# Speaker crackles, but only for swings **URL:** \ **Category:** Proffieboards\ **Created:** [October 27, 2022, 1:14pm UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533 "2022-10-27T13:14:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/dg4prez/32/2868_2.png) [@dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/dg4prez)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/21 "2022-10-27T21:04:52Z")
I actually added the filter in the hope it would help. I’ve tried a second speaker as well so it’s not the speaker. ---
**Author:** ![BK\_Saber](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/bk_saber/32/2246_2.png) [@BK\_Saber](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/BK_Saber)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/22 "2022-10-27T22:46:56Z")
Well, it seems that you said “it developed a crackle”, so something has changed over time. My last (easy) attempt would be to format the SD card. I know you said you tried multiple SD cards and they all have the crackle…but i always found that 99% of the time when i have audible noise issues, its usually because the battery is almost dead, or the SD card has been manipulated too many times (adding/changing many fonts over time) and it needs to be cleaned and reformatted. I would try copying all the content off the SD card and wiping the slate clean by re-formatting it back to blank…and then put all the content back on it. If that doesnt help…and you already tried replacing the speaker, then there’s gotta be a loose wire or connection somewhere, cause you have said this issue developed over time. It doesnt sound like its a Proffie OS issue ---
**Author:** ![dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/dg4prez/32/2868_2.png) [@dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/dg4prez)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 10:53pm UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/23 "2022-10-27T22:53:02Z")
Damn. I already did the sd card thing too, and tried the card from my other working proffie saber. So to be clear, we’re not thinking it’s a faulty amp on the board? ---
**Author:** ![A\_Rogue\_Child](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/a_rogue_child/32/4449_2.png) [@A\_Rogue\_Child](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/A_Rogue_Child)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 11:01pm UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/24 "2022-10-27T23:01:27Z")
\*Spitballing here, checked your speaker wire points on the board up close for any sort of short? Both where they come out AND where they go in. I’ve seen a single wire strand cause this. Break out a magnifier if you have to. If that checks out then try to clean the entire board w as close as you can get to 100% isopropyl alcohol. DO NOT USE LESS THAN 97%. ---
**Author:** ![dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/dg4prez/32/2868_2.png) [@dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/dg4prez)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 12:29am UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/25 "2022-10-28T00:29:08Z")
I’m going to try that tomorrow. I’ve got some electronics cleaner that I use for flux cleaning so I’ll use that. It’s entirely possible it’s a wiring thing. ---
**Author:** ![NoSloppy](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/nosloppy/32/3865_2.png) [@NoSloppy](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/NoSloppy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 2:32am UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/26 "2022-10-28T02:32:39Z")
> [@profezzorn](#): > > As for the 5V thing; if you have any accent leds on, then 5v will also be running all the time. This meaning if PWM is used for accents? ---
**Author:** ![profezzorn](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/profezzorn/32/8_2.png) [@profezzorn](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/profezzorn)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 3:11am UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/27 "2022-10-28T03:11:05Z")
No, any times the FETs are used for anything, the 5v is running to make sure Vgs doesn’t go too low. ---
**Author:** ![profezzorn](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/profezzorn/32/8_2.png) [@profezzorn](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/profezzorn)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 3:19am UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/28 "2022-10-28T03:19:51Z")
Finally got around to actually listening to the video. I don’t think it’s caused by the SD card. Speaker, amp or 5v supply are possibilities, but the fact that it still crackles at low volumes speaks against that. I did use to have a speaker that sounded sort of like this though. It had an metal cone with a large divot in. I think maybe I had dropped onto something… Does the serial monitor say anything interesting? ---
**Author:** ![dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/dg4prez/32/2868_2.png) [@dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/dg4prez)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 6:28am UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/29 "2022-10-28T06:28:55Z")
Nope. Serial monitor output is completely normal. ---
**Author:** ![profezzorn](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/profezzorn/32/8_2.png) [@profezzorn](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/profezzorn)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 6:50am UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/30 "2022-10-28T06:50:39Z")
And is the volume as low as your config file says? (What does the “get\_volume” command say in the serial monitor?) ---
**Author:** ![profezzorn](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/profezzorn/32/8_2.png) [@profezzorn](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/profezzorn)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 6:51am UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/31 "2022-10-28T06:51:05Z")
How many ohms is the speaker? ---
