Skip to main content ↑ ↓

Notice

Please note that most of the software linked on this forum is likely to be safe to use. If you are unsure, feel free to ask in the relevant topics, or send a private message to an administrator or moderator. To help curb the problems of false positives, or in the event that you do find actual malware, you can contribute through the article linked here.
Topic: Studio speakers still cutting in and out (Read 5636 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Studio speakers still cutting in and out

Hi folks--I was lucky to stumble on this site while looking for an answer to a puzzling problem.

For basically as long as I can remember my speakers have been essentially "unstable"; it seems like when the volume is low they start cutting out (mostly randomly, but quite regularly), but also when the volume is high or when there's a certain frequency "sweet spot" in the music.

My setup is: 2x Alesis Mk2 speakers (unpowered); an Alesis RA 300 amp, a Behringer Eurorack 2004A, and Monster Cable speaker wire.

Now here's what's so vexing:

1. This happened with my old amp and still happens with my new amp;
2. This happened with my old mixer (a different Behringer) and now still with the new one;
3. I cleaned all the terminals with deoxIT--no change;
4. I replaced older thinner speaker wire with new heavier Monster Cable wire--no change.

So what is going on??

The speakers *seem* fine and for the most part perform perfectly. The amp is not switching off when the speakers cut out (if it had been a power spike/overload, for example) and now with so much new replacement equipment I cannot understand what the problem is.

Note: When a speaker cuts out and I briefly ramp up/down the volume, it seems to kick back into operation...only to cut out again a few minutes later.

One thing I have noticed is that when I'm playing my Juno2 (analog), which generally has a deep, loud, bassy sound, it frequently causes the speakers to cut out...which brings me back to a possible overload problem. But the amp and speakers are both Alesis and should work together!!

I'm quite frustrated by this problem.

Any advice short of buying new speakers (which, something tells me, is not necessarily the issue)? 

Studio speakers still cutting in and out

Reply #1 –
What is your sound source, i.e. are you listening to CD, LP, computer...?

Studio speakers still cutting in and out

Reply #2 –
Quote from: pdq on
What is your sound source, i.e. are you listening to CD, LP, computer...?


Hi pdq,

Many different sources, including Mac line out, PC line out (via Echo audio Gina interface) and Juno2 keyboard, but all routed through the Alesis amp and Behringer mixer.

So for this reason I don't think it's a cable issue...with the exception of the 1/4" cables going from the mixer to the amp. That's the only thing I haven't tried but I didn't want to spend $30 on new cables if it wasn't the problem.

Studio speakers still cutting in and out

Reply #3 –
Quote from: cbmtrx on
they start cutting out (mostly randomly, but quite regularly),


"They" means "both of them in the same time" or "sometimes one, sometimes the other"?


Quote from: cbmtrx on
Note: When a speaker cuts out and I briefly ramp up/down the volume,

Ramp up/down at the source, the mixer, or the amplifier? RA300 has separate volume controls for each channel, how adjusting one channel influences cutting off in the other channel?


What happens if you by-pass the mixer, i.e. connect source->amp->speakers?

Ceterum censeo, there should be an "%is_stop_after_current%".

Studio speakers still cutting in and out

Reply #4 –
So the protection circuit in the amp kicks in for some reason and it has happened with two different amps and two different speaker wire pairs. If you think that the amplifier is not overheating because you have more or less blocked airflow around it and if the volume levels you are using can be considered normal (can still be very loud if it is "within specs"), I think the only possible cause of the problem is the speakers. Perhaps one of the speakers has a partial short-circuit in the internal wiring. As a test, you could run signal to only one speaker at a time. Then you would see if only one of the speakers is causing the problem. If that appears to be the case you should contact Alesis/distributor/reseller even if the warranty period is over. They might offer to fix it under warranty if the problem is caused by an obvious manufacturing error.

Studio speakers still cutting in and out

Reply #5 –
Quote from: pawelq on
What happens if you by-pass the mixer, i.e. connect source->amp->speakers?


Bypassing the mixer altogether is something I hadn't tried (!). I hooked up the Juno directly to the amp and played some bass notes; it sounds like what's happening is that the frequencies are causing one or both of the connectors to vibrate and lose their connection (I guess ramping up the volume "undid" this simply by vibrating them again...back to a connection). Then I twiddled the connectors while playing softly and the same thing happened--scratchy sound, clicking and cutting out. Basically it's a poor male/female fit.

So it's the !*&%&#($%^&@*&$%^#*@& low cost connectors.

Thanks all for your advice. This is where the web is so great.

Studio speakers still cutting in and out

Reply #6 –
Quote
... scratchy sound, clicking and cutting out ...

So it wasn't a total loss of the outputted signal (which returned after a certain time period). Apparently I misunderstood what you meant by "cutting out" in your first post.

Studio speakers still cutting in and out

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Alex B on
Quote
... scratchy sound, clicking and cutting out ...

So it wasn't a total loss of the outputted signal (which returned after a certain time period). Apparently I misunderstood what you meant by "cutting out" in your first post.


Yes, it was a total loss of the signal--by one or the other channel. It wouldn't come back until I boosted the volume (which turns out to have been about the vibrations it caused to the connectors, not the speakers or amp/mixer setup).

Anyway, the solution is a simple one. Thanks for your help.