Polk L800 help
I posted before about the issues with my Polk L800. I bought these used and the previous owner broke off the binding post on the left speaker when bringing his hospice bed in. The family replace the binding post. I did. Rentable shooting today
I get sound out of all the tweeters and drivers when hooked up to amp and SDA cable plugged in. The problem was I would blow the fuse on any amp I tried when play loud. I wasn’t hearing a wide image and it was overly harsh.
I was planning on ordering a new binding post plate for the left speaker and maybe a new crossover
I just tried the following:
Unplugged the positive speaker cable on the right speaker and both tweeters and mid range work low bass out put
Plugged the positive back in and removed the negative cable and only outside tweeter and mid range work. No bass at all
Plugged both back in and went to the left speaker
Unplugged the negative speaker cable and outside tweeter and mid range worked. No bass Plugged back in and unplugged positive cable and no sound at all from the left speaker
What could cause this?
I get sound out of all the tweeters and drivers when hooked up to amp and SDA cable plugged in. The problem was I would blow the fuse on any amp I tried when play loud. I wasn’t hearing a wide image and it was overly harsh.
I was planning on ordering a new binding post plate for the left speaker and maybe a new crossover
I just tried the following:
Unplugged the positive speaker cable on the right speaker and both tweeters and mid range work low bass out put
Plugged the positive back in and removed the negative cable and only outside tweeter and mid range work. No bass at all
Plugged both back in and went to the left speaker
Unplugged the negative speaker cable and outside tweeter and mid range worked. No bass Plugged back in and unplugged positive cable and no sound at all from the left speaker
What could cause this?
Answers
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I would start by inspecting the replacement/repair job the family did to the broken binding post. Sounds to me like they screwed it up.
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 -
Agree. I was going to call Polk and see if they can provide a wiring schematic
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Pull the right speaker binding post plate to compare the wiring with the left speaker...simple.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 -
Agree. I was going to call Polk and see if they can provide a wiring schematic
Well, wouldn't it be just like the speaker that works at the binding posts?
One would think the problem is inside at the binding post. You could take pictures of both and post here. -
I will take some pics. Everything works like it should without the SDA cable attached
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Both are wired the same. I actually swapped the binding post plates and the same result. Took out the woofers and see the crossover plate. Everything looks connected.
I called Polk. They were no help. Said they would escalate.
I guess I’ll wait to hear back. -
What amps were tried?
If I remember correctly balanced differential architecture amps were problematic. -
Proceed HPA3
B&K AVR 7270
Emotiva Basx
Paramount (can’t recall the model 5 channel
Same issue with all -
Are you sure you have dedicated right and left speakers as indicated on the binding post plate.
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 -
Post those pics of the wiring on the rear of the binding post plates.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 -
I didn’t get any good pics. There’s nothing really to see The wires on both plates matched and were tight
I need to understand how the SDA is supposed to work. Why am I getting the SDA effect going to both The SDA and regular tweeter and drivers on the right speaker? That’s what I need to determine.
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Not at all familiar with the L800 but some questions.
When you did the tests was the SDA cable plugged in or not plugged in?
Are any of your amps Bridged?
Are any of your amps Balanced?
Can you pull the woofer/woofers and take some pics inside?
Was there any other work done inside of the L800's?
Do your amps also blow the fuses without the SDA cable hooked up while cranking up the volume?
Almost sounds like a short or mis-wired hookup somewhere in the L800 itself, internally?
With the SDA cable unhooked and playing proper, if something was wired incorrectly from the repair it may play ok but could be out of phase?
If you could get pics of the inside, via pulling the drivers, I'm sure someone here could tell right away if the wiring is correct.
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First we need to know if you actually have LEFT and RIGHT speakers, THEN we worry about the possibility of a short somewhere.
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Ok then... who's on first?
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The binding plates say left and right. I have no reason ro believe that are t correct
I don’t recall if I ever blew a fuse with the SDA cable off. I can put everything back together and they
I have removed both woofers from the left speaker I can take pics of the crossover.
I have only removed the binding post plate rom the right speaker
Will get pics later
Thanks for the help
Merry Christmas -
Given the speakers are tripping fuses it sounds most likely there's a short or other damage inside one of the speakers. Would have taken a fairly hard hit to break off a binding post.
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Agree.
Polk Support has not been helpful
Looking for someone with L800 to tell me what happens when you remove positive cable from the right speaker with the SDA cable plugged in. I don’t believe it should still play out both tweeters. -
Since you do actually have a left and right speaker and the damage was a broken binding post it is logical that the problem/short is there. Pics would be a big help.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 -
Take apart the binding posts and check to make sure the plastic sleeves are in place. I am thinking a binding post is shorting to the plate itself.The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon MiND2 Shunyata Triton
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it? -
Good callPolitical 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 -
Binding posts sleeves are in
Place. I am going to order a new plate from Polk just to be sure. -
Binding posts sleeves are in
Place. I am going to order a new plate from Polk just to be sure.
Just because they are there does not mean they are positioned correctly. There is a ridged edge on at least one of them that sits in the binding post hole to protect the post from touching the plate. If the sleeves are not installed correctly, the post can shift.The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon MiND2 Shunyata Triton
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it? -
I’m just going to order the left binding post plate from Polk
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Where are you located- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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I’m in Delaware
Just heard back from Polk. Seems they are now interested in helping me. They are talking to the engineers to see their opinion
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Polk is sending me the right speaker crossover? Surprised, but we will see
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….The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon MiND2 Shunyata Triton
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it? -
Nice one John.
Maybe a quick test to see if the Post is contacting the plate...
Take a DVM and check between the Post's and the Plate?
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Update:
I received the new crossover and binding post plate
Installed both and no change.
Installed the removed right channel crossover in the left speaker and no change
Removed and test all tweeters, mid range and woofers. All appear to be working properly
Same question:
What should I hear on each speaker with the SDA cable plugged in and
1 the positive cable from one speaker removed
2 the negative cable removed from one speaker
Why am I not hearing the same thing on both speakers when doing the above process
Currently:
Unplugged the positive speaker cable on the right speaker and both tweeters and mid range work
Plugged the positive back in and removed the negative cable and only outside tweeter and mid range work. No bass at all
Plugged both back in and went to the left speaker
Unplugged the negative speaker cable and outside tweeter and mid range worked. No bass Plugged back in and unplugged positive cable and no sound at all from the left speaker
Why not the same on both speakers
Is it possible that’s the way they are designed
Tested all the speakers
All 4 woofers tested at 9.8 ohms
All 4 mid range tested at 7 ohms
All 4 tweeters test at 3.3 ohms
I am so confused
Post edited by warlocks1 on -
You would think one of the Engineers could answer this question.
