Rattling LS50

quadzilla
quadzilla Posts: 1,543
edited October 2011 in Troubleshooting
The midwoofs in on of my LS50s are rattling. I'm guessing they're blown. Anything else it could be?
Turntable: Empire 208
Arm: Rega 300
Cart: Shelter 501 III
Phono Pre: Aural Thrills
Digital: Pioneer DV-79ai
Pre: Conrad Johnson ET3 SE
Amp: Conrad Johnson Evolution 2000
Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference
Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified
Post edited by quadzilla on
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Comments

  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    edited January 2011
    I had one driver in mine that would every so often sound fuzzy and I could gently push the cone in a bit and it would be fine for a day or so. Finally just replaced the driver with a used one and all is good:)
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  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited January 2011
    Flip the driver upside down. It has been sitting in that position for nearly 20 years...
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited January 2011
    DaveMuell wrote: »
    Flip the driver upside down. It has been sitting in that position for nearly 20 years...

    First thing I tried. Also tried 90 degrees in each direction. Probably should have mentioned that. Weirdest thing is that I can't feel any rub when I push on the driver. But it definitely rattles as certain frequencies.
    Turntable: Empire 208
    Arm: Rega 300
    Cart: Shelter 501 III
    Phono Pre: Aural Thrills
    Digital: Pioneer DV-79ai
    Pre: Conrad Johnson ET3 SE
    Amp: Conrad Johnson Evolution 2000
    Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference
    Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified
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  • BeefJerky
    BeefJerky Posts: 1,320
    edited January 2011
    Okay, I know this is going to sound weird, but check for any objects around the speaker, especially the port. For instance, an object near the port can make for odd sounds that may make it sound like a bad driver.

    Also look inside the speaker around the port. Even a small piece of the padding inside the speaker can make weird noises if it gets inside or too near the port. I speak from experience on this one. I have a sub that sounded like the driver went bad, and I found very small bit of the cotton padding hanging out in the port. Once I removed that, the sub sounded normal again.
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited January 2011
    Yup, checked all that too.
    Turntable: Empire 208
    Arm: Rega 300
    Cart: Shelter 501 III
    Phono Pre: Aural Thrills
    Digital: Pioneer DV-79ai
    Pre: Conrad Johnson ET3 SE
    Amp: Conrad Johnson Evolution 2000
    Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference
    Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified
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  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited January 2011
    Well, you could buy my spare LS-50's and you would have drivers and tweeters for a long time...
    Thanks, but I will keep my 90's...they got a couple of corner dents when I stored them, but the LS series are hard to match in terms of sound.
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited January 2011
    DaveMuell wrote: »
    Well, you could buy my spare LS-50's and you would have drivers and tweeters for a long time...
    Thanks, but I will keep my 90's...they got a couple of corner dents when I stored them, but the LS series are hard to match in terms of sound.

    It's certainly an option. What would you want for them? You can PM me details if you prefer.
    Turntable: Empire 208
    Arm: Rega 300
    Cart: Shelter 501 III
    Phono Pre: Aural Thrills
    Digital: Pioneer DV-79ai
    Pre: Conrad Johnson ET3 SE
    Amp: Conrad Johnson Evolution 2000
    Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference
    Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited January 2011
    Hey Quad,

    Check to be sure the rubber surround is still attached to the basket all the way around the speaker. My experience has been that the glue they used gives up and the rubber gets loose. Took me little while to figure it out. You can glue it back if the voice coil hasn't shorted. One of mine did so I bought a pair of replacements from polk.
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited January 2011
    I'll double check that. Rattling started while the speaker was playing though. But it's certainly worth a shot. I'll post after I get home and double check that.
    Turntable: Empire 208
    Arm: Rega 300
    Cart: Shelter 501 III
    Phono Pre: Aural Thrills
    Digital: Pioneer DV-79ai
    Pre: Conrad Johnson ET3 SE
    Amp: Conrad Johnson Evolution 2000
    Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference
    Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited January 2011
    Mine was intermittent and almost imperceptible until I got to putting my ears up to every speaker. Something just wasn't "right". Good luck in any case man!
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited January 2011
    No, this is quite unmistakable at certain frequencies.
    Turntable: Empire 208
    Arm: Rega 300
    Cart: Shelter 501 III
    Phono Pre: Aural Thrills
    Digital: Pioneer DV-79ai
    Pre: Conrad Johnson ET3 SE
    Amp: Conrad Johnson Evolution 2000
    Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference
    Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited January 2011
    Polk has a replacement driver. I think they are about $70. Plus you get a discount if you mention you are a polkie.
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,759
    edited January 2011
    vc69 wrote: »
    Polk has a replacement driver. I think they are about $70. Plus you get a discount if you mention you are a polkie.

    I think I paid like $52 for the last one I bought.
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited January 2011
    Dave hooked me up with a set of LS50s he's not using, so I'm good. Still looking for original drivers though in my wanted ad.
    Turntable: Empire 208
    Arm: Rega 300
    Cart: Shelter 501 III
    Phono Pre: Aural Thrills
    Digital: Pioneer DV-79ai
    Pre: Conrad Johnson ET3 SE
    Amp: Conrad Johnson Evolution 2000
    Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference
    Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited January 2011
    Good deal. Party on!
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 20hz
    20hz Posts: 636
    edited October 2011
    I have a pair of ls50's that make a weird noise it bothered me for years than I finally found it , one of the 6" made a gargle noise at say 250 hz so I replced that driver with a monitor 6 driver (all I had) that fixed it but I also notice the other ls50 makes a noise , same deal pulled the driver and put in a monitor 6 driver sounds fine but I would like to replace them with the correct "spider cone patern" on the dust cap at some time , hopefully I can find some on this site , or a ls50..
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