections and such......I noticed that the sticker was peeling off on the fried kappalite.....must have gotten really hot.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

I'm fairly sure the kappalite sustained some damage when I let a guy use my 800RB and cab for a set. They were WAY too loud. During our set my 800RB fried.
After that, the kappalite died.
I opened the cab to check connections and such......I noticed that the sticker was peeling off on the fried kappalite.....must have gotten really hot.

A perfect example of long term thermal damage. Even though the amp theoretically doesn't have enough power to fry a 450w coil it will happen if pushed hard enough long enough. And while the G-K is only rated for 200 into 8 ohms that's running clean; cranked it probably can produce twice that.

 

[JoshuaTSP]

Yep.....had to "keep turning it up, more and more" syndrome for sure.

 

[Ian Lewis]

I agree with Matt and Jim and Kwesi. It's user behavior -- mostly ignorance or inattention or a combination of the two -- that blows drivers.

Or trying to keep up with the guitarists!

 

[Bassmec]

In my experience tube amps on bass blow up far less loudspeakers.
Mostly because they are lower output power than the average solid state amp and other than that, those that use tube amps tend to be generally more experienced players with better technique and a far more realistic expectation of their loudspeakers limitations.
They also don't tend to experiment with fuzz faces and octividers.X

 

[Korladis]

Or trying to keep up with the guitarists!

You realize the last post on this thread before yours was five years ago, right?

 

[Rick James]

You realize the last post on this thread before yours was five years ago, right?

+1. I've always been curious about zombie threads. Does the responsible necromancer go back through hundreds of pages of posts looking for the right corpse to resurrect?

 

[99Z3]

It don't matter how old a thread is, if it has usable info in it, then it is better to continue it than to start all over with a new one!

You realize the last post on this thread before yours was five years ago, right?

 

[BassmanPaul]

It don't matter how old a thread is, if it has usable info in it, then it is better to continue it than to start all over with a new one!

Questionablele. Many of us see the date of the OP and just go on to the next thread.

In this thread, I wanted to see if the resurrector was a new member as is often the case. Ian has been here for two years and should know better!

At 61 he is in line to be a Grumpy Old Fart if he so wishes!!

 

[bucephylus]

+1. I've always been curious about zombie threads. Does the responsible necromancer go back through hundreds of pages of posts looking for the right corpse to resurrect?

+1 I suspect they are getting them from searches.

 

[bucephylus]

This particular resurrection is further interesting, because the solid state amps have made significant progress since the previous post, and many more bass players now are using them. Also, my sense is that fewer bands are blowing stuff up vs actually playing music now. IEM's are more prevalent. Generally, the scenery has changed a lot. Perhaps, the OP was an interesting question 5 years ago. My sense is not so much now.

 

[rodl2005]

right. total number of speakers i've blown in 35 years using both solid state and tube...0.

Me too. Since 1977 playing in bands. 99% of the time using all tube amps. Never blown a driver.
User dumbness accounts for most crud these days. ... that's why we've dumbed down society. ..signs everywhere saying " this pond contains water which might get ya wet " etc etc. .. lowest common denominator. .. same as PC rubbish. .. if ppl are THAT stupid to NOT know when something is rude. Then they should suffer the consequences. .. PC-ness is just there to help the dopey.
All imo etc etc. ...

 

[JimmyM]

Me too. Since 1977 playing in bands. 99% of the time using all tube amps. Never blown a driver.
User dumbness accounts for most crud these days. ... that's why we've dumbed down society. ..signs everywhere saying " this pond contains water which might get ya wet " etc etc. .. lowest common denominator. .. same as PC rubbish. .. if ppl are THAT stupid to NOT know when something is rude. Then they should suffer the consequences. .. PC-ness is just there to help the dopey.
All imo etc etc. ...

Well now I have to modify that statement...earlier this year, I blew up the stock speaker in my Ampeg BA108 v1 by cranking it too hard, cranking the bass response too hard, then kicking on my MXR Bass Distortion full tilt. But it sounded absolutely wonderful for that brief shining moment I've got an Alpha 8a in there now, which a much heftier speaker. I dare say that won't happen again! But do I blame Ampeg or myself? You bet I blame myself!

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

right. total number of speakers i've blown in 35 years using both solid state and tube...0.

+1.

And my current solid state big rig has the ability to, but I'm very careful to make sure I don't.

 

[LGT]

Whatever happened to Bill? He hasn't posted in years, but he always had useful insights.

 

[JimmyM]

Whatever happened to Bill? He hasn't posted in years, but he always had useful insights.

He got asked to lighten up on newbies once, refused, and left.