[plissken99]

I have a Klipsch RF-7 based surround system, and I'm fairly certain I have a blown woofer on the right RS-7. It sounds distorted when a lot of bass is pumped to it. Basically I can order one from Klipsch anytime for $60, but i want to be sure it's a woofer causing the trouble. Is there a definitive way to tell if a woofer is blown? If it's not the woofer, then what else would do that?

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Switch the woofers between the R and L speakers. If it's the woofer, the problem will move.

 

[lexa695]

No need to switch the woofers. Place your finger tips on the cone of the driver you think is blown and then push it down gently and allow it to spring back. If it doesn't spring back or you hear a scraping sound, you have a blown driver.

 

[Kal Rubinson]



Quote:
Originally Posted by lexa695 /forum/post/0


No need to switch the woofers. Place your finger tips on the cone of the driver you think is blown and then push it down gently and allow it to spring back. If it doesn't spring back or you hear a scraping sound, you have a blown driver.

That's a good sign but wouldn't reveal a partly shorted voice coil.

 

[Wrager]

I always do what Kal said. It's a sure way.

 

[Kal Rubinson]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Wrager /forum/post/0


I always do what Kal said. It's a sure way.

Now, you're in trouble.

 

[lexa695]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson /forum/post/0


That's a good sign but wouldn't reveal a partly shorted voice coil.

Partly shorted? Is that like being a little pregnant

 

[plissken99]

I thought switching the woofers might be the right movie, so I did, good thing. The woofer is fine, switched them out, and the problem stayed in the same speaker... so what the hell could cause distortion like that? I know for a fact it's not the receiever, as I just upgraded to a new one, the sound had been around since the old one.

 

[EM3]

Well if it's not the speaker or the receiver what about a problem with the speaker wire? Ok it's a guess.

 

[Kal Rubinson]



Quote:
Originally Posted by lexa695 /forum/post/0


Partly shorted? Is that like being a little pregnant

Nope. The VC consists of many tightly packed turns. I have seen a blown coil which has a blob of melted metal that shorted across nearly half the turns.

 

[Kal Rubinson]



Quote:
Originally Posted by EM3 /forum/post/0


Well if it's not the speaker or the receiver what about a problem with the speaker wire? Ok it's a guess.

Or the crossover.

 

[lexa695]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson /forum/post/0


Nope. The VC consists of many tightly packed turns. I have seen a blown coil which has a blob of melted metal that shorted across nearly half the turns.

Kal, then it's blown, it's just harder to detect.

 

[plissken99]

Uh guys, it's not the woofer. So what else could it be causing distortion on certain frequencies?

 

[Otto Mann]

Does it happen with any source or just one source?


And here's a silly question - Where is the sub located, behind the right side speaker by chance?

 

[plissken99]

It happens with any loud source. Nope, the sub is on the other side of the room. I've played a scene over and over that does it(Terminator, right as Arnold rises from being sent back through time), it's very distinctly from that speaker.

 

[ericgl]

How is your bass management set up on your reciever?

 

[plissken99]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ericgl /forum/post/0


How is your bass management set up on your reciever?

Not sure what you mean, crossover is set to 80hz. I got so frustrated watching Underworld: Evolution(contstant weird frequencies and intense sound) that I switched the back left and right speakers(not easy because of how their mounted), and the problem moved. So it is definitly something with that speaker.


EDIT: Actually, the problem did not move, or seems not to have, it's not there anymore. When I connected the other speaker in the distorting ones place, no distortion, sounds perfect. I left it in place, and connected the distorting speaker in the others place. So far in another hour of Underworld, it hasn't distorted yet! Is it possible there was something wrong with the connection perhaps? The wires seemed fine in their binding posts when I removed them.

 

[lexa695]

It could be a lot of things. Try switching the cables on the receiver and see if it changes sides. If it doesn't, then it isn't the amp. It can then be anything from speakers cables to internal wirering or electronics. Check the speaker terminals for corousion. A bad connection can cause poor SQ and can even blow a driver. If it is your amp, then you need to take it to the shop for a diagnostic.

 

[plissken99]

I know it wasn't the amp, as I recently upgraded to the Denon 3806 from the 3805, the problem existed with both. The issue 'seems' to have been fixed since I switched the speakers around. Got through the rest of Underworld 2 without a bit of distortion. My best guess is that it was a bad connection somehow.

 

[wherryj]



Quote:
Originally Posted by plissken99 /forum/post/0


I know it wasn't the amp, as I recently upgraded to the Denon 3806 from the 3805, the problem existed with both. The issue 'seems' to have been fixed since I switched the speakers around. Got through the rest of Underworld 2 without a bit of distortion. My best guess is that it was a bad connection somehow.

I'll bet that you had a wire making contact in one of the binding posts. I had this happen once when I set up my receiver after having it burned out by a Comcast tech and had it returned. Upon getting it set up again, I had one of the wires get a LITTLE too close to the other in the binding post underneath my left main speaker and it would make intermittant contact.


What would happen was that it would act this way but only at the loudest of transient peaks. When you checked the wiring, you probably fixed it. Moving your receiver didn't fix it since the wiring was at the speaker.


Just a guess...