RTI12 mids and tweeters dead

sharpcyrcle
sharpcyrcle Posts: 6
edited January 2013 in Troubleshooting
I got these for my birthday when I went off to college back in 2005. they were in storage for a few years and got the majority of their use in the last year. I have them biamped and hooked up to a VSX-9040TXH and they sounded
amazing but then one by one the drivers started to die I noticed I could press on the cones a little bit when they should be playing and it would work until I released the tension. the tweeters would come and go and now are mostly just gone. The subs all still work fine. please advise. I have to get these things working again. I am a very technically inclined person I could certainly fix it with the right direction and parts. This is just out of my normal area of expertise. thanks in advance
Post edited by sharpcyrcle on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,548
    edited January 2013
    Seems you've been cooking voice coils. The only solution is to replace the non-working drivers and tweeters, so give Polk a call tomorrow.
    I have them biamped and hooked up to a VSX-9040TXH

    There's part of your problem, the other part is you had the volume level too high. Your entry level AVR is rated at 110 wpc, but that is at best with only 2 channels driven, maybe only 1. The more channels you use the less power per channel you get. Besides that, bi-amping with an AVR is not possible because at the bare minimum bi-amping requires separate amps, each with its own power supply not a weak shared one like your AVR, but even that isn't true bi-amping. Anyway, you would have been better off using single run speaker cables and replacing the stock jumpers with high quality speaker cable.
    VSX-9040TXH - Weight: 17.9 lbs

    There's your first clue that the power supply is lacking. Hell, I've got CD players that weigh considerably more than that.
    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

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sharpcyrcle
    sharpcyrcle Posts: 6
    edited January 2013
    so would you recommend an external amp for the towers and continue to use my receiver for movies etc or get a new receiver all together. I am on a budget any suggestions?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,548
    edited January 2013
    I didn't check if your AVR has pre-outs, but if it does, adding a power amp would serve you very well.

    Take a look on Audiogon or eBay for an amp that fits your budget, should be plenty to choose from.
    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

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sharpcyrcle
    sharpcyrcle Posts: 6
    edited January 2013
    WP_20130101_005.jpg


    ohh yeah I'm in business. Recommended wattage?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sharpcyrcle
    sharpcyrcle Posts: 6
    edited January 2013
    btw weight is 36.5lbs. It's got a little heft to it. Its a rebadged VSX-21TXH Elite receiver without the warranty.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,548
    edited January 2013
    Even a 100 wpc from a real amp will make a noticeable difference.
    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

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,548
    edited January 2013
    sharpcyrcle wrote: »
    btw weight is 36.5lbs. It's got a little heft to it. Its a rebadged VSX-21TXH Elite receiver without the warranty.

    I looked at another site and you're right. That first site listed the wrong weight, imagine that. I still have a CD player that weighs more than that. :mrgreen:
    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

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sharpcyrcle
    sharpcyrcle Posts: 6
    edited January 2013
    Haha Thanks. I'll be addressing all of those very soon.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,548
    edited January 2013
    Good deal. I hope Polk still has the tweeters and drivers. Let us know.
    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

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sharpcyrcle
    sharpcyrcle Posts: 6
    edited January 2013
    Yeah me too. Sure they have something that will work. Will post results.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
    edited January 2013
    Out of curiosity, have you ruled out the basic things before buying new drivers? Did you check that jumpers between the terminals in the back are connected properly / tight? Have you checked crossover for damage? Have you measured impedance of tweeter and driver with a multimeter?
    Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector for movies
    Carada 106" Precision Series (Classic Cinema White)
    Denon AVR-X3600H pre/pro
    Outlaw 770 7-channel amplifier
    B&W CDM1-SE fronts
    B&W CDM-CNT center
    B&W CDM1 rears on MoPADs
    JBL SP8CII in-ceiling height speakers
    Samsung DTB-H260F OTA HDTV tuner
    DUAL NHT SubTwo subwoofers
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-Ray player
    Belkin PF60 Power Center
    Harmony 1100 RF remote with RF extender
    Sony XBR-X950G 55" 4K HDR Smart TV + PS3 in the living room
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • math wizard
    math wizard Posts: 106
    edited January 2013
    When you get those drivers replaced, get an amp (min. 200 w). Those 12's crave power.
    Processor - Emotiva UMC-200
    Pre-Amp (2 Ch) - Emotiva USP-1
    DSP Minidsp nanoAVR DL
    DAC (2 Ch) - Emotiva XDA-2
    Amp (Fronts) - Emotiva XPA-2
    Amp (Center/Surrounds) - Emotiva XPA-3
    CD - Emotiva ERC-1
    Fronts - Polk Audio RTi 12
    Center - Polk Audio CSi5
    Rears - Polk Audio RTiA1
    Sub - Epik Knight
    Sub EQ - Velodyne SMS-1
    Monitor - Sony XBR65X850C
    Blu-Ray - OPPO BDP-203
    Network Media Player - Chromecast Ultra
    Power Conditioner - APC H15
    Power Conditioner - Emotiva CMX-2
    PVR - DirecTV C61k
    Remote - Harmony Touch w/Hub
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pastorfuzz
    Pastorfuzz Posts: 24
    edited January 2013
    sharpcyrcle wrote: »
    Yeah me too. Sure they have something that will work. Will post results.

    You can get the woofers, mids, and highs from Electro Mavin on ebay.
    New original drivers for the RTi 12.
    They have them listed as a kit, enough drivers to refurb 2 Rti-12's. $249.00
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter