Need advice (could be a waste of time)

It's a question about killing speakers. No, not mine they sound great.

Been speaking to a guy in our village about music, and he mentioned he had a Denon integrated and using Q Acoustics standmounts he purchased from Richer Sounds in Guildford. It transpired he's killing his speakers.

He's no idea what model of Denon amp (model number) and can't tell me what Q Acoustics he has. It's a bit weird, but guess it's entry-level models of both.

Apparently the speakers are distorting and he's purchased 2 sets of Q Acoustics and both have died. That's madness.

I asked the basic question, has he tried using headphones? If it sounds wrong on phones it's a amp issue. He doesn't have headphones. Does he play music too loud? He said no.

I've given him my mobile no and said I'll go through some cursory checks with headphones and might even take my old Arcam Alpha 7 and see if that makes a difference.

I've known this guy for around 2 years and seems genuine but doesn't seem too sharp when it comes to his system.

Any pointers would be appreciated.
 
Not sure what he is doing to them or connecting them but there is no way any Denon amp should kill any Q Acoustics speakers...
Headphone output will make no difference and will not point to any problem as far as I can see, it's totally irrelevant.
 

podknocker

Well-known member
If it's struggling with the impedance of the speakers and it's an underpowered amp, then clipping would seem to be the cause. IF the amp's not controlling the speakers, then this will happen. Underpowered amp, low current and damping factor. I broke a pair of Tannoy 603 speakers about 26 years ago, trying to play them loud, using a Kenwood KA3020 amp. They were a bad combination. The Tannoy's were a very tricky load and about 85dB sensitivity also. It made a right racket when they popped.
 
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It depends how the headphones are driven. But in a cheaper amp it’s most likely the power stage padded down with a circuit.

Rather that let him loose on your amp, how about he lends you his? Or takes it to RS?
No way is he going near any of my everyday kit.

He reckons he phoned RS and they weren't too helpful.... I've never had a issue with the company. So I offered to take him down there as he doesn't drive, he could rig his kit up but he didn't seem too keen.
 

matthewpianist

Well-known member
Q Acoustics are easy to drive and present no real challenges to even fairly modest amplification. He's either got the Denon turned up too high (and most amps with standard volume pots start distorting with the volume approaching the 12 o-clock position) or it's sending DC out to the speakers.
 
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Q Acoustics are easy to drive and present no real challenges to even fairly modest amplification. He's either got the Denon turned up too high (and most amps with standard volume pots start distorting with the volume approaching the 12 o-clock position) or it's sending DC out to the speakers.
This is what I told him, thanks for confirming my initial thoughts.
 
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