SDA SRS Sub Bass Radiator noise

Vizzsh

Hi. WOW! What a great forum!

I just got my system (see below) back together. It was for a long time (about 3-4 years) sitting idle in the “corner” do to <insert long story about loss of job - moving - bad preamp/tuner> reasons. Anyway, the first thing I did was pop in some Steely Dan. Wow, I forgot how good it could sound, and what its like to stand in front of one of these speakers. (SDA SRS)

Plans are to convert to a 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 system but this is just a 2-channel set up for now. Still sounds great playing movies as is. Out of curiosity, I ran the subwoofer crossover frequency sweep test in the audio set-up portion of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” DVD. I used a low volume level, per-instructions. As the sweep reached the lower Hz portion I heard a scratching or pecking sound coming from my right Sub Bass Radiator.

As I visually inspected it (at rest - with no audio) I notice the face of the Sub Bass Radiator appeared to be at a slight (very slight) angle, i.e. not straight up and down - flush with the front of the speaker. No other visual abnormities. I lightly pushed in on it and it made that noise I heard in the THX test, like there was something scratching on the back of it.

I don’t hear this noise during movies or music playback. I’m guessing cause I haven’t played anything reaching such low frequency’s.

Any thoughts on what is likely to be “broke”? And if I could fix it myself? I’m really handy with duct tape.

Thank you, Vizzsh

Polk SDA SRS (Speakers) (Serial # 1916, 2895) (bi-amped)
Adcom GTP-500 (Tuner/Preamp)
Adcom GFA-545 (Power Amp) (high frequency)
Adcom GFA-555 (Power Amp) (low frequency)
JVC XV-N50BK (DVD Player)

gatemplin

Welcome to the forum,

You have a very nice setup there. If you plan on doing a full HT setup with the SDAs you should talk to Racer and check his setup in the showcase. If it were me I would pull out the passive radiator and check for damage. I have no idea what could be causing that noise but others who are more familiar may be able to help you. Good luck

F1nut

I agree, pull the PR out and take a look. If I remember correctly there is some styrofoam back there that may have come unglued.

Tour2ma

Man, it's raining new SRS owner-members lately... but that's a good thing.

Welcome Vizzsh,

Glad you're back on your feet. SRS's make one helluva HT anchor.

Please let us know what you find when you pop the PR. For anything interesting pics are appreciated, if you're capable.

Couldn't help but notice the gap in your SRS's SN's. Any idea why they're spread so far?

RuSsMaN

Spot on F1, more likely than not, some of the 'mass' added to the pr has come off/loose.

gidrah

Agreed! Welcome to the forum. Where-abouts in Michigan?

Vizzsh

Thanks for the welcomes and replies - all.

I borrowed one of the cameras (the newer one I hadn’t used before) from my work and by the time I figured out how to use it the battery died. So I hope out of focus pics will work.

I’m sure I’ll get the names of the components of the PR wrong but... basically, the cone has separated from the gold colored wavy thing.

Not sure I can get any duct tape in there. I’m kidding, but...

Can this be re-glued with the “appropriate” glue? It does slide back into its original position. Or do I need a new PR? I don’t really want to cobble this; I want it to be right.

Also, there is no Styrofoam behind the PR, it is just a “hollow” area.

ridrah, I’m in Reed City. It’s a very small town, north of Big Rapids, east of Ludington, south of Cadillac, west of Clare. I also have a place near Houghton Lake.

Vizzsh

I had the wrong attachment, and then I deleted it, which left me unable to add the write ones…

Can I add more than one attachment to a post? How?

Vizzsh

Ok… eeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr….
Lets see….

Vizzsh

duh

Vizzsh

one more

Vizzsh

I should have noted, the last pic shows the “cone” in its proper place.

Tour2ma, the Serial # gap caught my attention too as I was recently looking through my records as to when I bought them. I considered posting/asking a question about it. I bought them both new (as far as I knew anyway) at the same time and I’m the original owner. I did not notice the gap back when I bought them.

In fairness, I probably shouldn’t say this (but I’m going to) cause I don’t really know if the salesman was thinking/feeling that I was naive... though I’m sure I was, and in many ways I’m sure I still am. So perhaps he “unloaded” a couple “old” SRS’s he had in stock on me. I bought them in 1988. Only from reading through some old threads here did I learn some of the history of the SRS’s. And if I recall from what I read, the SRS 1.2TL’s were out at the time I bought my SRS’s.

It is the # 1916 with the bad PR. The top piece of wood is loose and has cracks on 3 glued seams. (I want to talk more about this but I’m running short on time.)

VR3

FWIW

The yellow wavy thing is called a Spider

Just to say you did learn something on the boards

I am sure there is a way to repair it......

Glue is probally it, but that will be hard to do....

I don't understand how it seperated, I mean the thing moves with the air. Not like any REAL gigantic amount of pressure except at extreme volumes will move it.

gatemplin

I would assume the spider could be glued but you wouldn't want to change the weight by very much. Maybe other members could suggest a suitable glue or where to take it to get repaired.

F1nut

I'm just thinking out loud, but I would remove the old glue if at all possible and use a clear silicone to reglue to parts together.

Other than that, I would contact Ken at Polk and ask him what to use.

gidrah

Polk may have some PRs in stock. Eff it. Get a new one.

hotwheelman

My srs 2 passive did the same thing, used just enough elmers glue around it to make a good glue seam and it worked just fine. Did not effect performance at all and is non toxic of course. Not sure how long that may hold out being the simple glue that it is.

Mike

VR3

Duct Tape

Fixes Anything

amulford

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
FWIW
I don't understand how it seperated, I mean the thing moves with the air. Not like any REAL gigantic amount of pressure except at extreme volumes will move it.

You would know about that, huh?;)

VR3

Most definetely

racer4551

Hi vizzsh, had the same thing happen and used super glue to attach back to the spider or wavy thing(i didnt know what it was called either)it worked great and is very strong with the super glue.It also looks great,cant even tell it was repaired.Mine was styrofoam that attached to the spyder.