What Are the Reasons I Might Hear Popping?
Crappy Speaker Poles
When standard speaker poles are used, the speakers may bounce on the poles, causing a rattling that sounds like the woofer popping. Test them when not on poles, and always use high-quality poles such as K&M Ring Lock Distance Rod speaker poles.
Poorly Made or Broken Cables
Bad cables have been found to be the cause of issues initially blamed on speakers. Intermittently bad cables can cause popping noises — the making and breaking of signal-level contacts makes a sound like the speaker is popping.
Signal Level Clipping
Eliminate all electronics between the controller and the speakers. Turn the Master level all the way down, leave EQs at flat, and turn the input level on the controller all the way up. Connect speakers directly to the master outputs and put them in preset 1. Turn the signal input all the way up on the speaker. Barely move the output level above off and listen — is it crystal clear? If there's any popping under these circumstances, there may be issues with an internal contact, the woofer, or the DSP. Submit a service request.
Secondary Devices and Signal Processing
If popping only happens when a secondary device is in use, look for the cause there. Test with all filters in the mixer bypassed. If popping doesn't happen when the source is connected directly to the speakers but does happen with other equipment connected, the other equipment is likely causing the issue.
For MK2 and Previous Subwoofers: Lamp-Based Protection
The issue may be in the lamp-based protection system in your cabinet. MK2 subs used lamps to buffer the current going through the coils. If one of the lamp filaments breaks intermittently, the result is a popping noise that sounds like the driver is popping.
These are 120V, 500W R7S 118mm heavy-duty lamps, available at hardware stores for less than $2.00 each. Replace them all while the cabinet is open.
