RTA 11TL High Passive Radiator "crackle"
BlueSmoke
Posts: 5
First Post! I picked up a pair of RTA-11TL speakers (minty...or so I thought) in May.
I had noticed in casual listening, that I would get an occasional "crackle" from one side. Being a positive sort, I figured it was due to questionable power, or numerous other low end amp issues (I have a fairly low rent sony reciever I use to push these while I build a 2 channel system to truly push them properly.)
Today, since I was inspired:
1. Made a sweep tone CD.
2. Determined the problem exists just in one speaker (after switching cabs to make sure the problem did not exist in the amp...and the second speaker performs fine on the same amp channel with the same source material.)
3. Problem APPEARS to be isolated to the mid passive radiator (with the small cap)
4. Noticed the passive radiator was slightly "crunchy" pushing it in.
5. Pulled speaker. Ran sine tone again. No additional weirdness. (though wacky sounding without the speaker in the cab.)
Thoughts to trouble shoot further? Source for new passive radiator? Go Fish?
Thanks!
I had noticed in casual listening, that I would get an occasional "crackle" from one side. Being a positive sort, I figured it was due to questionable power, or numerous other low end amp issues (I have a fairly low rent sony reciever I use to push these while I build a 2 channel system to truly push them properly.)
Today, since I was inspired:
1. Made a sweep tone CD.
2. Determined the problem exists just in one speaker (after switching cabs to make sure the problem did not exist in the amp...and the second speaker performs fine on the same amp channel with the same source material.)
3. Problem APPEARS to be isolated to the mid passive radiator (with the small cap)
4. Noticed the passive radiator was slightly "crunchy" pushing it in.
5. Pulled speaker. Ran sine tone again. No additional weirdness. (though wacky sounding without the speaker in the cab.)
Thoughts to trouble shoot further? Source for new passive radiator? Go Fish?
Thanks!
Post edited by BlueSmoke on
Comments
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weird I always that the passive radiator would outlast the speaker !
I see the radiators on ebay about once a month . -
Welcome to club Polk.
The PR's have a spider spring that has a cloth covering like a regular speaker. I have seen some Mid-woofers where this cloth detached from the basket and will make noise. This could happen to the PR's too. Fortunately, it can be re-glued to the basket.
Another possibility is that some foreign object found its way into the back end of the PR.
StanStan
Main 2ch:
Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.
HT:
Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60
Other stuff:
Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601 -
You probably just need to push it with an amp with more NADs...
Another possibility is that the gasket on that passive failed and allowed the factory installed blue smoke to escape... New gaskets will run you about $9.95.
In all seriousness - welcome to the forum2 Channel - Polk SDA-2BTL, Carver TFM-35, Peachtree iDAC, Qobuz streamed via Episode Lynk using bubble UPnP server -
The PR's have a spider spring that has a cloth covering like a regular speaker. I have seen some Mid-woofers where this cloth detached from the basket and will make noise. This could happen to the PR's too. Fortunately, it can be re-glued to the basket.
That's exactly what the problem is.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
That is what I was thinking....some dead mice bones are 'crinkling' in there..LOLAnother possibility is that some foreign object found its way into the back end of the PR.
Stan
Course maybe they are stuffed with $100 bills
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weird I always that the passive radiator would outlast the speaker !
I see the radiators on ebay about once a month .
Success! Nabbed one for 25 shipped. Will hope that solves the issue, and attempt to repair the other for a spare if things go well! -
Update: New PR arrived. Installed. Still crackles.
Changed power source to Carver Cube. Still crackles (though sounds MUCH better than the stock NAD 7150 power amp.)
Installed "defective" PR into speaker into other speaker: No crackle. (Very interesting.)
Installed working PR into original speaker: Crackles. (doh!)
Any more thoughts? The crackle kicks in at the low end of the range (I would suspect 45-50 hz) at all volume levels.
-BlueSmoke -
Check the rest of your cabinet for leaks."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Check the rest of your cabinet for leaks.
Good idea.
Another thought, it's not the PR you are hearing, but rather the mid-driver.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Are you sure there's nothing touching the back of the passive or mid-woofers? Speaker wire, batting, etc.
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Are you sure there's nothing touching the back of the passive or mid-woofers? Speaker wire, batting, etc.
Very good point.Stan
Main 2ch:
Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.
HT:
Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60
Other stuff:
Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601 -
Ok: rattles exorcized.
Switched original PR's back into speakers. Pulled the lower mid driver on the offending cab. Re-glued seals on back of speaker (as they tore when removing the speaker.) Rotated driver 90 degrees. Reinstalled.
Noise GONE. Some wires must have been rattling against things.
Anyone need a spare PR? :cheesygrin:
