RTi A9 - tweeter or crossover?

xrapidx

This weekend I noticed my one speaker was sounding different when checking the levels - I ran my ear past each speaker and it sounds like the tweeter, I moved both speakers to the center of the room, and tired again, it was definitely sounding different - swapped the cables around, same thing.

Is there an easy way to check if its the crossover or speaker without removing the tweeter? Apparently this affects the warranty.

I am waiting for feedback from the distributor in South Africa on whether this sort of thing is covered by them.

The speakers themselves have not been over-driven - I have the receiver locked at a specific maximum level, am the only user of the system, and have neighbours in close proximity.

If it is the tweeter - how much do the usually go for?

PiG

What do you mean by different? Distorted, or a different tone altogether?

I sometimes have the same feeling, one seems to have a higher pitched tone ... my issue might be placement though...

I believe your speakers carry a 5 year warrenty... which might apply. Perhaps you should try contacting polk directly if the distributor isn't too helpful in the end.

xrapidx

It sounds deeper (as in a lower frequency) than the other channel... considerably... when I run my ear over each speaker the tweeter has a sort of hissing/low crackling sound on the one.

To be honest, I wouldn't have noticed it if it wasn't for the level check, but now if I play a song through one channel at a time, I can hear the difference.

I also asked my girlfriend to run her ear over each speaker on each speaker and tell me what she notices, she also picked up the tweeter on the one speaker, without me pointing it out.

xrapidx

Feedback from the distributor - neither the crossover or tweeter is covered by warranty... I asked what was covered and apparently its only manufacturing defects, bit pointless then offering such a long warranty period.

Kinda pointless - so I'll swap the tweeters around this evening and see if it still persists, hopefully its the tweeter and not the cross-over.

Also - the tweeter is the equivalent of $285 here, so I guess I'll be ordering it online.

PiG

Talk to polk first before you spend a dime... I've read it helps to be a club polk member, which you are by being on this forum...

I did a bit of reading on the hissing myself and some hiss is normal (if you have to come right up to the speaker to hear it) I find it increased when I connected it to an active audio source but as far as I've understood it shouldn't be noticeable when listening to your music/movie nor do I think it should be so much louder than the other speaker.

Could it be something as simple as a loose binding post nut...so if you're connecting the wire to one set of the two available sets of posts (so not biwiring) that the unused set of posts needs to be tightened down better? I assume you probably checked all this but I've personnally seen a bad connection result in a more hollow or even distorted sounding speaker... albeit it was also lower in volume out put... so more clearly noticed.

Hopefully some of the guys who know a lot better than I do will chime in... soon.

good luck

xrapidx

Not sure how much say they'd have down here in South Africa - but I'll give it a try and see what other feedback is given over here.

The difference is quite noticeable from the couch around 4m away when checking the levels - I only had to listen at the actual speaker to determine which one was giving the problem.

Tried both binding posts, and switching the cables between the speakers

xrapidx

Well - I switched the tweeters around last night, its definitely the tweeter.

A google search returns a tweeter for $28 - anyone know if you get counterfeit ones?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Polk-Audio-1-RTi-A9-Genuine-Replacement-Tweeter-RD0691-/370507228565

Actually - looking at the sellers rating - I highly doubt I'll have a problem.

PiG

Glad to hear you've narrowed it down to the tweeter... It's almost comforting, I find, to know that there is a problem and that you can fix it relatively easily...

I really would try contacting polk directly about the tweeter... their customer service has the reputation of being second to none... which is in part why I buy their gear with confidence... you never know, they might be able to do something for you. Shoot them an email can't hurt.

I have to say I'm a little surprised that the warranty doesn't cover anything like tweeters... so if I buy A9's (the flagship HT speaker) and a week later under regular break in use (so lower volume) the tweeter goes they wash their hands of it... I don't know for sure, but I doubt they'd have the reputation they do if they went about their business that way...

