[asde]

Hi guys,


I was living just the perfect life with my sony home theater in a box until i decided to upgrade my speakers, i bought some martin logan MLT-2 5.1 system and conected to my Sony Ht-ddw670 but when i played music at the highest output level, just 30 or 40 seconds after loud playing, the MLT-2 speaker volume decreased to like 30 percent of total volume, then i lowered the volume and after like a minute i was able to raise the volume again but after 30 or 40 seconds once again volume will drop.


I called Martin Logan and they told me that probably my Sony Ht-ddw670 although "100" watt rated, was not powerful enough to play the speakers... so then i bought a new receiver a Sherwood RD-8504, and to my suprise and huge deception it happend just as with the sony...


Then i connected the Sherwood RD-8504 to my old sony speakers and i was surfing through the audio modes (dts, stereo, etc) and the sony speakers completly blow up making a very odd odor...


I sent back the sherwood because it was not 1.4 as stated and also anchor bay was a deception, and i also sent back the MLT-2...


After that i bought a ONKYO TX-NR609 R with a set of Energy take 5.1 classic speakers, The Onkyo receiver is perfect and i am very happy with it, marvel chip works wonders, and after 5 days of playing the speakers at low volume for 12 hours a day to break them in, i started to play them louder... now i was surfing modes from dts to sterio etc, and it happen again... i have front and center speakers blown up... one speaker went completly mute and the others went high pitched...


Before asking the question please note that i run my old sony HTIB at the loudest speaker possible volume, and that i also surfed modes while playing music for 4 years in a row and i never blow up my sony speakers... at least with the sony receiver...


Now, what is going on? why cant i play music loud without blowing speakers? the receiver is 100 watts rated and so are the speakers... i just dont understand and i am running out of ideas, is it possible this is due to a faulty speaker cable? i am using a new RCA 14 gauge speaker cable...


Please help, now i am considering buying the polk rrm95... because they are 125 watt rated, what doy think?


Thanks

 

[Kal Rubinson]

The HTiB probably is designed as an integrated system that will not permit disaster. So how loud are you playing it?

 

[chashint]

Probably not the best idea to be switching sound modes at high volume either.

 

[jaball77]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson /forum/post/20855619


So how loud are you playing it?

That's the million dollar question, haha. Instead of buying more speakers I would buy an SPL meter and tell us what the reading is!

 

[SleeperSupra]

Quit driving your receivers into clipping.

 

[Dr_Mark]

You are buying a receiver that will not do the job you want. Regardless of the power rating, they are known to not deliver that power under load. If you want load, you might want to think about a standalone amp that can provide all the power you want.

Also, turn the volume down when switching modes and sources. You have a cheap solution and expect it to perform at high levels. Not going to happen.

 

[alexlindeman]

As everyone suggested, you are most likely overdriving the amplifier. Combined with switching processing modes is likely introducing clipping or a peak in the signal which is causing damage. Similar to how unplugging a signal cable can cause feedback. Ide be interested if its drivers or crossover components that are going first.


All of these setups are very small speaker sizes, giving you limited output vs a larger cabinet with bigger speakers. Have you considered stepping up in size and quality?

 

[Timothy91]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jaball77 /forum/post/20855715


That's the million dollar question, haha. Instead of buying more speakers I would buy an SPL meter and tell us what the reading is!

Bingo. This is what you need to do. SPL is a way for us to know what kind of "loud" you are talking about. To most people, an average of 95db SPL on the midrange is "loud" and bass at 115db is "loud".


If you like it loud, you will want to look into high efficiency speakers. A very nice, low cost option are the BIC Acoustech speakers:

http://www.bicamerica.com/showpage.p...e=18&spkrID=93


They are meant to play louder than most speakers and most of the owners of these like them a lot. You can buy the whole setup for around $900 or if you already have a good subwoofer, you can buy the towers, center and surrounds for around $650 or so.


The prices on the Acoustechs I've noticed have crept up in the last year (last year the cost of the 6.5" center channel was around 116-shipped and now it's at 150-shipped. The towers are a bit more than they used to be also. Overstock.com seems to have the best prices on the Acoustech speakers according to google, or you can check ebay.


If you 'blow up' these, and you really shouldn't, then you will want to look into "PRO" gear meant for clubs and dance halls or have your hearing checked.

 

[Knucklehead90]

Buy some 98db efficient Klipsch - you won't be overdriving them even with the 609 without going stone deaf. And you'll never blow another speaker.

 

[Looneybomber]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Knucklehead90 /forum/post/20858343


Buy some 98db efficient Klipsch - you won't be overdriving them even with the 609 without going stone deaf. And you'll never blow another speaker.

I was thinking the same thing. That gave me a good chuckle.

 

[asde]

Ok guys , thanks for all the comments:


Which of the following two options do you think is best?

