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Thread: Speaker Protection Approaches

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Philly area
    Posts
    6

    Default Speaker Protection Approaches

    Hi there,

    My 21 month old daughter turned my amp up ALL-THE-WAY, and partially blew my 170s. So, I've decided to replace them with Sierras (yeah, baby!). The amp is a Marantz PM7001, 70 watts/channel into 8 ohms.

    Now, I'm worried that she might crank the amp with the Sierras, and blow them too. I can handle accidents with $300 speakers.......but not $900 speakers.

    From what I've found I have, basically, two approaches I can take.
    1. running fuses in-line to the speakers
    2. installing a relay circuit that blocks DC from the speaker

    Regarding 1: Does anyone know if installing fuses will provide adequate protection? Will they blow quickly in time to save the speakers from overload?

    Regarding 2: Is a DC blocking, passive circuit really going to help in case of overload?

    Do either of these approaches degrade sound quality?

    Any other recommendations?

    Thanks folks,
    Jim


    Does any
    Last edited by jallen; 02-27-2012 at 09:06 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Posts
    104

    Default Re: Speaker Protection Approaches

    I'm a composer/producer. In my studio and all others I've worked in there limiters on the monitor bus. It protects studio monitors from pops and clicks from microphones and digital jitter. I've never seen it in home theater, but it would probably work. Though you'd want to make sure it is completely transparent until the threshold is reached.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Posts
    104

    Default Re: Speaker Protection Approaches

    Also, my brother has an "L" shaped piece of plexiglass that goes under his AVR and curves up in front of the unit so little fingers don't touch any buttons or knobs.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Philly area
    Posts
    6

    Default Re: Speaker Protection Approaches

    The plexi is a great idea. I'll try to find one.

    Thanks.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Posts
    104

    Default Re: Speaker Protection Approaches

    This might be what he has - or at least it's similar.

    http://www.amazon.com/...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Philly area
    Posts
    6

    Default Re: Speaker Protection Approaches

    I think I could probably make one of those plexi-shields work.
    Thanks for the headzup.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Posts
    104

    Default Re: Speaker Protection Approaches

    I just noticed you're in the Philly area. Me too, I'm up in the northern burbs.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Philly area
    Posts
    6

    Default Re: Speaker Protection Approaches

    I'm not far...just over the river near the Betsy Ross.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Philly area
    Posts
    6

    Default Re: Speaker Protection Approaches

    Can anyone recommend in-line fuses as an approach?
    Last edited by jallen; 03-01-2012 at 06:50 PM.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    5,538

    Default Re: Speaker Protection Approaches

    Quote Originally Posted by jallen View Post
    Can anyone recommend in-line fuses as an approach?
    I would not recommend this... Inline fuses cause distortion and have varying impedances as temperature fluctuates. Using an in-line fuse will hurt performance....
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    .
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    Good Sound To You!

    David Fabrikant
    www.ascendacoustics.com

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