**Author:** ![dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/dg4prez/32/2868_2.png) [@dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/dg4prez)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 11:58am UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/32 "2022-10-28T11:58:06Z")
4 ohm speaker. get volume shows 800. ```auto 07:55:29.026 -> 800 07:56:48.225 -> EVENT: Power-Shortclick millis=67679150 07:56:48.225 -> Ignition. 07:56:48.263 -> unit = 0 vol = 0.00, Playing GREEN/hum01.wav 07:56:48.263 -> channels: 1 rate: 44100 bits: 16 07:56:48.263 -> unit = 1 vol = 0.50, Playing GREEN/out01.wav 07:56:48.263 -> channels: 1 rate: 44100 bits: 16 07:56:48.263 -> humstart: 1800 07:56:48.263 -> unit = 2 vol = 0.00, Playing GREEN/swingl01.wav 07:56:48.263 -> channels: 1 rate: 44100 bits: 16 07:56:48.263 -> unit = 3 vol = 0.00, Playing GREEN/swingh01.wav 07:56:48.301 -> channels: 1 rate: 44100 bits: 16 07:56:49.657 -> unit = 2 vol = 0.00, Playing GREEN/swingl01.wav 07:56:49.657 -> channels: 1 rate: 44100 bits: 16 07:56:49.657 -> unit = 3 vol = 0.00, Playing GREEN/swingh01.wav 07:56:49.657 -> channels: 1 rate: 44100 bits: 16 07:56:49.924 -> EVENT: Swing ON millis=67680838 ``` ---
**Author:** ![dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/dg4prez/32/2868_2.png) [@dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/dg4prez)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 12:10pm UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/33 "2022-10-28T12:10:56Z")
I’m going to replace the speaker wires with something a bit heavier and I think I might rewire the bulk of it for shorter wiring. I initially thought the customer (who lives up the street, so really is just a friend who is getting a free build) would be pickier about the buttons and such so I thought I’d need more slack than I do for disassembly. The speaker wires go right next to the battery switch, so maybe it’s interference? ---
**Author:** ![dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/dg4prez/32/2868_2.png) [@dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/dg4prez)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 4:14pm UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/34 "2022-10-28T16:14:53Z")
Rewired the speakers, went 26awg for total overkill… still doing it. If I give the board enough wiring slack that i’m only moving the board and not the saber, it still does it. Connections to the board are all very solid, so it seems like it has to be the board, but I’m not sure if there’s a way to further diagnose. I certainly don’t see anything odd in my config. I’m at a loss. ---
**Author:** ![notsabbat](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/notsabbat/32/3039_2.png) [@notsabbat](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/notsabbat)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 4:27pm UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/35 "2022-10-28T16:27:39Z")
You could always try the connecting the speaker and SD card to a known working ProffieBoard. If you do that and there isnt a crackle, you will know its the boards fault. Also; That is a PRETTY saber! Shame that you are having issues. ---
**Author:** ![dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/dg4prez/32/2868_2.png) [@dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/dg4prez)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/36 "2022-10-28T16:29:08Z")
I did the inverse - I connected a known good speaker and SD to it. I’ve also changed the ground point from one side of the board to the other. Nothing. There’s a clicking noise you can hear when it’s just sitting running an idle hum as well that makes me think it’s the amp. I’ll upload a video. ---
**Author:** ![notsabbat](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/notsabbat/32/3039_2.png) [@notsabbat](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/notsabbat)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/37 "2022-10-28T16:32:52Z")
Right, I did read that, my fault. Yeah, it does seem like its a board issue, though Im certainly no expert. ---
**Author:** ![dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/dg4prez/32/2868_2.png) [@dg4prez](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/dg4prez)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 4:37pm UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/38 "2022-10-28T16:37:22Z")
Here you can hear it clicking just sitting there playing idle hum. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/v4EW2Nzy81U/maxresdefault.jpg "Clicking proffie") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4EW2Nzy81U) @profezzorn if you have any ideas about something else to check i’m all ears, but I’m assuming I’m just basically humped at this point. seems like a bad amp and i don’t imagine it’s something I can just fix. ---
**Author:** ![profezzorn](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/profezzorn/32/8_2.png) [@profezzorn](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/profezzorn)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 5:54pm UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/39 "2022-10-28T17:54:45Z")
I’m wondering if maybe we’re hitting some protection circuit in the amp. Since we push the amp pretty close to it’s limits, this could happen if either the speaker is in fact lower than 4 ohm, or if the amp is just a bit out of spec. If that’s the case, a reasonable solution might be to add a small resistor (1-2 ohms) in series with the speaker. (And possibly push the volume a bit higher to compensate.) If this doesn’t help, I might be out of ideas for how to fix this. ---
**Author:** ![NoSloppy](https://crucible.hubbe.net/user_avatar/crucible.hubbe.net/nosloppy/32/3865_2.png) [@NoSloppy](https://crucible.hubbe.net/u/NoSloppy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533/40 "2022-10-28T19:23:47Z")
Is that clicking rhythmic? I distinctly hear a repeated pattern there, not random. 2 slow quiet clicks, 2 loud quick, repeat. [Previous page](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533.md?page=1) [Next page](https://crucible.hubbe.net/t/speaker-crackles-but-only-for-swings/2533.md?page=3)