Repair Speaker buzz??

Buzz
Buzz Posts: 4
edited September 2008 in Troubleshooting
I have a pair of RT800's that I've had for a good while now.
After a recent move, I've noticed a rather irritating buzz/vibration from one of the speakers. I would really like to
get rid of it.
- Is there anything I can do on my own to fix it?
- If not, is there anything a pro can do?
- If yes, would it be expensive? (i.e. - would it be worth it to fix it?)

Thanks for any advice!
Post edited by Buzz on
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Comments

  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited August 2005
    Try tightening all the screws / bolts that hold the speakers in the cabinet. Don't over tighten them but make sure they aren't loose. Another thing you can do is to lightly press on the driver with 4 or 5 fingers around the dustcap. Gently push it in a little and if it makes a scratchy noise then you have some problems.
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  • Buzz
    Buzz Posts: 4
    edited August 2005
    OK, I tried your suggestions. When I push in around the dust cap I do get a scratchy noise, like it is rubbing against the speaker housing or something. I don't get this noise on the other speakers.
    Is this the death knell, or is there some other kind of repair possibility.
    Thanks for the reply
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  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited August 2005
    Try contacting Ken Swauger through sending him a pm or giving him a phone call. It sounds like you have a blown driver... on the bright side polk should still have replacements and if you mention you are a club polk member you will get a discount on one. It might be something simpler like a misaligned voice coil but I don't know enough about that to spot it correctly so maybe someone else can give their opinion on the matter.
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  • Buzz
    Buzz Posts: 4
    edited August 2005
    Thanks michael. I'll contact Ken Swauger.

    If there are any other ideas out there I would appreciate hearing them.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited August 2005
    Bad voice coil, replace the driver.
    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

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  • BobMcG
    BobMcG Posts: 1,585
    edited August 2005
    That scratchy noise you hear while pushing on the driver is usually the sound of driver death.
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  • Buzz
    Buzz Posts: 4
    edited August 2005
    Is replacing a driver something that someone with no prior experience can do on their own? Or do I risk doing more damage if attempted. Thanks.
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  • BobMcG
    BobMcG Posts: 1,585
    edited August 2005
    Don't worry, not too many things are simpler. Remove the screws holding the driver in place and unhook the two wires. That takes care of the spent driver. Reverse the operation to install the new one.

    On occasion the drivers have a spot of solder on each wire terminal (spade). If so just touch them with a hot soldering iron and they'll come right off. Touch them again while pushing the new ones on and they'll slip right on and cool in place. (You might find an extra pair of hands handy if they do have a spot of solder on them.)
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  • LEOF777
    LEOF777 Posts: 2
    edited September 2008
    Hello
    I'm new and I have the same problem with a pair of RT5. I have the RT5's since 10 years ago, but I can't use them as much in my parents house. Now I recovered them and I noticed that annoying noise (buzz) in one of them.
    I tried sitching the channels, changing the cables from the amp to the speaker, but it's clear: The problem is in one of the speakers.
    I found this forum, read this tread, and tried to tighten the screws, but all seemed to be ok. I also try to push arround the dust cup, and my sour returned to my body when I do not get that scratchy noise.

    If the speaker is functioning, and I slightly touch the border of the woofer (the rubber part), the buzz seems to disapear. But after a while it start again...

    Can anybody help me?

    Thanks a lot!
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited September 2008
    Hello,
    Thanks for posting on the Forum. It sounds as though the driver's voice coil has become slightly warped and, as a result, part of the voice coil former is rubbing against the inside of the voice coil gap. If it isn't too severe you could try removing the driver from the cabinet and rotate it 180 degrees. If the audio gods are with you the change in position should allow gravity to pull the voice coil former away from the gap and stop the noise.
    If this desn't do the trick telephone 1-800-377-7655 and order a replacement driver and mention your Club Polk membership for the savings.
    Regards, Ken
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  • LEOF777
    LEOF777 Posts: 2
    edited September 2008
    Thank you very much Kenneth!
    I'll try rotating the driver.
    Do you know how could it became warped? Could it be the lack of use? Humidity? Heat?
    I ask you just to prevent it could occur again.

    Any idea about the cost of the replacement?

    Thanks again.

    Regards,
    Leonardo.
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