Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (
More info?)
"Dave Platt" <dplatt@radagast.org> wrote in message
news:10pdlftdjak5148@corp.supernews.com...
> In article <v86dnYkXi8nkWQjcRVn-rQ@comcast.com>,
>
> Robert Morein <nowhere@nowhere.com> wrote:
> >I installed NOS Wharfedale Diamond 7 Anniversary Edition bookshelves.
These
> >are small ported designs with a silk dome tweeter, rated at 100wpc, with
the
> >usual music power caveats. The amplifier is a 48 wpc Sugden A48, a
> >relatively soft clipping MOSFET design. The music was mixed
jazz/classical,
> >played at perhaps 85 dB max as measured on a Radio Shack SPL meter from 8
> >feet away.
> >
> >After several hours of intermittent listening, both tweeters developed a
> >scratching noise, while continuing to produce mildly distorted output.
The
> >woofers are fine.
> >
> >One speaker exhibited the tweeter noise about an hour before the other.
As
> >it developed, it could be produced on demand by thumping the top of the
> >cabinet while music was playing. A little while later, the noise became a
> >reliable problem without the need for a hand thump.
> >
> >It's embarassing to think I might have destroyed two speakers. In my
> >defense, the music appeared clean, without obvious clipping. No hard rock
or
> >electronic music was played, so I should have been able to identify
clipping
> >artifacts.
> >
> >What kind of damage would be expected of these tweeters? Adhesive
failure?
> >Overheating?
>
> One possibility is that you might have a stability problem in the amp
> or preamp or signal source, leading to a high-frequency oscillation.
> This might have produced enough of a high-amplitude ultrasonic signal
> through the amp to overheat the tweeter voice coils.
>
Yes, though it would be surprising if the same stability problem occurred on
both channels. With their small magnet structures, the speakers are not
difficult loads, the cables are short, and the Sugden has a terrific
reputation, and does actually sound quite nice.
> Another possibility is that the tweeters were in fact defective
> out-of-the-box, or had been exposed to some environmental condition
> (excessive heat? solvent vapors?) which attacked the tweeter's
> materials.
>
It seems unlikely that the environment of the assembled speaker was ever
severe. It contains a fine finish and delicate fabrics, all of which appear
to be in new condition.
However, your speculation that the tweeters materials were damaged, or the
related possibility that they were defective, coincides with my own
suspicion. Still, I have a lingering fear that somehow, I damaged the
speakers. If so, it's my first time.