Full Version: Replacement Class D Drivers
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since i upgraded my amp to a 650 rms each side my class d drivers seem to srtuggle (500rms) when pushed (not clipped ) dont think they can take 500 rms of clean power going into them , what you think about replacing them with drivers with a bit more ommpf any suggestions on some makes and where to get them , ta
As most people will suggest i suspect, uprating the driver may postpone any overdriving but if the cabinets are designed for that particular size and wattage of driver (tuning, damping etc) then a bigger driver may just make the thing rattle and buzz all the more! These cabs will be designed by computer for optimum-everything.
QUOTE(superstardeejay @ Dec 12 2007, 09:43 PM) 
As most people will suggest i suspect, uprating the driver may postpone any overdriving but if the cabinets are designed for that particular size and wattage of driver (tuning, damping etc) then a bigger driver may just make the thing rattle and buzz all the more! These cabs will be designed by computer for optimum-everything.
was going to put same size driver in just a little more rms , instead of 500 put 600 or a better quality 500rms one . it dosent rattle ,just distorts on some bass when you push them with a good amp
Why not check with the people at Class D?
Yes - you may have a faulty driver.
If the driver is rated at 500 watts, then it should be able to take it without any problems.
As superstar suggested, you can't (shouldn't) simply replace one driver with another, as it will have very different characteristics even if it has a similar physical size and wattage rating.
Maybe carefully take the old driver out and have a look at it - has the suspension been damaged or been eaten by moths or mice? Maybe the diaphram is torn - many possibilites to account for this distortion you report.
Another point - this distortion - is it actually originating at the speaker itself, or could the mixer be clipping somewhere? If the output is clipping I'm sure you would have noticed the red lights, but it is also possible to cause the input to clip by having too high an input level, and you possibly wouldn't know it was the mixer. This is unlikely as mixers tend to have a lot of headroom on the inputs, but still a possibility.
If the driver is rated at 500 watts, then it should be able to take it without any problems.
As superstar suggested, you can't (shouldn't) simply replace one driver with another, as it will have very different characteristics even if it has a similar physical size and wattage rating.
Maybe carefully take the old driver out and have a look at it - has the suspension been damaged or been eaten by moths or mice? Maybe the diaphram is torn - many possibilites to account for this distortion you report.
Another point - this distortion - is it actually originating at the speaker itself, or could the mixer be clipping somewhere? If the output is clipping I'm sure you would have noticed the red lights, but it is also possible to cause the input to clip by having too high an input level, and you possibly wouldn't know it was the mixer. This is unlikely as mixers tend to have a lot of headroom on the inputs, but still a possibility.
QUOTE(Andy Westcott @ Dec 13 2007, 09:37 PM)
Yes - you may have a faulty driver.
If the driver is rated at 500 watts, then it should be able to take it without any problems.
As superstar suggested, you can't (shouldn't) simply replace one driver with another, as it will have very different characteristics even if it has a similar physical size and wattage rating.
Maybe carefully take the old driver out and have a look at it - has the suspension been damaged or been eaten by moths or mice? Maybe the diaphram is torn - many possibilites to account for this distortion you report.
Another point - this distortion - is it actually originating at the speaker itself, or could the mixer be clipping somewhere? If the output is clipping I'm sure you would have noticed the red lights, but it is also possible to cause the input to clip by having too high an input level, and you possibly wouldn't know it was the mixer. This is unlikely as mixers tend to have a lot of headroom on the inputs, but still a possibility.
ill take one out and have a look but im leaning towards the 500 rms rating is to be taken with a pinch of salt theory
Certainly a possibility - a driver capable of taking a continuous 500 watts is a fair beast to behold, with large diameter voice coil and an impressive magnet assembly - the 600 watt AES drivers I use are pretty darned heavy!
The distortion could be happening becuase the motor is being driven beyond the linear portion of its travel, known as its 'Xmax'. This would be due to excessive abounts of deep bass or frequencies below the tuning frequency of the cabinet. This can happen without exceeding the wattage rating of the driver.
Maybe you are just too bass-happy for such cabinets - what do you think?
If you like floor-shaking bass, then you really need large cabinets tuned to these lower frequencies, with drivers to match as this is the only way to do it safely and without distortion.
The distortion could be happening becuase the motor is being driven beyond the linear portion of its travel, known as its 'Xmax'. This would be due to excessive abounts of deep bass or frequencies below the tuning frequency of the cabinet. This can happen without exceeding the wattage rating of the driver.
Maybe you are just too bass-happy for such cabinets - what do you think?
If you like floor-shaking bass, then you really need large cabinets tuned to these lower frequencies, with drivers to match as this is the only way to do it safely and without distortion.
If using a laptop you may want to take the output volume down on that too, if using a DJ program have a look at the AGP/DSP settings. Many directly ripped MP3s give a clipping signal on normal gain, I find that I have to run the decks on SAM DJ at about -6db to prevent a clipped output (have to increase the gain for the odd track), if the signal is clipping here, all you are doing is amplifying it through the rest of your system.
This is where OTSDJ comes into its own with its AGC setting (automatic gain control) levels out the volume its outstanding 
What ever you do dont buy cheap and nasty speakers.
I have 2 300watts 15 inch speakers and one is loud and the other is not os loud.
The more sensitive a speaker is the mlouder it will be.
Sensitivity is measure in db.
The higher the value the better.
Anything less than 100db is probably not so good.
The magnet in the speaker is important.
A lightweight magnet often gives a lightweight sound !
Go for a good make.
My eminence speaker seems to be pretty loud.
I have a fane speaker that seems a little better.
I am sure other will have other ideas.
I have 2 300watts 15 inch speakers and one is loud and the other is not os loud.
The more sensitive a speaker is the mlouder it will be.
Sensitivity is measure in db.
The higher the value the better.
Anything less than 100db is probably not so good.
The magnet in the speaker is important.
A lightweight magnet often gives a lightweight sound !
Go for a good make.
My eminence speaker seems to be pretty loud.
I have a fane speaker that seems a little better.
I am sure other will have other ideas.
This could be something as simple as turning up the bass on the mixer too far.
A 500watts RMS speaker is only 50% louder than a 100watts rms SPEAKER.
This is because sound is logarithmic and you need 10 times more power to get out twice as much sound.
So a 100watt speaker is twice as loud as 10watt and a 1000watt is twice as loud as a 100 watt.
I have always been disappoined with the output of amps claimed to put out hundreds of watts.
It could be you need a big rethink on your sound system to get the volume level you require.
Maybe a good make thousand watt system with speakers to at least match that ?
Or just a set of decent speakers might do the job.
A 500watts RMS speaker is only 50% louder than a 100watts rms SPEAKER.
This is because sound is logarithmic and you need 10 times more power to get out twice as much sound.
So a 100watt speaker is twice as loud as 10watt and a 1000watt is twice as loud as a 100 watt.
I have always been disappoined with the output of amps claimed to put out hundreds of watts.
It could be you need a big rethink on your sound system to get the volume level you require.
Maybe a good make thousand watt system with speakers to at least match that ?
Or just a set of decent speakers might do the job.
QUOTE(danger mouse @ Dec 12 2007, 07:51 PM)
since i upgraded my amp to a 650 rms each side my class d drivers seem to srtuggle (500rms) when pushed (not clipped ) dont think they can take 500 rms of clean power going into them , what you think about replacing them with drivers with a bit more ommpf any suggestions on some makes and where to get them , ta
Depends on your budget. Sound Control have clearance sales on which don't seem bad.
Thought you asked this question before?
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