New LSiM705-Tweeter Distortion

imsjry
imsjry Posts: 120
in Speakers
Got my new LSiM705s today and five random songs in, I’m hearing a distortion in the left speaker tweeter. Not in every song but I can recreate it. Is this a known issue around these parts or am I just unlucky? I’m very disappointed.

In better news, I’m already loving the sound more then the RTi12’s. Much more refined and not as in your face.

Thanks all.
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • DaveHo
    DaveHo Posts: 3,536
    Had the same issue with my 705s. Coil rub, bad tweeter. Call Polk.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    Oh bummer. Ugh! Is it normal that it’s not on all songs and even the ones I do hear it on, it’s not necessarily recreatable?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DaveHo
    DaveHo Posts: 3,536
    In my case, it was most evident on piano and synth solos. Easy to recreate, every time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sponger
    sponger Posts: 325
    Re-check your connections? Switch L/R amp channels to confirm it's the left speaker? Play a tone sweep? What are you driving them with? Are you using power line filtering of any kind?
    Denon X7200WA
    LSiM 705 703 704c
    Denon DP 400
    Yamaha CDC 775
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    sponger wrote: »
    Re-check your connections? Switch L/R amp channels to confirm it's the left speaker? Play a tone sweep? What are you driving them with? Are you using power line filtering of any kind?

    I literally unplugged my RTi12s I’ve had for years and plugged these in with same cables and gear. Connections are all good. No power line. B&K3030 with a Kenwood KA8004 as the Preamp. Swapped cables on amp and still happens on the left speaker only.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,953
    @joecoulson just experienced similar with his 705s and ended up ordering a replacement tweeter from Polk.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Yup. It was a bad tweeter. Easy to repai but I d
    Suggest you find a track that does it and listen as low as you can next to the speaker and make sure it’s the tweeter and not the mid. You can always swap drivers to test it and make sure.
    Easy to replace these drivers. Not so in the Elacs I have now :#
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    Not being a big audiofile, techy person, I’m not sure id feel comfortable taking this massive thing apart. Shouldn’t Adorama send me a new speaker? Certainly not looking forward to packing and shipping this one back however.

    It was definitely coming from the top of the 705 so I assume that is the Tweeter right?!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jeremymarcinko
    jeremymarcinko Posts: 3,785
    edited January 2019
    Yes swapping out the tweeter will be much easier than shipping that one back. Adorama returns are a huge pain, been there done that.

    They’ll get it right eventually but it could take weeks and many phone calls.

    Call Polk
    Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    imsjry wrote: »
    Not being a big audiofile, techy person, I’m not sure id feel comfortable taking this massive thing apart. Shouldn’t Adorama send me a new speaker? Certainly not looking forward to packing and shipping this one back however.

    It was definitely coming from the top of the 705 so I assume that is the Tweeter right?!

    Most likely it is but you might want to try that low volume test with your ear next to each driver to try and verify. They are very easy to take apart. See this thread:

    https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/184789/lsim-tweeter-swap#latest
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    joecoulson wrote: »
    imsjry wrote: »
    Not being a big audiofile, techy person, I’m not sure id feel comfortable taking this massive thing apart. Shouldn’t Adorama send me a new speaker? Certainly not looking forward to packing and shipping this one back however.

    It was definitely coming from the top of the 705 so I assume that is the Tweeter right?!

    Most likely it is but you might want to try that low volume test with your ear next to each driver to try and verify. They are very easy to take apart. See this thread:

    https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/184789/lsim-tweeter-swap#latest

    Thanks very much for this, although the process looks frightening to me. You may be hearing from me directly for guidance if that is ok! For starters, did the "beauty plate" go back on properly? Also, did this permanently solve your issue?

    Since I haven't had time to properly try to recreate it, do you happen to remember specific songs or music you used when you heard it? I know "Ray of Light" by Madonna did it for me.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Mine broke up on vocal tracks like:

    83m9tf9xk3bh.png

    Very low volume and ear right up to tweeter and it was obvious that it was that driver breaking up. Make sure and listen to the mid above it also as that might be the culprit
    It’s an easy process and yes the plate went back fine. A slight amount of the double sided adhesive was left behind on the mounting plate but it did not affect reattachment of the beauty plate.
    Glad to help. Reach out for anything.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    joecoulson wrote: »
    Mine broke up on vocal tracks like:

    83m9tf9xk3bh.png

    Very low volume and ear right up to tweeter and it was obvious that it was that driver breaking up. Make sure and listen to the mid above it also as that might be the culprit

    Ok so the mid is the "top", bigger piece and the tweeter is the smaller one right below it? Just making 100% sure my brain has that right.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Yup
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    So I don't seem to hear the issue at lower conversation levels. Its only at louder levels (say 9 o'clock on my preamp). And even then, not on every song so it's hard to replicate at will. Frustrating!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Might be a source issue actually. Especially if your not hearing at low levels.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • imsjry
    imsjry Posts: 120
    joecoulson wrote: »
    Might be a source issue actually. Especially if your not hearing at low levels.

    I plugged my RTI12's (that I've had for years with same gear) back in and don't hear anything like this. Plus, it's literally only on the one speaker and it is for sure a Tweeter crackle.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Ok. Well them call Polk and replace the teeeter. If your sure that’s what it is.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,953
    edited January 2019
    Polk will get it shipped out to you lickety-split.

    Also, you can ask for a slight discount on it since you are a member of Club Polk.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jeremymarcinko
    jeremymarcinko Posts: 3,785
    It’s under warranty, you can’t discount free, I mean maybe a credit. They’ll take care if it.
    Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,953
    jeremymarcinko wrote: »
    It’s under warranty, you can’t discount free, I mean maybe a credit. They’ll take care if it.

    Ah good call, didn't realize it was under warranty.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Lickety-split. Yeah
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter