Power speakers lose volume help!!

[maradona]

Hi Chaps

New to these forums but could do with some technical help (as I'm not that good at all that) I have just purchased two LD play 15" powered speakers and have added a Sub for more power through the bass.
I had a problem the other evening when the volume in my two powered speakers seemed to dip (it wasn't clipping by the way) but I had to run everything off one plug socket (could that be an issue)
Could this be the problem?
When it does dip in volume there is times it will flick back to normal volume but only briefly

Hope this makes sense and your help and advice would be greatly appreciated

By the way the RMS is 150 watt and peak power is 300

Thanks

[Excalibur]

Hello Ged.
First up, sorry to hear about your troubles.

Second, I'm thinking it's unlikely that the mains power supply is the issue here, I'd expect either a dodgy lead or perhaps a connection in the sub to be at fault.
There are a lot of possibilities here, and it would help if we knew what the sub was, and how you're wiring it all up.

Thirdly, please pop across to the newbies section, and tell us something about yourself. We like to know who we're typing to, and also it often helps us to give advice better suited to you.

[Benny Smyth]

I'd suggest a dodgy signal cable.

[musicology]

Does your mixer have an automatic talkover switch? If so, it could be "hearing" the music through the mic and dipping the volume.

[yourdj]

Sounds silly but it may also be the cross fader being nudged the other way. You never know ;)
its always something very simple.

Best thing to strip everything out and run them with a decent cable and iPod or something to cancel out the speakers to blame.
Once thats OK then look at the mixer and anything else you have (such as the mic talk over as suggested). :)

Doubt its the power with modern speakers, even from a generator. My bet is its the mixer/playout or cables.

[Nakatomi]

As everybody else has said, work backwards from the speaker line inputs to find the problem. It's usually something simple like a wrong mixer setting, iffy cable or dodgy fader/pot.

running everything from one mains socket isn't generally a bad idea at all especially if your setup is pulling much less than 13 Amps (about 3000 Watts).

Your active speaker's amp(s) might be getting hot & it's cutting back the levels until it cools - that's not unknown. Check any fan outlets are clear of dust & debris too.

[Andy P]

Not something daft like songs with less gain in them which sound quiet?

[maradona]

Hi guys

Many thanks for the replies, my Subwoofer is a powered QFX 15" and I run two cables from my mixer (Numark) to the two tops then run one cable from the top to the sub, I've checked my mixer and it has no talk over feature and I tried the mixer crossover but that isn't the issue as that was one of the first things to look at...
I bought my cables new apart from the one that runs from my sub to the top (I will try that) anything else I could be missing

[AndyMD]

Not familiar with the product, however nearly all amps (whether is speakers or not) will lose volume over the period of an evening. I believe that it's only Crown Amps that guarantee no volume loss for continued use. Try turning the overall volume setting of your speakers down, but increase to signal power to them to keep the overall volume level the same. It may be that the speakers are working too hard to amplify the signal and it causes a reduction in volume over a period of time.

[maradona]

Hi Andy

Sorry if it sounds stupid but how would I improve signal strength?

[maradona]

Thanks guys for all comments yeah I checked song volumes and cross fader etc.

My Sub is a 15" Subwoofer QTX powered as well, I run my cables (they're new as well although the cable from sub to top isn't)

I run the two XLR cables from my mixer (Numark) into the two tops then run my other XLR cable from one of the tops to the Sub

[Benny Smyth]

Hi Andy

Sorry if it sounds stupid but how would I improve signal strength?

Turn the gain up on your mixer.

[maradona]

Yeah I've put the fader up a notch (not the gain) but it didn't make a difference....

Would the gain make a difference more than the fader

[AndyMD]

Yeah I've put the fader up a notch (not the gain) but it didn't make a difference....

Would the gain make a difference more than the fader

Yes. Again not being familiar with your mixer (or is it a controller with inbuilt soundcard?), play a track from deck 1, put the crossfader all the way over to deck 1 and then turn the gain up until the LED level meter lights are hitting the first red lights. This should be the optimum output for your mixer. Then use the volumes on your speakers to get the ideal output level

Andy

[maradona]

It's just a normal cross fade mixer

I will try this as suggested and see if I come across the problem again I'm out tonight with the gear so I can give it a full wack

[Benny Smyth]

My Sub is a 15" Subwoofer QTX powered as well, I run my cables (they're new as well although the cable from sub to top isn't)

I run the two XLR cables from my mixer (Numark) into the two tops then run my other XLR cable from one of the tops to the Sub

So do you go Mixer>Top>Sub or Mix>Sub>Top, because you've just said that you do both?

Top be honest, I'd put money on it being a cable issue.

[maradona]

Sorry it's mixer to two tops then top to Sub

I will try a new cable tonight

[yourdj]

Probably easier to take a photo and list all your gear from controller to speaker. :)
I also bet its a loose cable connector, so that only part of the signal is getting through at certain points.

[dicky]

Your active speaker's amp(s) might be getting hot & it's cutting back the levels until it cools - that's not unknown. Check any fan outlets are clear of dust & debris too.

Also my first thought to be honest

Rich

[ckpr2]

Sounds like a loose connection or a solder joint gone bad.
Can be checked for by banging on the side of the case.

