One speaker louder than other
Polka_sound
Posts: 51
My rti12s in two channel mode with music Has one speaker louder than the other. I moved that speaker on the other side and now the left side is louder than the right. I use my avr to balance the sound but I'm still tuning it to get it perfect. I bought both speakers in January so they are 8 months old. Are speakers normally like this? Do speakers of the same series and model be louder than each other?
Post edited by Polka_sound on
Comments
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No, that is not normal. Have you just noticed this recently, or has the pair always been off-balance volume-wise?2.1: PC>Schiit Gungnir MB>Schiit Freya Noval>NAD C-270>Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1, HSU STF-2 5.1: HDMI Bitstream>Denon AVR-1910>polkaudio RTE55, CS350-LS, RT3, HSU STF-2, Visio M55-F0
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How did you use the avr to balance the sound ? Are you sitting off center ?HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
No, that is not normal. Have you just noticed this recently, or has the pair always been off-balance volume-wise?
Back in march when I was watching a movie. Bought them in January I didn't notice it then but I didn't use it as often back then. Now when I listen to music I hear it more so but not soo much movies bc of soo much is going on -
No, that is not normal. Have you just noticed this recently, or has the pair always been off-balance volume-wise?
I don't know if it has always been like this I've had them since January and used them properly since the summer which is when I noticed it. -
How did you use the avr to balance the sound ? Are you sitting off center ?
Well my avr has setting for each speaker level and I adjust it up and down with the knob until I hear that they are matched but I haven't got it perfect yet. I know the proper way to do this is with pink noise and a spl meter but I can't do that at the moment. I just want to know if speakers are made like this. One tower is just a bit louder than the left tower. -
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I can just hear one speaker is a tad louder than the other tower
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I'll listen to some 2 ch music tonight and see again
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Try to determine if all drivers (tweeters, mids, woofers) are working in the speaker with the lower volume. Play something at very low sound level and put your ear up to each one.2.1: PC>Schiit Gungnir MB>Schiit Freya Noval>NAD C-270>Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1, HSU STF-2 5.1: HDMI Bitstream>Denon AVR-1910>polkaudio RTE55, CS350-LS, RT3, HSU STF-2, Visio M55-F0
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Ok I will
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What kind of Avr do you have? Are you using an auto calibration like Audyssey or Mcacc? I'd suggest using one if you have that feature and checking the channel levels per speaker.
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Could be a host of things other than the speakers. The receiver could not be putting out the same to each side, a loose connection somewhere. Double check your connections and hit the channel levels so it sounds balanced. Other than that, I wouldn't worry too much over it if you only have a slight imbalance. If something was wrong with either speaker the difference would be more profound.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
It's an old avr. Pre hdmi so no audyssey or anything. It has manuals controls to adjust volume for each speaker. Thats what I've been using. I will need a spl meter and test tones to find out exactly how much the louder the loud speaker isWhat kind of Avr do you have? Are you using an auto calibration like Audyssey or Mcacc? I'd suggest using one if you have that feature and checking the channel levels per speaker. -
Could be a host of things other than the speakers. The receiver could not be putting out the same to each side, a loose connection somewhere. Double check your connections and hit the channel levels so it sounds balanced. Other than that, I wouldn't worry too much over it if you only have a slight imbalance. If something was wrong with either speaker the difference would be more profound.
I understand. It's is an old avr. I can't check to see if it is outputting more to one side than the other with a meter but I have swapped speakers around and that speaker was still louder and the other was still as loud as before. I chedcked and use sound balance levels in the avr to match the speaker levels -
Could be a host of things other than the speakers. The receiver could not be putting out the same to each side, a loose connection somewhere. Double check your connections and hit the channel levels so it sounds balanced. Other than that, I wouldn't worry too much over it if you only have a slight imbalance. If something was wrong with either speaker the difference would be more profound.
From the OP, I got the impression that the difference in volume followed the speakers when he switched them side-to-side. Is this right, Polka_sound?2.1: PC>Schiit Gungnir MB>Schiit Freya Noval>NAD C-270>Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1, HSU STF-2 5.1: HDMI Bitstream>Denon AVR-1910>polkaudio RTE55, CS350-LS, RT3, HSU STF-2, Visio M55-F0 -
From the OP, I got the impression that the difference in volume followed the speakers when he switched them side-to-side. Is this right, Polka_sound?
