Blown Polk LSI-9 Tweeter. Now what?

grigorianvlad

I understand they are off balance now, but if you were me (wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy!) would you order an original Polk tweeter replacement or ordered two XT25s instead (since they are more efficient)?

F1nut

I would either order the correct tweeter from Polk or if Face can help you out with the correct version from PE, go that route. I would not order another of the same because anyway you look at it, it's the wrong tweeter.

grigorianvlad

Thank you, F1nut. You are implying something I am yet to understand.
Help me out, please.
1) Crossover is not designed for the XT25?
2) Although it is more efficient, it is somehow worse than the Polk's? How is it inferior?
3) It is unable (the XT25 isnt) to pickup lower frequencies sent by crossover and they are missing?
Face, can you tell me what the correct version is? Much obliged to you all, gentlemen.

cincycat13

Wow. Neither of those tweeters look like the one that melted (literally melted the face plate) down in my LSiC. And the replacement from polk did not match it either IIRC.

grigorianvlad

Jeez, what were you playing through that LSI-C? What sort of an amplifier did this?

F1nut

1) Crossover is not designed for the XT25?

Not the one you bought.

2) Although it is more efficient, it is somehow worse than the Polk's? How is it inferior?

Because it is more efficient it will cause the carefully tuned balanced sound of the speaker to be off. That makes it inferior.

3) It is unable (the XT25 isnt) to pickup lower frequencies sent by crossover and they are missing?

That's got nothing to do with why it's the wrong tweeter.

grigorianvlad

While we are waiting on Face to chime in with the correct model of XT25 I should have installed, let me ask you something. Are you a Grateful Dead fan, F1nut?

F1nut

Not really. Mars Hotel, American Beauty and Workingman's Dead are the only works of theirs that I like.

grigorianvlad

Right, Mars Hotel is listed as your location. I had two theories. The first one was that you like the Grateful Dead's 1974 release "From the Mars Hotel". The second theory (much more frightening) was that you indeed thought that you resided in some seedy hotel on planet Mars. That would make you ... Yes... Hmm... Let's just say it would have been hard to take any tweeter advice from you seriously. Relieved to learn my first theory was correct

grigorianvlad

Here is how I imagined you if my second theory was right

Upstatemax

F1nut wrote: »

I would either order the correct tweeter from Polk or if Face can help you out with the correct version from PE, go that route. I would not order another of the same because anyway you look at it, it's the wrong tweeter.

Just to stir the pot a bit...

But if HE likes how the new tweeter sounds compared to stock, I don't think you can say he ordered the wrong tweeter. He ordered the right tweeter for him.

If I apply your current logic, all the people doing crossover mods on LSi's should call Polk and have stock crossovers sent ASAP.

Again, just to stir the pot a bit...

Over all, I hope someone with the right tools gets their hands on both tweeters to run some measurements.

Obsession18

The Vifa XT25BG60-04 that you installed as a rated efficiency of 92.4 db which is probably a bit higher than the stock tweeter. The other tweeter available from PE is the Vifa XT25TG30-04 which has a lower efficiency of 91.1 db, I suspect this tweeter is probably the closer match and it is the unshielded version (only one magnet, not two like the one you installed).

Personally I would stay with the one you’re using and replace the other tweeter in kind, I've always thought the Lsi's were a bit to warm and the added treble response would improve their sound in my opinion.

F1nut

If I apply your current logic, all the people doing crossover mods on LSi's should call Polk and have stock crossovers sent ASAP.

Your logic is incorrect. Upgrading the crossovers with components of the same value does not change the balance.

Upstatemax

F1nut wrote: »

Your logic is incorrect. Upgrading the crossovers with components of the same value does not change the balance.

But it does change the sonic character of the speaker. Thus changing the original intended sound profile from Polk.

I'm not trying to start an argument, I just don't see how this is really any different from other people modifying all sorts of other audio equipment.

If new tweeter sounds better to him, I don't see the point in calling Polk for an OEM tweeter...