Good luck

xrapidx

Its our local guys who say the tweeter, crossover, etc arn't covered - I'm pretty sure Polk customer service would be way more giving, then again - I am in Africa

Its been a bit of a learning experience for me, I would now rather ordered directly from an international store and loose the benefit of a local warranty, as it doesn't really serve a purpose.

If you look at the cost of a replacement tweeter here, almost three times that of ordering international and delivered here - the same goes for the actual speaker... we pay a considerable markup to purchase locally.

dorokusai

Swap the tweeter and see if it follows the driver. You won't void the warranty by doing so and you're helping Customer Service since they don't have to guess at your problem.

As long as you have the receipt, the crossover and tweeter on your Polk loudspeaker is covered by the warranty.

EDIT: It looks as though you already figured out it was the tweeter. I'd contact Polk CS directly @ 866.764.1801 and get a replacement or if you must, buy the one you found on eBay.

Mark - Polk CS

xrapidx

dorokusai wrote: »

Swap the tweeter and see if it follows the driver. You won't void the warranty by doing so and you're helping CS if anything since they don't have to guess at your problem.

As long as you have the receipt, the crossover and tweeter are covered by the warranty.

Thanks - already swapped them around, and it is the tweeter - I was told by the retailer that by swapping them around I would void my warranty, but considering they said it doesn't cover much I did it anyway.

I do have my original invoice - with regards to the warranty - I'm pretty sure without a 3rd party, they would just have said it was abuse.

Not too concerned now - as I've ordered two tweeters, one for backup. It obviously would have been a problem if it was the crossover.

Out interest, can a crossover be damaged by overloading? Just wondering if they'd be able to use that excuse if it was the offending part.

EDIT: Just read your edit - I'll try dealing with them directly next time for advice - fortunately this was only $75 for two tweeters

dorokusai

Xrapidx - Glad to hear that you're on your way to getting fixed. Next time you have a problem, please come to Club Polk and your retailer needs some re-education when it comes to product knowledge.

Don't presume you won't be handled properly if you haven't asked in the first place. If you know you abused the speaker, and I'm not saying you did, that's one thing but if you're honest and forthcoming with what happened, I imagine you would be taken care of in a professional manner.

Yes, a xover can be damaged by normal listening, overloading or any number of real world issues. It's very rare but these things happen. The driver is usually what goes bad or fails as xover problems are quite rare. A loudspeaker driver is far more sensitive to input/signal issues than the crossover.

You were smart to order two of them as you should always have a backup or spare.

Mark

dorokusai

PiG wrote: »

I have to say I'm a little surprised that the warranty doesn't cover anything like tweeters... so if I buy A9's (the flagship HT speaker) and a week later under regular break in use (so lower volume) the tweeter goes they wash their hands of it... I don't know for sure, but I doubt they'd have the reputation they do if they went about their business that way...

Good luck

The Polk Audio warranty includes items like the tweeter and crossover when applicable.

Mark

xrapidx

Thanks - I'm extremely sensitive to the system - and am also the only user. Considering the price over here - I wouldn't deliberately abuse them, and honestly do not remember ever pushing them over a level which would be considered abuse. They're powered by an Onkyo TX-NR807 - and VERY seldom go above -10dB. The receiver itself is locked to -3dB in case someone sits on the remote, which has yet to happen.

As explained to me on another forum, there are various other factors which could overload the tweeter - and maybe it was one of those. Once I have the new tweeters (and they work), I'll see if I can see any signs of overloading by opening the current tweeter.

PiG

dorokusai wrote: »

The Polk Audio warranty includes items like the tweeter and crossover when applicable.

Mark

Yeah I thought this to be the case, though I didn't know for certain... Something just didn't sound right about what his distributor in SA was telling him... So, I was just trying to illustrate how off the mark that sounded, that's all.

Thank you for confirming that for us. That sounds more like polk

xrapidx

I've had offers by 3rd parties to look at the tweeter when I have a replacement and tell me what went wrong, I'll update the thread when I have more information - if it is 'customer' abuse, I'd love to know how.