Audio clipping, is it dangerous?

Clipping an amplifier can be deadly to tweeters, but why? What is audio clipping and how likely is it to be something to lose sleep over? Have your own question for Paul to answer? www.psaudio.com...

[@FairyNL]

Thanks for this video. I was in a discussion online where I claimed that using a too small amplifier for your speakers so you drive them into clipping can destroy the tweeter, while a bigger amp would have prevented that. My dad explained me that years ago, exactly what you said in the video. Now you confirmed that this was correct :)

[@ARGBlackCloud]

Great question , the thing to talk about is when input voltages are too high into a pre-amp or amp and clipping the input section , as some have input transistor's prior to the gain stage , usually buffer amp's or balanced signal amps .

[@albrough]

Would be interesting to know the effect on a speakers driver and how it could damage the voice coil. I have heard that when it clips it is similar to dc voltage being fed to the driver causing it to over heat

[@thomascrill2842]

Yes that is true, When you overdrive an amplifier usually about 3/4 or more of its total output volume or gain the AC wave form goes into clipping and changes it characteristics from an analog sine wave to a square wave that’s has a DC characteristics and the voice coil on a speaker becomes heated up and fails. I have done it to both a woofer and several tweeters throughout my career. Now I use an oscilloscope to determine the maximum output of the amplifiers before clipping.

[@diebackmischung503]

@@thomascrill2842 Do I have to worry about that when hearing at 80db tops? (I also have amt tweeters)

[@rolandlickert2904]

It happened to me with infinity Kappa 9 feed by Nakamichi PA-7 2x200 watts that was way back lucky they could fix the problem. The Kappas 9 were power hungry but sounded great.

[@nachosNipples]

just googled those. they look awsome

[@Richard_L_Y]

So what is it when my speakers (Dynaudio Contour 1.8 MKII's) base/mid drivers, driven by 125w mono blocks, distort with a whack? I thought that was clipping (amps not powerful enough to drive the speakers?

[@avehein]

So glad you covered this. I'm not sure if I know what clipping would sound like so I could identify it, but may just be that I have never heard it. As you said it is quite rare these days.

[@randys435]

Clipping sounds like a popping sound.

[@diebackmischung503]

@@randys435 when you start and stop a song at high volumes?

[@kenwebster5053]

Clipping doesn't just destroy tweeters, it can destroy bass or mid range drivers as well. In the steep part of the signal rise, the driver cone is moving fast. When the signal top is square like that, the driver tries to stop dead but can't because of it's inertia. This causes the driver coil to generate current back at against the amp and get hot. The driver coil is moving in a narrow magnetic slot. When hot, the coil can physically distort and start to rub the sides of the slot. Often this distortion in the coil is peppermint and the the coil will continue to rub and bind in the magnet slot. This is permanent damage and sounds like the speaker has sand in it. The only fix is to replace the driver, this is not difficult to do if you can actually source a new matching driver. However, often you may not be able to obtain the exact same model driver and the whole thing becomes a nightmare sourcing a matched part. This happen to all 4 house speakers in a church PA I managed. Nobody said a thing, it was only discovered at the next Sunday service. Some years after that event, I walked in and immediately heard the system very obviously clipping. The "trained" technician just sitting there oblivious. I wasn't amused! No damage that time luckily. Clipping is probably not as likely with domestic RCA systems as signal strengths tend to be standardised. With PA though, the sources have such a wide range of signal strengths that mixers for example have pre-amps to bring the input to unity gain. The danger is that an operator may over adjust the input gain, or perhaps plug in a different and higher gain source without 1st lowering the input gain, leading to clipping. You can still get it with domestic record levels though, especially digital recording because digital has less head room and digital clipping is a much more severe clip shape than analogue.

[@simonlinser8286]

I learned this with struggle. CLIPPING IS CAUSED BY LOW SUPPLY VOLTAGE why you have low supply? A thousand reasons. But, if you have low supply voltage, you might clip. Also, headroom and too high of a signal vs not turning the amp up enough. You should turn your amp up and signal down! Let the amp work, but if I'm wrong please let me know.

[@damienlobb85]

Do square waves from EDM for example, cause clipping? If I was to clip a signal, record it, would that recording be dangerous?

[@afisher555]

Hi Thanks. What would a fried tweeter sound like? Would it just stop or is there an intermediate type of damage? And more importantly could I still discern music?

[@leilabraimah9901]

I have an oooold akai power amp and it’s clipping when it’s switched on without any music playing - can u fix this?

[@atlas3863]

if you’re dedicated circuit is struggling to provide the adequate voltage/amps necessary could that cause a premature clipping situation.

[@UmVtCg]

My guitar amp does this, sounds awsome

[@ChristianBurrola]

Does this mean I should turn my tweeter off when I use distortion or fuzz on my bass guitar? And does this same concept apply to square waves, sawtooth waves and fm synthesis?