F1nut

Upgrading the crossovers will result in an overall sound improvement, but it doesn't change the basic sound profile as you call it. The problem with the tweeter is question is that it does alter the basic sound profile because it is not the same value.

grigorianvlad

Thank you all for contributing. I am learning a lot here. Most of it I didn't understand, so let me ask basic questions that will help me make a decision.
1) Will this XT25 damage my amp or crossover because of different characteristics?
2) What is this "balance"? Balance between left and right? Highs vs mids or lows? Something else?
3) Being more sensitive this XT25 will not require more power? Probably the same, but will just sound slightly louder like Obsession18 pointed out.
4) Being shielded has nothing to do with sound quality, right?
I like what I hear from the replaced tweeter. The difference is very subtle and only evident if you play the same sound in each speaker separately and compare. When they are playing together I cannot tell which is which even if you are specifically looking for a difference. So, even getting a second XT25 isnt that pressing. I am not ordering Polk's original tweeter unless XT25 somehow may damage hardware.

pitdogg2

Short answer No I do not believe you will harm anything. See the XO components (electrolytic caps) are +/- 10% putting fresh poly caps in there instead will bring that down to less than 5% sometimes less than 1-2% variance. I think if it were me I would get 2 of the non shielded tweeters and call it a day. Yes they will sound louder than older tweeters BUT what we do not know is that they(Vifa) may of made some changes between when yours(LSi9 tweeter) were made and when the newer Vifa was made that could may of well also affected Polks tweeters they also get from them BUT was still in the parameters Polk had originally set.

Face

grigorianvlad,

It appears F1Nut and the others answered everything that's been asked so far.

cincycat13 wrote: »

Wow. Neither of those tweeters look like the one that melted (literally melted the face plate) down in my LSiC. And the replacement from polk did not match it either IIRC.

This version may have a neo magnet, different than any XT25 Parts Express sells.

PolkieMan

I agree with pitdogg2

"I think if it were me I would get 2 of the non shielded tweeters and call it a day."

They will probably take the one you have back as exchange.

F1nut

2) What is this "balance"? Balance between left and right? Highs vs mids or lows?

Highs, mids amd lows.

If you do buy another XT25 and I'm 99.9% sure you will because it's cheaper, then if you sell the speakers at some point down the road you'll have to come clean that the tweeters are not Polk originals, which will put off a lot of folks and also mean that you can't charge whatever the going rate is at the time.

grigorianvlad

That is fair. I never sell my outdated gear. My garage is full of amps, DVD players, speaker systems... Lazy that is what I am.

sk88

FWIW, according to this link, the faceplate on XT25 became glued to the dome assembly sometime after 2005/2006. People discussed some possible reasons, including warped faceplate, air leaks around the screws, and different models at different times may have paper gasket and foam installed instead of the glue.

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?235663-Vifa-Ring-Radiator-Mod

megasat16

I guess using the Polk OEM replacement is a better option if you don't mind the extra $. But XT25 wouldn't hurt except for the resale value and some shift in the frequency response and sensitivity to the original polk tweeters.

Technically, you can't call your speaker LSi9 if you use different tweeters.

grigorianvlad

Thank you, everyone. I am glad I signed up for this forum.

sk88

megasat16 wrote: »

Technically, you can't call your speaker LSi9 if you use different tweeters.

So people who "upgraded" their lower woofer on Lsi15 can't technically call it Lsi15 anymore? ;-)

megasat16

sk88 wrote: »

So people who "upgraded" their lower woofer on Lsi15 can't technically call it Lsi15 anymore? ;-)

These LSi15 upgraded with Polk DB woofers are cool but technically, they should be called the modded LSi15. ;-)

But seriously, I want to stress that replacing a tweeter with non-oem driver may have more dramatic difference in sound than the woofer because tweeter covers wider frequency range.

Polk said the tweeters used in the LSi line is modified version and I am not sure how big difference it made from the XT25.

grigorianvlad

By all means, if a set was modified and then later attempted to be sold, the buyer should be notified whether he specifically asks if they were modified or not. Only fair.

Face

sk88 wrote: »

So people who "upgraded" their lower woofer on Lsi15 can't technically call it Lsi15 anymore? ;-)

It's a Polk approved mod.

sk88

megasat16 wrote: »

Polk said the tweeters used in the LSi line is modified version and I am not sure how big difference it made from the XT25.

Can someone please verify if this is true of not except for the faceplate? I want to know becasue I want to "upgrade" the tweeter.

F1nut

Calling it an upgrade is inaccurate because it is the wrong tweeter. Why do you want to put the wrong tweeter in your speakers?