100v line speaker distortion

[northernsoul]

Hi,

 

Having looked at a few forums it would seem that the members here would seem best equiped to help with my query. Please don't over complicate things as you'r dealing with an amature.

 

In a small community hall I am helping with they have a 100v line speaker set up. Two speakers in the main hall and one extra speaker in a back room. This extra speaker is the problem it's a home made job and distorts when turned up.

 

I was going to swap it for the speaker below as I have one unused. The problem was the same though even with this speaker.

 

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/product/4254504/?grossPrice=Y&cm_mmc=UK%7CShopping-_-Google+PLA-_-RS%7CCabinet+Speakers-_-4254504&kpid=&istCompanyId=f7e7b05b-2daf-4c0e-8825-3633baf8113b&istItemId=xitmmixaq&istBid=tztx&gclid=CMrY-_XF9r0CFUoCwwod6hkAkg

 

 

What I wondered is, would reducing the the wattage outings to 0.5 or one of the other options on the transformer built into the speaker solve this problem.

 

Any help would be apprectiated.

 

Quiz me for anymore info.

 

Thanks

 

Alan

[IRT]

Hi NorthernSoul, is the speaker in the back room set up to take 100v, I'm not familiar with the RS cabinet so wouldn't be able to tell you if that's set up for 100v either, I'd recommend buying a cheap and cheerful 100v cab like an Adastra or something similar and seeing if that makes any difference.

 

I

 

 

 

[MarkPAman]

What I wondered is, would reducing the the wattage outings to 0.5 or one of the other options on the transformer built into the speaker solve this problem.

 

Possibly. It may be as simple as you're trying to get them louder than their designed to go. Trying it at a lower setting should not do any harm.

 

What the transform tappings are really for is to let you set the volume of this speaker relative to the others in the system. Are the other two speakers anything like this one, and what Wattage are they tapped to?

[northernsoul]

Below is a better desciption of the speaker I hoped to use.In the description it says "The loudspeaker can be used on 100 volt line Public Address systems (with power tappings down to 0.5 watt)." This made me think using the lower power tappings is what would be needed on the 100v line.

 

If using the lower power can't do any harm I will give this a go and let you know if can get working.

 

 

https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/13264367937060706926?q=KESTREL+8&safe=active&rlz=1T4GGLS_enGB579&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.65177938,d.ZGU,pv.xjs.s.en_US.oi8x2-IrGEU.O&biw=1205&bih=733&tch=3&ech=1&psi=QdNXU8TRB-7d7Qa144G4DQ.1398264626307.1&wrapid=tlif139826462630710&sa=X&ei=hdNXU_n3NujQ7AafkoGQCw&ved=0CGYQ8wIwAg

 

 

Alan

[Bazz339]

If you are using a 100V line system, the amplifier isn't being over driven and the other speakers sound fine, you should be able to use the remote speaker on any tapping it has on it without adverse effect if it is not home built. The tappings on the transformer mean the the speaker will only take the wattage from the 100v line it requires and hopefully can handle. I am not saying there are not some turkeys which may distort before they should.

 

Its a bit like domestic mains (simplified) you plug in a 2KW heater, it will draw 2KW and hopefully do what it should without catching fire, as should a 15 Watt bulb.

 

Maybe take the remote loudspeaker and parallel it with one of the main loudspeakers or straight onto the back of the amp and see whether it is distorted then. Also check that is set for 100V line, it might be set for 70V line in which case it might be overloaded and check any settings on the back of the amp.

 

Add up the total wattage of the speakers and check that is within what the amp can conservatively cope with or ideally If you have access to an impedance meter, measure the total impedance of the the speakers that the amp is seeing. The total wattage of the loudspeakers should not exceed the total wattage of the amplifier and ideally should possibly be less.

 

I can't think of a situation (other than intermittent or open circuit) where a fault on one speaker would not impact on others on the same circuit but it may be worth checking the wiring if all else fails. 100v line wiring installed by some people can be so thin that it does not have much mechanical strength and is easily damaged.

[IRT]

Concur completely with Baz339, check for 70v setting and appropriate power tapping, if this doesn't work, it may be the wiring.