Polk Audio RM 95 5CH Satellite Speaker System (no sub, i will buy one) $ 300 usd:


BrandPolk Audio ModelRM 95Spec

TypeHome Theater Speaker System

Channels5CH

Sold AsSystem

Speakers Configuration

1 Center Speaker + 2 Front Speakers + 2 Surround Speakers

Driver UnitsFronts Midrange: 2 - 2.5" Diameter, Dynamic Balance Composite Cone Driver


Fronts Tweeter: 1 - 0.75" Diameter, Silk/Polymer Dome Tweeter


Surrounds Midrange: 2 - 2.5" Diameter, Dynamic Balance Composite Cone Driver


Surrounds Tweeter: 1 - 0.75" Diameter, Silk/Polymer Dome Tweeter


Center Midrange: 2 - 2.5" Diameter, Dynamic Balance Composite Cone Driver


Center Tweeter: 1 - 0.75" Diameter, Silk/Polymer Dome Tweeter


Power Rating20-125 w/channel

Frequency Response95Hz-24kHz

Nominal Impedance8 ohms

Sensitivity89 dB

ConnectorsInputs: Spring-loaded clips at bottom

Dimensions & WeightFronts: 7.5" x 4.25" x 4.25" / 1.80 lbs.


Surrounds: 7.5" x 4.25" x 4.25" / 3.40 lbs.


Center: 3.75" x 9.44" x 3.81" / 2.80 lbs.


Or

Klipsch HD Theater 1000 - 5.1-channel home theater speaker system - 700 Watt (total) - (sub inlcuded) $ 550 usd:


Designed by the leaders in professional cinema sound

Superior HD audio for HDTV with Home-Theater components is simple to set up and use

Five identical speakers create seamless blend of sound and style

MicroTractrix Horns offer vertical or horizontal speaker placement

Subwoofer with customizable settings generates deep bass you can hear and feel


Technical Details

Frequency response: 35Hz - 20kHz

Maximum acoustic output: 114 dB SPL @ 1m

Tweeter: 0.75" aluminum dome

Mid-frequency drivers 2.5" fiber composite cone

Woofer 10" fiber-composite cone

Amplifier Digital Hybrid; 200 watts

RMS (420 watts peak)

Satellite Dimensions: 8.6" x 4" x 5.5"

Center Channel Dimensions: 3.6" x 9" x 3.85"

Subwoofer Dimensions: 15.75" x 11.5" x 17.75"

-------------------------------------------------------------


I always like music better when adjusting my pc equalizer right most bar (16khz) at 90 percent... that adjustement alone makes music sound a lot better for me...


In the meantime i had being using a couple of 25 year old 200 watts full size, 3 way Technics speakers without problem... the Onkyo receiver never shuts downs like the sherwood did, and musics never gets distorted all the way up on the Onkyo, however i kind of liked the 5.1 sound of the energy speakers over the Technics before the blow up...


The credit to the 25 year old Technics speakers goes to the increidible bass wave that you can actually feel in your couch and yourself in tracks like the one from Black Eyed Peas "The time (dirty beat") which sounds amazing and it is kind of adictive.


One other thing, which is the correct way of running the audissey calibration in regards to the sub? i mean should i put the lower pass filter all the way up and let audissey do its job? what about volume? where should i leave the volume from the powered sub while running audissey calibration?


I posted some links for both of the speakers i am asking advice but i had to erase them because i still dont have sufficient rights in the forum to post links.


Thanks for your comments.

 

[Looneybomber]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say keep the Technics. They're less likely to blow than those tiny speakers you listed.

 

[alanl715]

Is asde really serious with his initial question or is he just testing us ?

 

[afrogt]

This is starting to become a joke. Why replace satellite speakers with more satellite speakers?


The simple answer is to get some more sensitive and larger speakers. Step up from satellites. And also get a SPL meter.


He's obviously playing his sources too loud.

 

[centauro74]

Buy some monitor 70's and cs2, get a receiver with preouts and a emotiva xpa-3 and you can driven them really loud.

 

[Pugnax555]

It's really hard to tell if the OP is a troll or an idiot...

 

[asde]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Pugnax555 /forum/post/20905046


It's really hard to tell if the OP is a troll or an idiot...

What it is actually really easy to tell is who is full of it...

 

[asde]



Quote:
Originally Posted by afrogt /forum/post/20904998


This is starting to become a joke. Why replace satellite speakers with more satellite speakers?


The simple answer is to get some more sensitive and larger speakers. Step up from satellites. And also get a SPL meter.


He's obviously playing his sources too loud.

I used to have a Sony HTIB with speakers that never blow up in four years, actually pretty loud, and distorted as well at high volumes, but they never blow up...


I just want to replace my 5.1 system and i cant imagine my room with 5 full size speakers...

 

[Knucklehead90]

A HTIB speaker set is akin to an old VW with a 36hp motor - you can drive it flat out all day long and it'll never blow up - there isn't enough power to hurt it.


Add a more powerful receiver and you suddenly have more power to burn - and often its the speakers that burn. Get more efficient speakers and one of two things will happen - you won't have blown speakers - or you'll go deaf.

 

[ObsceneJesster]

I would imagine a 2.1 set up with decent floor standers would sound much better than any of the 5.1 satellite set ups you have listed. Do you not have the room for 2 or 3 full sized speakers up front and two satellites for your surrounds in the rear?