Ok to power down speakers from external switch?

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matti-s, muokattu 12 Vuodet sitten.

Ok to power down speakers from external switch?

Youngling Viestejä: 5 Liittymispäivä: 2.1.2011 Viimeisimmät viestit

My question is simple:

Is it ok to leave active genelec speakers powered on all the time and switch them on/off from an extension cable with a switch that they are connected to? The speakers make a slight 'pop' when you turn off power (turning on power is silent). This is something I have refused to do, but using an extension cable switch would make powering up all my gear in my studio a lot faster, so I'm asking all of you if you think it is ok?

Thanks,
Matti S.

ilkka-rissanen, muokattu 12 Vuodet sitten.

Re: Ok to power down speakers from external switch?

Yoda Viestejä: 2564 Liittymispäivä: 23.3.2009 Viimeisimmät viestit

Hello Matti,

The answer is even simpler: yes, it's perfectly ok!

solart, muokattu 11 Vuodet sitten.

Re: Ok to power down speakers from external switch?

Youngling Viestejä: 2 Liittymispäivä: 27.5.2012 Viimeisimmät viestit

Hi,

I know this is an old thread but I just wanted to confirm ...

I bought my Genelec 8030A's a couple of weeks ago. I usually turn them all the way down and then switch them off using the on/off power switch on the front of the speakers. Last night, they both gave a small pop when i turned them off. Is that ok? I don't recall them ever doing that, the first couple of weeks I had them but I could be wrong.

As the Genelec R&D Acoustics Engineer, you were saying to Matti that it was ok for him to even switch off both the speakers from an external switch. I am therefore assuming that the small pop, when you turn them off is normal and it is not something that is wrong with them or that something has 'gone' inside the speakers.

Just wondering if all 8030A's do this.

It almost sounds as if the tweeter gives a little pop when you power them down. I use a Focusrite Scarlett 18i6 external audio interface to record guitar and vocals. Last night, I recorded some bass through it. While I was recording, I had the bass playing back through the speakers. Is it ok to do that?

I have also played back some avi movies through them. Is that ok? Sorry for all the questions. Just concerned that I may be damaging the speakers by playing media (bass or avi), other than guitar and vocals, through them, that I shouldn't be doing.

I have some Wharfdale PA speakers that became very noisy over time. I think it was because the amp/mixer I bought was not great quality (Asian import) and degraded over time. I'm hoping that this does not happen to my Genelecs. The shop I bought them from assured me that if I bought these speakers, I'd never have to buy another speaker again. Speakers for life. They are great speakers. I'm just concerned about the small pop on power down. Does that pop damage the speakers?

Thanks

ilkka-rissanen, muokattu 11 Vuodet sitten.

Re: Ok to power down speakers from external switch?

Yoda Viestejä: 2564 Liittymispäivä: 23.3.2009 Viimeisimmät viestit

Hi,

Small noises during power down or up are perfectly normal and won't indicate a failed speaker in any case.

You don't have to be afraid to play all kind of source material through your speakers, all Genelec speakers are meant for reproducing any sort of material you throw at them.

They also include sophisticated protection circuits, should you do something funny with them. Have fun with your new speakers!

solart, muokattu 11 Vuodet sitten.

Re: Ok to power down speakers from external switch?

Youngling Viestejä: 2 Liittymispäivä: 27.5.2012 Viimeisimmät viestit

Thanks Ilkka for your response. I now feel relieved that this is normal. It also a relief to hear that they have sophisticated protection circuits.

Btw: What is the small popping sound the speakers make when you turn them off and is it coming out of the tweeter or the main speaker? Is it some sort of build up of static electrical charge that builds up during operation, that then gets dissipated through the speaker when you turn them off?

I'm no audio engineer but I would think that speakers don't like any sort of spikes?
FYI: I don't get any pops when I turn my speakers on. Only when I turn them off.

Tx for the info on the type of media I can play through the Genelecs. I won't feel limited in using them for recording only. I have a bunch of avi's that aren't top quality.