Speakers Crackling loudly

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OnceBitten

494 posts

Ultimate Geek

#233444 16-Apr-2018 15:15

We have a marantz amplifier and wharfdale speakers - bought them new about 8 years ago? and we have our TV / Sky / DVD player all running through the amp / speakers

about 3 months ago I turned the TV / amp on one morning and got a fright when the speakers started crackling like loud popcorn or very loud static.... since then it's done it every day when we first turn the amp on for about 10 seconds, then it stops and normal TV sound resumes from the speakers.... but the last 2 days the crackling has got louder and lasts for about 20 seconds.

does anyone know what the issue / problem might be? - as it was working fine up until about 3 months ago - and we've not changed any settings / cables.

I cannot check the TV by itself as it is all going through the amp (turning TV volume up / down does nothing)

any advice would be appreciated

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#1997156 16-Apr-2018 15:17

Check for individual speakers. And isolate any connected devices OFF it for a test to pinpoint if its the onboard circuitry. Raw voltage through a coil will do that. But so can another appliance doing bad ground loops

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hsvhel

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#1997174 16-Apr-2018 15:56

is the popping sound in a rhythm?

if you leave the amp on and remove other devices does it speed up or slow down

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OnceBitten

494 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1997176 16-Apr-2018 15:58

hsvhel:

is the popping sound in a rhythm?

if you leave the amp on and remove other devices does it speed up or slow down

we turn the TV on and the amp on - the TV comes on first then after 4-5 seconds the loud crackling starts for 10-20 seconds than stops

it's just random crackling, no rhythm or tune or anything

trig42

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#1997179 16-Apr-2018 16:02

If you unplug all the inputs from the Amp, does it still do it when you turn it on?

How is the TV connected to the amp?

hsvhel

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#1997180 16-Apr-2018 16:07

remove everything from the Amp and test for it, then add them back one by one.

Tedious but you'll need to check

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OnceBitten

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Ultimate Geek

#1997246 16-Apr-2018 19:16

trig42:

If you unplug all the inputs from the Amp, does it still do it when you turn it on?

How is the TV connected to the amp?

HDMI cables I believe... wifes Friends partner (who does home audio / security systems for a job) set it all up with everything going to the Amp via HDMI cables... we've had no issues for 4 years until now

Dratsab

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#1997316 16-Apr-2018 21:20

Wifes friends partner sounds like a good person to ask about this problem then. They'll probably have cables and speakers to swap out during a testing phase and will probably get to the crux of the problem quite rapidly.

OnceBitten

494 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1999940 20-Apr-2018 17:38

ok so this morning I took video footage with my phone - lasts for a minute and has gotten worse

I'll ask friends husband if he can look at it, but see what you guys make of it?

https://youtu.be/8YWh8Gi-dnw

Dunnersfella

4063 posts

Uber Geek

#2000385 21-Apr-2018 18:28

Take the amp to a service agent before they destroy the speakers they are attached to...

OnceBitten

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Ultimate Geek

#2000477 21-Apr-2018 22:16

Dunnersfella:

Take the amp to a service agent before they destroy the speakers they are attached to...

ok so you think it is the amp that's doing it?

only lasts 30-60 seconds then everything is normal, but I might take your advice

Oblivian

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#2000483 21-Apr-2018 22:33

That sure sounds like straight DC passing through the amp components to the speaker and frying coils.

Dunnersfella

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#2000556 22-Apr-2018 11:41

Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if the amp hasn't done some damage to the speakers... leaving it be and continued using the gear won't have made anything better! Electronics have a nasty habit of not healing themselves and indeed making things worse!

Goosey

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#2000634 22-Apr-2018 13:21

Are the speaker wires connected by plug ends/crimps or just bare twisted and lock on/twist on?

crimps/plugs and bare ends need to be re-crimped every so often.... as the contacts oxidise and copper strands break.

The cracking could also be comming from a worn potentiometer AKA volume knob.

OnceBitten

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Ultimate Geek

#2000704 22-Apr-2018 17:02

thanks for the replies,

I think I'll disconnect the sky from the amp / HDMI and run it straight through TV until I get the problem sorted

the speaker wire goes into the amp (red and black) and on the speakers themselves they are wound around with the red / black plastic thing screwed on top

Goosey

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#2000751 22-Apr-2018 19:16

OnceBitten:

thanks for the replies,

I think I'll disconnect the sky from the amp / HDMI and run it straight through TV until I get the problem sorted

the speaker wire goes into the amp (red and black) and on the speakers themselves they are wound around with the red / black plastic thing screwed on top

In that case, turn off everything, and cut back the wires a bit and wound them back on / put them back into those clips etc.

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