buzzing sound on speakers SDA-CRS

egp823

What are possible causes of buzzing/crackling sound on speakers? Removed speakers and had them checked and no problems were found. When installed buzzing sound is heard. tks for any input.

Tour2ma

First, Welcome to the Club... Nice lil' SDA's there that somehow sound bigger than they should...

Possible causes range from a ground loop to Bees, but don't make us guess a list...

Do both speakers buzz?
Is it noticeable all the time or does music mask it?
Is it always there? If yes, always at the same volume?
How were the drivers "checked"?
Did it just start?
Any equipment changes?
Any changes at all to the system, including relocating it?

Details please...

amulford

They're gone, dude. You should dump them immediately.... To ME!!!


No, Just kidding. More info is needed.

rskarvan

There's a skeeter on my.....
I can here those Fu#$'ers buzzing.

egp823

3 of the 4 speakers sometimes buzz. I noticed that buzzing is more apparent when i play piano cd's. When playing other cd's everything sounds well though sometimes I still hear the buzzing sound intermetently. Maybe music just masks it .I just got these from a 2nd hand shop recently and they really sound awesome . Used a pair of Pioneer HPM's 100 prior to this acquisition driven by an Onkyo Integra integrated amp 120 watts /ch. I am planning to use this SDA's as my main system now because even with this problem soundstage and clarity is better. Glad to be a member of this forum and you will be hearing a lot more from me .thanks a lot for any help.

Tour2ma

Sounds ground loop-ish, but the "3 of 4" thing is a bit of a poser...

Not surprising that music of any decent SPL masks it, but it shows in quiet passages...

Is this occurring with all sources, i.e., CD, DVD, FM, etc.? or only one?

Assuming CD's... Where are you converting the signal? Analog out of the player or digital to your AVR? Might help if we knew what was in your system...

Any fluorescent lights on the same house circuit as your gear? any major appliances, e.g., refridgerator?

amulford

We're glad to have ya!

What else is on that circuit? Try a different one an isolater....

VR3

Have u tried switching out the source?

egp823

What is an isolater? I moved my step down transformer far from the system, umbilical cord was near this before, and somehow buzz was minimized. Will have an electrician check my wiring and maybe install a separate circuit for my system. Am not sure about housing circuit but fridge outlet is behind wall of my system outlet. Converting signal out of analog for system as I do not have a digital out from my amp. Using speakers only for audio CD's no FM, DVd's etc. Is it safe to assume that there is nothing wrong with the drivers? Thanks a lot for all the help.

Tour2ma

Am not sure about housing circuit but fridge outlet is behind wall of my system outlet.
Then odds are it is on your rigs circuit... When you next notice the buzz, try shutting off/ unplugging the fridge and see if the buzz goes away and comes back when you restart the fridge...

I moved my step down transformer far from the system, umbilical cord was near this before, and somehow buzz was minimized.
Also took it away from the fridge's emf...

Will have an electrician check my wiring and maybe install a separate circuit for my system.
Possibly expensive, but worth it... Not hard to do, if you have aptitude for doing the work (or a good friend who does). Check local electrical codes and/or chat with sales rep at your local hardware store/ Home Depot/ Lowes. The latter two often give Saturday AM classes of elctrical basics...

Converting signal out of analog for system as I do not have a digital out from my amp. Using speakers only for audio CD's no FM, DVd's etc.
Would be a good idea to rig a second source as a check... When you say "amp" do you mean "receiver" or do you own separates or are you "mainlining a variable CDP output to a power amp?
Assuming that the latter is not the case... at minimum move your CDP's input to your pre-amp to a different input, e.g., "Aux", as a check...

Is it safe to assume that there is nothing wrong with the drivers? Probably... but no need to assume as we are zeroing in on the culprit... remember the old adage, "Assuming makes an a$$ of you and me..."

Thanks a lot for all the help.
You are more than welcome...

egp823

turned off the fridge and buzzing sound is still present. Buzzing is not constant just noticed that it is more apparent when I play first track of CD. By the way, when I removed one speaker noticed that the filler or damping material was between the driver and the radiator. I read somewhere ( not sure if this forum) that filler should be on the sides or below. What is the correct placement? I do not know if improper placement would have an effect. Thanks lot for all the help

Tour2ma

May want to borrow a different source from a friend... another CDP, Tuner, tape deck, whatever, and see if the buzzing still occurs.

