"Breaking in" speakers

[WB]

Question(s):
If I want to run a 30hz test tone for several hours (?) will it help any to minimize the "noise" this process will generate if I remove the back panels on the cabinets?

You probably won't hear anything at 30Hz., even in a finished cab. If you do, you can go even lower, say 25 Hz.

[wallywally]

I just completed a build of two O15TBs but did not break the woofers in prior to final installation. At this point I really don't want to completely uninstall the drivers.

Question(s):
If I want to run a 30hz test tone for several hours (?) will it help any to minimize the "noise" this process will generate if I remove the back panels on the cabinets?

Also, how loud should the test tone be as it is running?

I've heard that if you are not careful you can burn out a voicecoil if this process runs too long with too much current.

Thanks

Try it with the backs on, if it's too loud remove the backs. Also if you are breaking in 2 speakers, reverse the phase on 1 for cancellation. I always use 10VAC @ 30hz for 24 hours.

[Pixelmaster]

OK so now I will reveal how little I know about this topic....

Question:
How do I measure the current that I am delivering to the speaker from my amp?

BTW: I can hear the 30 hz test tone loud and clear when I run it from a test tone generator on my laptop hooked into the mixer.

Very interesting experience...as it is turned up and walk around the room I can hear it get louder in some areas of the room (and house) and in other areas it almost disappears. I'm betting that this is exactly what happens in a large ballroom at a variety of different frequencies and this is why it is so difficult to EQ a room properly?

[wallywally]

OK so now I will reveal how little I know about this topic....

Question:
How do I measure the current that I am delivering to the speaker from my amp?

BTW: I can hear the 30 hz test tone loud and clear when I run it from a test tone generator on my laptop hooked into the mixer.

Very interesting experience...as it is turned up and walk around the room I can hear it get louder in some areas of the room (and house) and in other areas it almost disappears. I'm betting that this is exactly what happens in a large ballroom at a variety of different frequencies and this is why it is so difficult to EQ a room properly?

You want to measure voltage. You need a meter that will read AC volts. Most amps have banana plugs, Just stick your leads in them, turn your amp up until you read 10 volts AC. You can probably get away with less voltage and lower frequency (so it's not so loud). The idea of break in is to get the cone moving so the spider and suspension loosens. There are not any set rules on how to do it. Just opinions and suggestions.

[Sydney]

Break in sure is easier out of the cab...
OLD SIMPLE METHODS
If you can see the cone move: you don't have to measure voltage...
You can observe the motion of the cone to make sure it Only moves a little. ( a mm or so ).
* Bill old school technique of sprinkling the cone and watching it dance is simple and effective.

* If you do not know how to measure current (amperage) you can blow up a meter.

why it is so difficult to EQ a room properly?

Different spots in the room will sound different due to the interaction with the room. Modes and nodes and hot spots.

* It's kind of paradoxical that visual representation ( meters, "rainbow displays" ) of the acoustic energy in the room reveal quicker and easier than ears in most cases.

[Mark Coward]

What I did with T48's, breaking them in after installing the drivers, was lay them face down on a carpeted floor. I didn't even measure the output of the amp, I don't think it's that critical as long as you don't give them too much power.

[Frankenspeakers]

Very interesting experience...as it is turned up and walk around the room I can hear it get louder in some areas of the room (and house) and in other areas it almost disappears. I'm betting that this is exactly what happens in a large ballroom at a variety of different frequencies and this is why it is so difficult to EQ a room properly?

BINGO!

(or as the limey's would say: Right in one!)

<using Rod Serling's dulcet tones>

Imagine if you will, a house- a simple house. Unremarkable, except for the lage numbers of termites that call it home... Where the computer speakers are located you can barely hear a thing (however) not touching the volume control at all- you can walk back in the back bedroom and hear every syllable from the computer and stereo. The reverse isn't so obvious, except during 'dancing with the stars' or 'american idol' funny thing, acoustics

[Pixelmaster]

OK so I picked up a voltage meter and am feeding a 30hz tone thru the system. I turned it up to just under 10v across the output terminals on my amp. I could observe about an 1/8" travel (?) with a flashlight shining thru the pet screen. I reversed the polarity on one cabinet and then booked them face to face with about an inch in between them. The tone disappears as I booked them.

I started to turn the gain down on one channel slightly and immediately the tone started to become audible. I guess that's because it was unable to cancel out the opposing channel.

Seems like this should do a good job of breaking these little 15" devils in!

I'm going to let them run for the next 8 hours and then will give them a break and probably come back tomorrow and let them run for another 8.

Thanks for the advice! This forum is the best!