[maradona]

1727917280172811728217283

Here is the connections for my PA sound and mixer, seem to be fine last night to be fair could be the heat issue to the amps as my speakers don't clip I couldn't understand why it would dip in volume but heat issues could be a problem.... Have you had any issues and how did you combat this?

[yourdj]

I know what the problem is you have them all upside down and instead of turning them up you are turning them down :lol:

Are you levels all, well 'level' - its very difficult to read but the ones on the speaker don't look like they are at 0db. Its usually +_ and 0 is in the middle. You mixer settings are also a bit screwed. I have always had everything down the middle pretty much and then used the bass frequency to compensate. I suppose it depends on the quality of the tops as cheaper tops can sound quite harsh on the mids, so cutting the mid a bit might be a good idea. What make are the speakers, not seen a graphic equaliser on one for some time. :)

[maradona]

They're the LD Play 15" powered not the most expensive on the market but I like them for events where it's just a hosting gig where I can plug my mic into the back and take my USB stick to plug in the back as well, saves so much time lumping amps and mixers etc

I'm not sure what you mean about the + and 0 setting on the speakers as it's just bass,treble, master volume, line out volume, mic volume and mp3 volume. So I just turn them up for the amount of volume I need...

I've turned the bass right down as I have a Sub

[yourdj]

They're the LD Play 15" powered not the most expensive on the market but I like them for events where it's just a hosting gig where I can plug my mic into the back and take my USB stick to plug in the back as well, saves so much time lumping amps and mixers etc

I'm not sure what you mean about the + and 0 setting on the speakers as it's just bass,treble, master volume, line out volume, mic volume and mp3 volume. So I just turn them up for the amount of volume I need...

I've turned the bass right down as I have a Sub

They look like good speakers. Like the SD card function, thats uber useful for the battery speakers I use.
As i say I don't think its the speakers, although; I see you level is almost at max and your volume is in the middle. :)

i am not expert on these things, but it might be better to have the level on middle and the volume on max and use the mixer to send a decent signal (e.g. 0db not +5 etc.)

1728417285

On the mixer you gain is right up yet your master is not, Also not sure why you have cut the mid and top, but that won't affect the volume.

You want the gain at 0db (not - or +). There are no marks on your mixer or speaker, but I assume that the middle is the best place?
ideally the mid, bass & treble in the centre (as the sub and tops should be set right) and the master up to a reasonable level so that your gain should be in the middle too. Thats my take on it, although i may not have got it right :)

17286

Have a look at this one. This is where I would have my settings. the gain/level would be about 10 o'clock at the start and go up (to just over 12oclock) as the party gets going. On my mixer anyway, the other levels are also at 12 o'clock and only get tweaked with certain tracks, such as a bit of a bass dip on bright side and get lucky, or a treble dip on dancing queen as its such a horrible tinny sound! Sorry if I am being patronising, i don't know your level of skill, so just assuming. :p

17287

[maradona]

Many thanks for this

Yeah I know what you mean now with the gain I turn the mid and treble down as I always find tops can end up screaming at you although imback out tonight with them so will try that... Have to say had no issues last night that's why I'm thinking it could be an overheating problem

[AndyMD]

This is how I sound check

Turn kit on, and have the speaker volumes sets on ZERO

1 - Master fader on mixer to FULL
2 - Play track on deck 1 with fader on FULL
3 - Adjust gain on track 1 so the PPL lights are bouncing into the first red LED on the mixer
4 - Turn up both speakers to the maximum volume of THE ROOM - NOT to speaker max volume
5 - Adjust the Bass, Middle and Treble of the speakers to suit the room
6 - Start the night with master fader on FULL and have each deck fader at about 2 thirds
7 - ALWAYS cue next track on deck 2 and adjust gain to correct levels before playing unless going through a compressor or using auto gain.
8 - When cueing if you think that the next track has been recorded bass heavy or treble heavy, adjust on the mixer for that track only
9 - As the night goes on increase faders for each deck to FULL to suit room
10 - If at FULL it's too quiet, turn speakers up, NOT the gain on the mixer, until the correct volume is set or they start to clip
11 - If still too quiet, get louder speakers

This way the most important piece of kit, the speakers and amp, will be protected.

I do this same sound check of either DJing or mixing live bands. Believe me it's easy getting a spare laptop or mic. Try getting a spare PA at 7pm on a Saturday night!

[yourdj]

My sound check involves, turning it on, playing a track, nodding my head, and then chatting up the waitress. :p

[AndyMD]

My sound check involves, turning it on, playing a track, nodding my head, and then chatting up the waitress. :p

:)

[maradona]

Quick update guys

Since using my gear last week and over the weekend I've experienced no loss in power using the advice given as in the signals and the setting up and sound checks etc

Thanks again

[Benny Smyth]

Quick update guys

Since using my gear last week and over the weekend I've experienced no loss in power using the advice given as in the signals and the setting up and sound checks etc

Thanks again

:approve:

[rth_discos]

As we're talking about setting up and volumes, here's how I do mine:

My Evox 8s have their gain set to 2pm.

The mixer master output is set to zero, and the gain on each fader is set to 0db.

I think use the Master volume to control the overall volume, knowing that it's set so that when the levels on the master output start to touch 0, that's when the speaker limiting would start to kick in, so I always know how much volume I've got left, and that I will never need to send a distorted signal to the speakers.