You are correct tbone289 the problem followed the speaker when I switched sides and cables -
Just an update when I listen to Michael bubles album I could hear one side was louder on a few notes of music so I stuck my face infromt of the speaker and it seemed it was louder in the tweeter and mid range compared when I faced over the other rti12 . It sounds like its almost clearer and louder by a tad. I'm soo confused? I hope the warranty can cover this
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.....and how do you know it's not the receivers fault ? Did you try the speakers on another receiver ? Or different speakers with the same receiver to see if that inbalance follows ?
It could be the speakers, but that would be the last resort. Crap happens sometimes.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
i doubt the receiver can follow the speaker, i really do. The only thing that follows the speaker is the speaker.
Is there other flaws in the sound besides one channel louder than the other?
Are you sure all drivers are working? I had that problem and it turned out one of the drivers of my A7s was not working. Just touch with finger all drivers. Mine was in warranty and Polk was awesome and quick with replacement.I have found that tube based computers provide the best sound quality. ENIAC and MANIAC I offer a smooth, well defined and articulated sound unmatched by the current silicon based CPUs.
jeremymarcinko wrote: »But as in all things your perception is your reality. -
.....and how do you know it's not the receivers fault ? Did you try the speakers on another receiver ? Or different speakers with the same receiver to see if that inbalance follows ?
It could be the speakers, but that would be the last resort. Crap happens sometimes.
Tony's, you could be right. It could be the receiver. I won't know for sure as I only own one receiver and cannot compare with something else. In time I hope to buy a newer powerful receiver or separates! But I did swap speakers and wires and the problem followed. -
I can explain the sound like this. Both speakers work and sound great. The sound isn't less exciting or duller both are identical except on some passages one speaker will stick out more and you can tell it is coming from that louder tower. When I switch the speakers over and I look for that same feature in the passage from that corner of the room and it isn't there. I trying to balance out the sound with the level controls on the receivers by +1 or 2 but its not perfect
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Also I tried removing the woofers and tweeters to see if everything was okay inside but the seemed almost glued to the baffle. I couldn't remove anything without using a screwdriver to pop it out from behind bc it was leaving indents in the plastic. Any tips on removing them without damaging the plastic?
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But I did swap speakers and wires and the problem followed.
Did you swap the speakers and speaker cables at the same time? If so, do one or the other, but not both at the same time.
What are you using for speaker cable? How long are the cables?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 -
did you confirm that all drivers in the quieter tower work? Touch them.I have found that tube based computers provide the best sound quality. ENIAC and MANIAC I offer a smooth, well defined and articulated sound unmatched by the current silicon based CPUs.jeremymarcinko wrote: »But as in all things your perception is your reality.
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Did you swap the speakers and speaker cables at the same time? If so, do one or the other, but not both at the same time.
What are you using for speaker cable? How long are the cables?
No I did not swap th Cables at the same time. I will try that. Cables are monster cable 12 gauge with banana plug interconnects from the wall to the speaker -
They all work. I can touch them and feel them all vibrating. I can even see the woofers move on some passages! But the problem seems to be the mismatched levels in between the tweeter/midrange zone. The volume of sound doesn't match the other tower. I know some songs have one channel purposely louder for the songs purpose but I checked for that and can't recreate it with the "weaker" towerdid you confirm that all drivers in the quieter tower work? Touch them. -
Did you happen to make sure both of the binding posts are tight on the speaker you are having problems with? I would probably even remove the metal factory jumpers and install a jumper wire before going any farther. If you are hearing a faint difference, with no distortion, it sounds more like an electrical connection issue to me.
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I had this happen with a set of speakers a few years ago where one didn't sound right. I played some music with a lot of cymbals and other high notes and put my ear up to the tweeter and you could hear it wasn't playing the high notes on one speaker. Took it in for repair and it turned out the ferrofluid had leaked out.
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I had this happen with a set of speakers a few years ago where one didn't sound right. I played some music with a lot of cymbals and other high notes and put my ear up to the tweeter and you could hear it wasn't playing the high notes on one speaker. Took it in for repair and it turned out the ferrofluid had leaked out.
Are you serious? That sucks. How the heck do I find that out I live in Canada and I don't know how I can carry this huge heavy tower anywhere -
Soda blue the tower works fine and plays all notes it just doesn't have that same loudness level the other tower has with certain passages adj this is evident when I swapped speakers and listened for the same increase in volume but it wasn't there. Just softer sound. It doesn't broken or damaged in any way. It's sounds like it should but it's just not balanced with the other tower. Really sucks when youre trying to enjoy a song in stereo