One more question... with no CD playing, do you ever hear the buzz?

egp823

When I hear the buzzing sound and I push the cone with my finger the buzzing becomes more apparent. Without a cd playing no buzz. tks for all the help

RuSsMaN

Sounds like VC's starting to rub to me.

When I first got my CRS+'s, the stereo speaker on the right SDA had a buzz. I applied a little more power, and it disappeared forever.

Not saying that is a solution by any means, but it was exhibiting the same symptoms you are describing. Bottom line, the glue used to hold the mag's in place (pole piece inside the voice coil) isn't well known for it's strength.

Copper VC's will expand and contract with heat, could be the reason you only hear it on the first track or so.

I'd start with disconnecting the SDA cable altogether. 3 out 4 drivers? Swap them left and right and see if the buzzing drivers move sides, or stay put.

Cheers,
Russ

Tour2ma

Sounds like the CDp and keep your fingers off of the cone(s)...

EDIT Due to Near Simultaneous post:
Gotta go with Russ... his post makes a lot of sense and lays out an easy check.

Only thing I'm scratching my head on is the "buzz" going away as the VC warms up... I would think its expansion upon heating would tighten the gap and increase the rubbing, but I may have the wrong picture in my mind's eye..

Still, kep your fingers off of the MW's, especially during play...
1st - applying unequal pressure on a driver will force misalligned travel (not good); and
2md - you don't want to restrict the travel of a driver during play; introduces stresses the relatively fragile inner workings, may not be able to handle...

Please post your findings after you perform Russ' troubleshooting steps...

egp823

swapped them and the buzz moved sides. will check mag's in voice coil. How do i access this? thanks

Tour2ma

No need to access the magnets to check anything.

When your buzzing swapped sides with the channel swap it told you the issue is with your signal to the speakers, not the speakers.

What exactly did you swap? Speaker wires or RCA interconnects from your CDP?

egp823

swapped the good speaker with the buzzing speaker and the buzzing sound moved to the other speaker. so i guess it really must be the speaker.

egp823

swapped good driver with buzzing one.

Tour2ma

Swapping speaker MW's never occurred to me... Nevermind...

egp823

Had the speakers tested again and technician said nothing wrong with them . will install drivers again later and see what happens. I was resigned to ordering a new set of drivers but i don't know anymore. will wait for replies re access to voice coils as last resort. tks a lot for all your help

Tour2ma

You're welcome....

Not meaning to bail on you, but getting into driver repair is not an area I have any experience in. I don't think you can repair a VC, but can reallign/ reattach a loose magnet, which could cause the buzz. RuSsMan has experience here and will chime back in I'm sure.

I do know that you check a MW by placing your fingers and thumb around the outer edge of its cone (spread out as evenly as possible) and push with even pressure. If you hear "scratching" the VC is out of allignment.

You can also use a battery to check movement by wiring it to the driver. With polarity one way, the driver should move in one direction. Reverse polarity and it should move in the other.

egp823

I think I finally found the fault. When I removed all the drivers for checking last week , I failed to notice that there were 2 sets of drivers the MW 6510 and MW6511. I guess I interchanged them when I placed them all back. The MW6511 is the SDA driver. Yesterday I placed drivers in their proper positions and cleaned connectors Viola sound was pure magic. I received an email from polk today and DC resistance and BL or motor strength (whatever this means) for drivers are different . The MW6510 has 6.57 ohms and BL of 6.32 as compared to 3.13 ohms and BL of 4.34 for the MW6511. I listened to these last night and I know that these speakers are real keepers. Will keep eyes and ear open for the second set. Missus very happy because speaker size just right for our living room. Again, thanks a lot for keeping up with me and for all the help.

Tour2ma

Happy to read that all is well... Yup, the CRS is a remarkable little speaker.

Interesting that interchanging the MW's would produce such a nasty effect.... would not have thought that. Some FR issues, yes, but not noise...

Live and learn...