What causes speakers to pop?

[CubsWin]

I have a 2 year old Panasonic 5.1 home theater system that just recently started popping occasionally, but it is a very loud and startling pop. It happens infrequently, maybe once every 30-60 minutes, regardless of the source. What typically causes speakers to pop and is there anything I can do to fix it?

 

[VinceT3]

ususally means the speaker is fried.. (or getting to much power).. the coil could be rubbing or expanded.. etc

 

[NightHawk]

If it happens in all your speakers it's more likley to be a receiver problem

 

[Ilya]

It happens infrequently, maybe once every 30-60 minutes, regardless of the source.

Wonder if this could be some sort of static discharge? Perhaps you should check your grounding.

 

[CubsWin]

Wonder if this could be some sort of static discharge? Perhaps you should check your grounding.

It does happen throughout all the speakers and this post made me think... I bought a new power strip about 6 months ago and the light that indicates proper grounding never came on. I don't know anything about checking it though.

 

[NightHawk]

Doubtful it's a grounding issue. The safety ground is just that, for safety purposes. It really has no impact on system noise unless you have a ground loop hum. Is there some new appliance located nearby that is turning on and off? Alot alot of people (myself included) often experience a pop in Dolby Digital mode when a broadcast station switches audio modes. You indicated it happened at regular intervals and from all sources however so it still sounds like a receiver problem.

 

[CubsWin]

Doubtful it's a grounding issue. The safety ground is just that, for safety purposes. It really has no impact on system noise unless you have a ground loop hum.

There is a little bit of a hum in the system coming through all the speakers. It gets drowned out when I turn the sound up, but I can hear it at low levels.

 

[goaliebob99]

IT also can be the station I noitced that I get popping in my rear surrounds from ABC from time to time. It seems to be only that station and doesnt do it at any other time.

 

[Inno]

There is a little bit of a hum in the system coming through all the speakers. It gets drowned out when I turn the sound up, but I can hear it at low levels.

I'd start by unplugging ALL your input sources (DVD player, satellite reciever etc.) and just run the amp by itself with only the speakers connected. Let it run and see if you notice either the pop sound or the hum. If it's working properly you should get absolutely no hum from the speakers and certainly no popping.
It could be a cold solder connection inside the amp. and if it does make the popping noise with nothing plugged into it then that is more likely the cause. A test that sounds a bit crazy (but it will help in troubleshooting) is to turn the system on and just tap on the top of the stereo receiver, you may notice the pop every time you give it a rap.........if that's the case you can almost be certain that it's a poor solder connection inside the amp. I have fixed electronics for years, this IS an accepted troubleshooting method!

Let us know what you find..........at this point it's a process of elimination.......eliminate what is NOT the problem so you can focus on what is. Also, it would be helpful to know if it's an all in one system (DVD built into the amp etc. or are all the pieces seperate?)

 

[Tweek Sound]

The appliance idea is a good one too.
While listening to your system, have someone turn you fridge on and off.
A spike gets kicked back thru the line when a fridge turns off.

 

[Inno]

The appliance idea is a good one too.
While listening to your system, have someone turn you fridge on and off.
A spike gets kicked back thru the line when a fridge turns off.

Not a bad idea but you don't want to repeatedly turn the fridge on and off, once is ok but give it some time before turning it back on again. It's hard on the compressor (I believe).

Problem is if it's the fridge, what can you do about it?
I guess you could try a different plugin that may not be on the same circuit as the fridge.

 

[CubsWin]

Unfortunately, after several months, I still haven't been able to track this issue down and I rarely use my surround sound due to the popping. I have tried unplugging all other electronic devices in the immediate vicinity and the speakers still pop. The one thing I did notice is that the popping never occurs until the system has been turned on for awhile (anywhere from 30-60 minutes) and then after that there are occasional loud pops that occur as one loud pop through all speakers. The vents are clear and the room is fairly cool, so I would be surprised if the receiver is overheating, but is there anything else that could build up after a period of usage in order to cause popping? This is a standalone home theater system (DVD player is seperate), the Panasonic SA-HT40, which I used for about a year before starting to experience this issue.

 

[JKElect]

A loud pop in the speakers is one of two things. 1. DC voltage from the amp instead of the normal AC.(If this is the case the amp is slowly burning the voice coils of the speakers.) 2. a large spike to the input of the amp. (This would be less common, but possible.) In either case the protection circuit of the amp should trip and this should never get to the speakers. The cause is not an ac problem from the wall. The problem is probably in the amp itself. Do your self a favor and get a stereo tech check it out or get a new system. But if you let it continue you will not have any speakers.