need help with speaker driver issue

pglbook

I picked up a pair of PSB Stratus tower speakers a few days ago and finally had a chance to hook them up and the problem is that the driver in the right speaker does not seem to be working. The speakers only have 1 driver and 1 tweeter. It is a 2-way design. The driver in the right speaker does not vibrate and there doesnt seem to be sound coming from it or, if there is, it is very faint. The driver in the lleft speaker works fine.

I know I was foolish to buy these without testing them and hearing them but I trusted the seller's word. A craigslist sale that seemed to good to be true and maybe it was. Live and learn.

In any event, is there something I should be looking at to troubleshoot the driver? Perhaps an easy fix?

I'd appreciate any advice on how to troubleshoot this.

Thanks,

pglbook

Here re the specs for the PSB Stratus if this would help troubleshhoting the problem:


Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, reflex-loaded, dynamic floor-standing loudspeaker system. Drivers: one 8" long-throw woofer with 3-lb magnet; one 1" treated-textile dome, ferrofluid-cooled. Crossover frequency: 1800Hz. System Q: 0.7 at 35Hz. Frequency range: 26Hz-21kHz. Frequency response: –1.5dB, 40Hz–20kHz. Sensitivity: 86dB/W/m; 88dB in typical listening room. Maximum program input: 150W. Maximum amplifier power: 200W, clipping less than 10% of time. Impedance: 6.5 ohms rated, 6 ohms minimum.
Dimensions: 38¼" H by 11" W by 13½" D.

KLapinas

The first thing to do is pull the driver out and make sure you have a good connection.
If you have a digital multimeter test to see if the speaker is dead or not.
If the speaker measures impedance the next step would be to check the connection at the crossover.
The other option is to pull both drivers out and flip flop them and that will at least let you know if the driver is good.
If neither driver works in the cabinet that you are having an issue with then you either have a bad/no connection or you could have a bad capacitor.

pglbook

Thanks, KLapinas. I pulled the driver out and checked the wires on the back of the driver and they seemed secure. I was not sure what I was lookinf for as I have no electronics background but I did a quick visual to see if any leads had come loose but all looked ok.

I do not have a multimeter but will get one at Home Depot tomorrow. How do I use it? How do I test for impedance?

I really need to get that driver fixed because I can tell you that, even with only 1 speaker working 100%, these are some amazing sounding speakers. Very nice and clear and lively sound. Wow.

But, man, am I bummed about that bad driver!! I should have known better than buying speakers without first testing them out. Damn. Lesson learned but now it is time to get these things fixed and working perfectly!

treitz3

If the connection is mechanical and not soldered, you can apply a 9V battery to the leads of both drivers. Swap the + and -. If they respond the same, the drivers are not the issue. You may want to apply a slight pressure [the amount the working driver moves] to see if there is any binding, grinding or otherwise, no free movement within said driver. If there is, then the driver is bad. If not, look upstream within the speaker.

Tom

ZLTFUL

Tom covered my suggestions. I would make sure that the driver isn't scratching or binding up when you gently press the cone in.
The 9v battery test is a good one to check this as well.
Visually inspect the wires running from the terminal to the voicecoil on the back of that particular driver.

KLapinas

pglbook wrote: »

Thanks, KLapinas. I pulled the driver out and checked the wires on the back of the driver and they seemed secure. I was not sure what I was lookinf for as I have no electronics background but I did a quick visual to see if any leads had come loose but all looked ok.

I do not have a multimeter but will get one at Home Depot tomorrow. How do I use it? How do I test for impedance?

I really need to get that driver fixed because I can tell you that, even with only 1 speaker working 100%, these are some amazing sounding speakers. Very nice and clear and lively sound. Wow.

But, man, am I bummed about that bad driver!! I should have known better than buying speakers without first testing them out. Damn. Lesson learned but now it is time to get these things fixed and working perfectly!

Disconnect the driver and the instructions for the multimeter will show you how to test for impedance and which setting to use.

pglbook

Thanks. I'll test it tomorrow. I appreciate all of your help. One more question, and I hope it is not too much of an ignorant question, but, when you say to disconnect the driver, do you mean to pull it out and disconnect the wires at the back of the driver? If so, how would I do so?

KLapinas

That is correct. There should be quick disconnects on the wires that pull right off the speaker. If they are slodered then you have a little more difficult task. You would need to use a soldering gun to remove the wires.

Take pictures and post them if you have any difficulties

pglbook

I turned on the speakers today and the funny thing is that the bad driver is now working although it sounds fainter than the other driver. I think the difference is in the bass. The good driver on the left speaker has a deep bass and the driver on the right speaker lacks that. That is really noticeable when I switch balance control from left to right. This speaker model has only 1 tweeter and 1 (8") woofer. I have not gotten a multimeter as I haven't had a chance to go to Home Depot and my not be able to go until tomorrow. But driver is working although it seems not to full capacity.
Any ideas what this means? Thanks.

vinyladdict

Make sure you have good tight speaker connections. My brand new monitor 75T's sounded like that when I first installed and couldn't figure out what was wrong, very faint sound . Ended up being bad connections as I had gotten the speaker wire insulation too far under the cap and it wasn't tightening down on the copper tightly . It was freaking me out for like 15 minutes with these brand new speakers until I figured it out .

pglbook

Thanks, vinyladdict. I provided an update on another thread...but the problem was the receiver and not the speaker. What a relief! . I switched the speaker wires from the receiver's A to B channel and, voila, the sound was perfect. So I figure there is something wrong with the A channel on my vintage Onkyo TX 4500 MK II receiver. I had not used the receiver for a while and had dusted it off to demo the PSB Stratus speakers. The last time I used the Onkyo receiver was to run a pair of Polk Monitor 7Bs and it worked fine with no issues. I am just glad it is not the speakers. I am getting my Yamaha CR 2040 receiver serviced/cleaned and will be using that with the PSB speakers in the future so the Onkyo will be set aside. I really like the PSB Stratus speakers - they have a very open and clean and neutral sound. Also quite lively with a lot of bass. Great clarity and detail. I am glad I followed the advice of all the Polkies who told me to run and buy them. Great advice and some great-sounding speakers. Thanks again.

20hz

besides A and B did you try switching right and left wires so you can see if the bad sound goes to the other side ?

pglbook wrote: »

Thanks, vinyladdict. I provided an update on another thread...but the problem was the receiver and not the speaker. What a relief! . I switched the speaker wires from the receiver's A to B channel and, voila, the sound was perfect. So I figure there is something wrong with the A channel on my vintage Onkyo TX 4500 MK II receiver. I had not used the receiver for a while and had dusted it off to demo the PSB Stratus speakers. The last time I used the Onkyo receiver was to run a pair of Polk Monitor 7Bs and it worked fine with no issues. I am just glad it is not the speakers. I am getting my Yamaha CR 2040 receiver serviced/cleaned and will be using that with the PSB speakers in the future so the Onkyo will be set aside. I really like the PSB Stratus speakers - they have a very open and clean and neutral sound. Also quite lively with a lot of bass. Great clarity and detail. I am glad I followed the advice of all the Polkies who told me to run and buy them. Great advice and some great-sounding speakers. Thanks again.

pglbook

20hz, no i did not switch right and left wres..no need to have done so or to do so now as both speakers worked perfectly once I switched the wires to the B output on the receiver. Thanks again. I have been listening to these speakers all last night and today and they sound wonderful!