[@RSx94]

No. Amp clipping only occurs when the amp is trying to perform more than its capable of.

[@vladnickul]

I always cut my sine waves with scissors.

[@Hogibaer]

Dear Paul, a question for you: If I took the old Kappa 9, fed them with a, say consumer mid-grade Marantz amp and gave them hell, it would - as mentioned by you in another vid - possibly kill the amp b/c of low amperage. Before this happens, 1. would the sound be distorted, 2. would this be regarded as clipping? Context is I heard you can kill your speakers with either an amp that provides too much power (think bookshelf on Krell MRA.. ;-) or too little power ("distortion coming from the amp", more likely for most people whose amp power is challenged by what the speakers could take). Thanks for your concern in advance! :-)

[@SpencerPPyne]

I found an interesting thread discussion on clipping. General summary: 1.Clipping is bad for loudspeakers because it really heats up the voice coils. Myth. 2.Clipping at any power level is capable of damaging your loudspeakers. Myth. 3.Clipping is bad for loudspeakers because it is DC. Myth. 4.Clipping is bad for loudspeakers because the sharp corners rip up speaker drivers. Myth. 5.Clipping is bad for loudspeakers because the amp may put out more power than you expect. True. forum.speakerplans.com/does-a-clipping-amp-damage-speakers_topic66947_page3.html

[@SpencerPPyne]

It’s sounds like you’re blaming the wave form and the sharp edges that a clipped signal creates. My question is if that’s true what about synths and their square/saw tooth wave forms? Wouldn’t they cause the same problem?

[@Ninja_Gaijin]

Combining (in DJing) 2 or 3 square wave tunes without proper gain staging can wreck your speakers.

[@SpencerPPyne]

Based on your description is sounds like clipping isn't the issue but a general excess of power.

[@SpencerPPyne]

Paul, After doing a bit more reading, I'm still not convinced it's the distortion caused by the clipped signal that's destroying drivers. I'm of the opinion that it's excess power for the rated driver causing thermal voice coil damage. Here's an interesting .pdf discussing this exact scenario, (The idea that the article is trying to sell a solution, does peak some skepticism.) www.proaudio-technik.de/item?page=1137771062&pkey=body.downloads&item=5

[@SamiyuruSenarathna]

Ho does clipping affect sound? How will it be heard?

[@SamiyuruSenarathna]

Thank your for your always clear explanations.

[@GurnamSinghchannel]

*HELLO SIR, HOW TO REMOVE OR DECREASE HUMMING FROM AMPLIFIERS?*

[@GurnamSinghchannel]

very useful guide, thanks Sir.

[@UmVtCg]

USE A PS AUDIO NOISE HARVESTER AND LAY OFF THE FUCKING CAPS LOCK. Use an exclamation point!

[@genuineuni]

Sure, if you listened to hit vinyl 45s, you may have wondered why audio fidelity improved while the song was fading. Sony, with the PCM machines, claimed no one would notice a few bits lost from clipping. To me, peaks are boring and can be clipped with no ill effects. I think you going way overboard with clipping.

[@charlesludwig9173]

My JBL B-380's amp, having just 300 watts of power, frequently clipped. It made the speaker sound like a sledge hammer hitting a steel pylon. Awful. My solution was amping the sub with about 560 watts. Problem solved. Interestingly enough, JBL's recommended power for the B-380 is 600 watts.

[@donaldlee6760]

Hello Paul. I really enjoy your Q&A videos - thank you. I understand the typical cause of blown tweeters is overdriving a class AB amp -- usually during a big party! Would this still apply to an active speaker using an active crossover, and which would then have dedicated amps for the woofer and tweeter? My understanding is the low frequencies in the mid/woofer amp are clipping, so the tweeter in an active speaker would never see the clipping occurring in the mid/woofer amp.

[@ronshaw80]

In a bi-amped system, like what you are describing, that is correct. The bass amplifier may be clipping, but it doesnt affect the high frequency amplifier at all. However, most bi-amped commercial loudspeakers have a lower powered amplifier for the tweeter, so it may also be driven into clipping if the input level is high enough.

[@FairyNL]

I think most (affordable) active speakers don't use dual amps for low/high frequency so they are still prone to failure. Also, if there is still one power supply inside, the high frequency amp would still be affected.

[@ronshaw80]

Don ask about a speaker using an active crossover, which implies it is bi-amped. Even with a common PS, a clipping bass amp will not endanger the tweeter. If the PS is properly designed, there should be negligible affect on the tweeter amp. If it is poorly designed, it may cause a but of power supply sag, but it would still most likely go unnoticed, especially with a lot of bass clipping going on.

[@damiannamarieclark9527]

Why is car audio so different than professional. I mean sound is sound. I know in car audio clipping is the No.1 killer of subs and amps.

[@brianharmon9405]

Paul pretty sure that’s a pen old buddy :)