RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Thanks for the response Ian. Yes, the speaker is in a small styrene enclosure and I have also done some experimenting with sound dampening materiel but it didn't seem to help. I don't know much about speakers but it's as if the amp is throwing out too much power.
To be honest it's not really a major issue. The sound is just loud enough at 50% before the crackling kicks in but I'll keep mucking about with it when time allows and see if I can sort it out.

Have you tried another speaker? I remember having crackling in a speaker when I was at uni many moons ago and a guy lent me a pair of his and all worked perfectly. Might be worth trying a diff speaker.

Changing sounds in audacity is the way forward. You can make it sound a lot better. Be prepared for hours downloading sounds changing formats and sampling sounds but its worth it.

Those .wav files should be fine but you can always lower the volume in Audacity...they will distort when too loud..but you can open and listen
to them first. The Visaton FRS8 can handle I think peak of 30 watts so it shouldn't distort. But sometimes as pointed out speakers can damaged etc. so I would try another speaker or two to see where the issue is. Sometimes it is also a simple as a loose connection someplace.

Thanks for the suggestions all. I have tried an old Creative speaker salvaged from a set of PC speakers and a standard Heng Long and they all crackle at roughly the same volume so I don't think it's speaker damage. I have a great set of Ford GAA engine sounds in .wav format that Tao kindly set me last year so I think trying those is the next step.

If it doesn't distort in Audacity the files should be fine. Though you certainly can drop a file in volume then amp it up in the IBU to see how it plays. But it sounds like it is something either in the amp or the wiring to the speaker/connections?

heres a link to my IBU3 tiger with sounds made up on audacity using the FRS8 speaker . Its a lot louder than stardard and without distortion. I cant play them at full volume without the neighbours wondering whats going on.https://youtu.be/ACPsLarA0lk

After a thorough assessment I decided the IBU3 didn't fully suit my requirements so it's now gone to a new owner and will be replaced by a different board. For the record I think they are a good option and will probably get better with future updates but at the moment there are other boards out there in the same price range that better suit my needs
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Good luck B_Man . sure there are a lot of good boards out there. post a video of your new one up and running . But as you say the IBU3 is Good if a bit hard work but with future downloads will get easier , where as not all boards have that option of download upgrade.