One SRS sans bass

Shizelbs

So, I am pretty sure the passive radiator on my left SRS 2 is nonfunctioning. I played some tracks off my bass mechanic CD and touched the rubber surrounds of each of the passive radiators during bass-heavy moments. The right bounces around fine, but left does nothing. I have no balance on my pre, so I cannot just turn off the right speaker to totally know for sure. Trust me though, no bass from the left.

I just, in medical terms, what is my differential diagnosis? What else should I rule out first? And then, what are my steps to fix this problem/find the cause of my problem?

I'm gonna shoot this off to Polk CS as well.

Shelby

BlueMDPicker

You could swap your speaker connections, channel to channel, to eliminate the source/preamp/amp as a problem.

If the problem doesn't switch channels, examine all driver cones and the surrounds in the left enclosure (and the foam gaskets of the tweeters) - including surround of the PR. Air is escaping somewhere if the PR has no movement. Obviously, the back of the enclosure must be sealed. Make sure the speaker binding post cup is not loose as well.

dorokusai

Just pop the PR out, if it is "blown" it will be pretty obvious.

BlueMDPicker

Another thought: Are any of your drivers producing sound in the left enclosure? I don't know if you've had the speakers awhile, or just acquired them, but a jumper could be missing or broken from the HF (top) to LF (bottom) binding posts. If you are using the top pair of binding posts, this might be something to examine.

[Deleted User]

Hello,
Keep in mind the passive radiator is moved by the air pressure changes, inside the cabinet, produced by the 6.5" drivers. If one or more of them are damaged the passive radiator won't move. In all likelihood one (or more) of the 6.5" drivers isn't working. You may telephone us at 1-800-377-7655 and order a replacement, please mention your Club Polk membership for the reduced price.
Regards, Ken

Shizelbs

Pretty sure I fixed my problem. Popped off the bass radiator, and there was a loose wire between the two crossover units.

Done and done.

Shizelbs

Not sure, but could this be contributing to the problem as well? I am getting a nice hum when the system is on too. I swapped out the crappy computer cords with nice Signal power cords and swapped out my crappy IC with Signal analog 2. I was hoping that would do the trick, but not so. Different tubes didn't solve the problem either.

See the poor connection.

Shizelbs

I would say that of the exposed cable, about 1/3 of it is making some sort of contact. You can obviously see the part that is not.

Shizelbs

Here is the fix I did make, however.

Shizelbs

Originally posted by dorokusai
Just pop the PR out, if it is "blown" it will be pretty obvious.

This was sort of what I was thinking the first night I posted my problems. Boy was I tired and not thinking. The next day, rested, I realized; passive = no wires or power to it.

That made tonights work much more directed.

Lesson; don't fix stuff when you are mentally fatigued.

F1nut

Another often overlooked cause of no bass from the PR would be that the back of the PR has come unglued from the rest.

Have you checked for a ground loop hum?

hotwheelman

Originally posted by F1nut
Another often overlooked cause of no bass from the PR would be that the back of the PR has come unglued from the rest.

Have you checked for a ground loop hum?

By the rest you mean from the spider....right?

Shizelbs

Alright, I gave it the final test with my ears. Everything appears to be in order, except for the hum. I'll get to that later.

Suprise suprise, the soundstage is now ENORMOUS to the left.

It's all good like something made of wood.

Shizelbs

Okay, here is where we are at now. I sent the Sunfire in for repairs, since I could hear the hum from the amp itself. They say nothing is wrong with it, and installed some noise reduction **** anyways. Its being sent to me. What else could explain the hum. I know the SDA SRSs are supposed to be very efficient speakers, but this hum is going to drive me crazy. Others have had success with Sunfire + SRS, right?

danger boy

i'd look into the pre amp... that might be causing hum as well. or in rare cases some kind of interference with your speaker wires/cables or interconnects.. might have an open some where.

What's the volume where you hear the hum? low or cranked up pretty high?

My SRS's have a hum too.. but you have to be pretty close with your ears a few inches to the drivers to hear the hum. If i crank the volume on the pre... it becomes louder of course.

The hum is not noticeable when listening to music.. is yours?

Have you tried driving your SDA's with another unit? Different receiver or pre? THey don't take much power at all to get decent sound. (of course more power will make them come to life, as in your Sunfire).

I also get some hiss too if I crank the pre volume to max.