CS400 sounds muffled and/or muddy

headrott

If some of you fellow polkies could help me diagnose a problem with my CS400 center channel please. I just changed the tweeter capacitor in it. I did this because it seemed the high end was not functioning correctly. It still sounds the same after replacing the capacitor though.

Here is the problem: The audio from the center seems muffled and/or muddy. The overall sound is also softer than any of the other peakers in the 5 channel system. I increased the center channel by 2 dB's more than any of the other speakers to increase the volume, but it stil sounds lower than the others. Also as I said, it sounds muddy and muffled. Amost like the midrange is not working. Is it possible for the other capacitors to go bad in 12 years? it's not a really long time for them, but not exactly a short amount of time either. Other than the capacitors, would there be another reason why the audio would have no dynamic range and sound muffled and muddy? Thanks for your help.

Greg

kawizx9r

Did you take a look at the rest of your receivers settings?

Dumb question I know but you'd be surprised how often some people will overlook things. Also make sure all your speaker connections/IC's are properly seated.

Other than that, I can't say much but to take each driver out and test it individually.

Is it all three drivers that sound muddy/muffled? Or is it just 1 or 2 of the mid-bass drivers or the tweeter alone?

headrott

Yeah it's all of the output that sounds muddy. I also have a CS275 that sounds perfect when I have it hooked up. It's absolutely the CS400 that is the problem, not anything else. Just trying to figure out what it is with it. It's almost like the crossover isn't working properly. The sound is muffled and compressed.

Greg

headrott

Can someone please check the wiring on their crossover to see where the green and white wires are soldered to and the red and white wires are soldered to? Theoretically mine should be correct, but would apprecite someone to verify that theirs are the same as mine are. Thanks again for your help.


Greg

acmf74

I have the same issue with my LSiC.

Musically is sounds great, but in movie dialogues it sounds like only mid-range.

tonyb

Was it working before you worked on it ?

headrott

I just bought it a few days ago. It has been the same since I recieved it. Dull, muddy and no dynamic range to it. It works, but not correctly.

Greg

Edit: I'm going to try new jumpers to see if that helps. The jumpers on there (original) look fine though.....

headrott

acmf74 wrote: »

I have the same issue with my LSiC.

Musically is sounds great, but in movie dialogues it sounds like only mid-range.

That is almost exactly like what mine is doing. I played Peter Gabriel's "Secret World" DVD in DTS and it seemed (a little) better, but it still had sound problems. It's almost as if you have to push the speaker to get it to respond with dynamics. I don't know if that makes sense?

Greg

headrott

OK, it is definately not the jumpers. The new ones I made sound exactly the same as the originals.

Is it the crossover itself that is messed up?? How could you test this? Thanks again.

Greg

kawizx9r

To ensure that it IS the crossover, may I suggest you take out each driver and test them individually?

headrott

Test each driver with a multimeter are you saying? Or test each one to ensure there is sound comming out of each of them? Please describe what you mean. Thanks again.

Greg

kawizx9r

Yeah, take the drivers out and disconnect them from the crossover (there will be two wires per speaker, make sure to label them).

Connect a driver directly to your amp/receiver via speaker wire and test it at a low volume to ensure it's working properly. Just make sure not to short/connect both + and - by accident since you'll be handling bare wire and the speaker terminals on the drivers themselves are fairly close.

headrott

OK. I tested each of the drivers and the tweeter. All 3 work when not hooked up to the crossover. whether they are producing the correct tones or not I don't know I have no basis of comparison with these drivers and tweeter. But, they are all working.

Greg

kawizx9r

When I meant are they working, do they sound muffled/muddy at all? You should be able to tell with the mid-bass drivers at the very least.

Also look at the crossover first-hand. Do the capacitors look like they're swollen at all (can't remember if you replaced all circuits in it or not). Any cold solder joints or anything burnt?

headrott

I did not notice them sounding muffled and muddy. If anything, it was because of the tweeter not producing enough high end (when hooked to the crossover) that I think made the audio sound muffled. Or, maybe a combination of the 3 drivers. There is definately not enough high end though without a doubt.

Greg

Edit: No burnt areas or (I don't think cold solder joints that I can see). I could just resolder all the joints to make sure though. Also, capacitors don't look swollen or leaky.

kawizx9r

So it could just be the tweeter that's out. If the person you bought it from was driving it at high-levels and underpowering it, a tweeter would be the first thing to go.

If that's the case, then you're on the lookout for Polk's trilaminate dome tweeter.

They're found on the RTxxxx and RTxx speakers (some end with an i at the end) as well as the CS245/i.

I know the older LS' speakers, so keep on a lookout in case there's a pair/single you can gut from a yard sale or something.

headrott

Yeah, you are probably correct. I will need to get a new tweeter for this then. Does anyone know if they produce the SL6502 still? Or anyone know where to get one?

Greg

kawizx9r

I edited my post, it's right above yours

Btw, that center channel is a very capable speaker so I'd definitely keep it until you can find a replacement tweeter for it.

Goodluck!

-Freddy

headrott

I have never blown a tweeter, could it only be "partly" not working? That is, it only works if you push it hard? But, even then not correctly?

Greg

kawizx9r

If it is indeed blown, it'll work in the sense that it's trying to produce sound but it'll sound like crap.

Speakers are prone to blowing out if they're driven at high-levels while being underpowered. It's very hard to overpower a speaker because most of the time your ears will hurt long before the speakers give out if they're being fed clean power, properly.

headrott

Sounds about right then. It does sound like crap! At least finding a tweeter is easier than a crossover. Thanks very much Freddy for your help.

Greg

kawizx9r

Anytime

headrott

I searched this and saw as recently as March that some people were ordering an SL6511 tweeter. Is this tweeter still available from Polk? Does anyone know for sure? Thanks again.

Greg