Can Frequency Sweeps Damage Speakers?

Heyitsmedusty - There is a warning on Stereophile test CD that tracks with high frequencies played at normal level will take out tweeters.

Bad part is that some of the frequencies that can do damage are outside of our hearing range. One could modify popular song to include high content of 20kHz and spread it over internet (first audio malware?)

Most tweeters are not designed to play a single frequency continuously at high volume levels. They will overheat. I always thought that it was a no-no to play test tones or sweeps above about 80 dB.

Mark

The Ayre CD is from 5hz to 20khz. Is there a safe way to use this to calibrate my speakers? I'm currently using Thiel 2.2's, but will probably be using some Totems soon.

The way you do it, is start with the 1k and get the volume at 80 to 85 db as a reference then keep it at that level and check all the other frequencies

I can tell you that I used the Ayre CD to burn out all the treble drivers on both of my Shahinian Hawks. My Hawks have 7 treble drivers (+four mids) and are said to be able to handle 350 Watts without difficulty.
And I still don't know if I can actually hear a 15khz tone.

Be extremely careful with this disc or any other that feeds single frequencies into your speakers. Especially remember that you MAY NOT HEAR HIGH FREQUENCIES AT ALL while you are destroying drivers. All drivers are different. You can never be sure you are safe, I recommend VERY low levels when trying to do a frequency curve of your speakers. I myself wouldn't risk it above maybe 75db and, even then, remember that voice coil overheating can occur from even lower level tones if they are repeated continuously.
I think you would be safest by consulting the manufacturer of your speakers before entering this dangerous territory.

Provided you do not exceed 100 db SPL at 1 meter you should be ok for most well built full size speakers. Remember that the majority of expensive speakers actually use extremely cheap drivers (high quality veneer and woodwork can be very expensive). I run my sweep tests at around 90 db SPL at 12 feet back from the speaker.

The problem with running tests at a very low 75 db SPL is that this is not much above the noise floor - so you won't see nulls and you won't get a usable waterfall plot and RT60 due to background noise (heating/air condition/street noise/wind etc).

I've used that cd few times, and nothing happened to my speakers. Of course I dont crank the volume up too much, it is not necessary, just like the book recommends, even moderate volume will clean out your system.