RF Interference on RT5000 pwrd spkrs

O'Shag

Love my Polk RT5000 HT speaker system, which is comprised of RT3000p, CS1000, and F/X1000. I own several speaker systems that are considered some of the best out there. Quite frankly the RT3000p front channel speakers are up there with some of the best. For HT and multi-channel audio applications, I would put my reference RT5000 system up against most anything out there, they're that good in my opinion.

However, I've experienced a problem over the years, which has become worse, and which Polk will fix at no cost via an revision to the amplifiers. The problem is that the amplifiers within the RT3000p's sub units in addition to the powered center channel amplifier act as an RF receiver, with the result that significant amounts of noise end up in the LF. This can range from actually hearing the radio station thats being picked up, to popping noises and very ugly distortion, especially at lower volume levels. I have taked to Polk technical service in San Diego. They will fix the problem at no charge via an revision (revision 3) to the amplifiers. I was given instructions to remove the amplifiers from the speaker units and ship them.

I don't live far from the Polk facilities in San Diego, so rather than remove the amplifiers myself and ship them, I would like to bring the speakers to the Polk facility in person and have them fully checked when the revision is done to make sure that they are operating correctly.

I have lived with this problem gradually becoming worse. I hope it will be resolved by the revision 3 upgrade, because I am very fond of these speakers, paid an awful lot for them, and would hate to have to stop using them, which is the case at this point because the problem has become so pronounced as to render the speakers unlistenable.

Is anyone else familiar with this problem? Have you experienced the changes the revision 3 upgrade makes?

Thanks

bvette94

I have the same system and have not experienced these problems as of yet however i am interested in the amp revision in case i experience the same. Has anyone else ever heard of the revisions he has stated? can anyone post a link with info or email it to me at bvette94@aol.com. as for the rest of this post i also love my rt5000 system and have experimented trading different speakers and nothing sounds as good as the 5000 system as a whole.

[Deleted User]

Hello,
If you wish to coordinate having service done at the San Diego facility telephone 888-267-5495 and ask for Gil Palmer. He is the service manager and will make the necessary arrangements for you.
The revision deals with the bass amplifier's grounding system. The circuit board layout's grounding path is changed to eliminate ground currents. In some areas of the country that have high amounts of RF (radio frequencies) there can be humming and actual radio reception. The grounding path changes eliminate this potential. Also, keep in mind the front LED will not turn off on the revision three version. Earlier versions have the LED turn off when the amplifier is in standby, the replacement remains on in compliance with export requirements.
Regards, Ken

O'Shag

Kenneth,

You mentioned the LED will stay on. Does this mean when the speakers are not active the LED will still remain lit? Currently, the system has an optional auto mode which shuts off if no signal is present.

I will place a call to Gil

Thanks for taking the time to reply

O'Shag

[Deleted User]

Hello O'Shag,
The auto on/off function remains the same, it's only the LED on the front of the cabinet that is going to be different. It will remain on as long as the AC power cord is plugged into the wall outlet. Many countries require an indicator telling the owner that the AC power cord is plugged in. But, the actual operation of the speaker remains the same.
Ken

jamesguthrie

O'Shag, I have RT3000s and had the exact problem you describe. My interference came in the form of random popping noises that were especially apparent during quiet scenes in movies.

I spoke with Polk about the problem, and they sent out a pair of revision 3 amps (at no cost to me). With the new amps installed, the problem completely disappeared, and the speakers again sound perfect.

Another example of Polk's excellent customer service!

James

O'Shag

James,

many thanks indeed for the encouraging news. I've been becoming increasingly worried over the past year as the problem has been becoming more and more apparent. Given your experience I'm hopeful that once again, I can enjoy the full potential that these marvellous speakers are capable of.

I don't know if you'd agree with me on this one James, but I have owned quite a few mid to high-end speaker systems over the years costing as much as $12,000, and still do own four additional speaker systems other than the Polks. What continues to amaze me is just how good these speakers really are. They stand tall with the best, and yet they were offered at such an excellent price considering their performance potential. I really think Polk created something special with these speakers (despite the problem with the RF interference). In bass power they are monstrously good. These speakers have among the widest soundstage I've heard out there. I haven't heard Polk's reference SDA speaker system, which I'm sure are fab. But the RT3000 must be one of the very best Polk have ever created.

cdubya

Hey guys, i have a couple of questions for you.
What came with them in the box, i.e interconnect? sorbathane feet? The reason i ask is this is a 2nd hand pair i demoed didnt have them. I downloaded a manual (not included either) and it said they were sold with them.
How do you have them hooked up? I only tried them off the pre-outs with the sats set to large. Btw there were no jumper bars either so i couldnt experiment to much. I just couldnt get the mid -range to sound right, not to my liking shall we say.
Just goes to show how much the previous owner cared for them, and one last thing the power cords were different to one another not a major but WTF?

O'Shag

I used to have my RT300p speakers bi-wired. I have now reverted to using regular speaker cable hook-up, and using the supplied Polk jumper bars and jumper cables. I did this because I felt that the internal crossovers do a better job. also, why is there a need for external bi-amplification, when the subs have their own 300w amplifiers built in? These speakers are an eay load to drive becasue of this, and are immensely powerful - you just don't need huge power to drive these. Rather I would concentrate on driving them with some really good quality amps even of modest power.

If you are missing jumper cables, they should be no problem to manufacture. My jumper cables are about two feet long. If you get some good speaker cable cut to this length for each jumper (left and right per side), then some good spade connectors, then this will serve as well as the originals.

As for your impression of the midrange, you are clearly not set up correctly. The mid-range on these speakers is excellent, a little fat perhaps, but excellent nonetheless. I feel they have exceptional character in the upper bass registers through the lower mid-range, with seemless integration.
If you are not using jumpers, and are bi-wiring/bi-amping, as I stated earlier, you will probably find as I have done that these speakers perform better when using the internal crossovers. You will need to get some jumper bars from Polk.
There are not sorbathane feet included, but sorbathane pads. The sorbathane pads stick to the base of the sat and are sandwiched between the sat and sub when speakers are setup in phase (sat sitting on sub). These pads serve to prevent vibration between the sat and sub cabinets. If these are missing, then Polk should be able to provide them, otherwise sorbathane pads are very easy to find.

brody05

Hi Craig,
As you know we have discussed and played at length the whole mid range thing with the 3000s.

Thought it may pay to share the sucess in changing the x overs in the satelites to RT55is and run full range to them with the subs running off the front pre outs and seperate dedicated LFE sub.

They sound heaps better than originaly and obviously only in our opinion, now all I gotta do is get rid of that damn humm, seems to be a lot worse in normal phase and heaps less in reverse, haven't got my head around that one yet.

Brody

PS Enjoyed the demo at yours today. Take care

cdubya

Anytime, my doors open