Problems with my System

Amplified

Hello,

Just some background information. I bought this system from Tweeter, it is my first system I have ever purchased so I am unfamiliar with most technical terms relating to speaker systems in general.

The Products I bought are as follows:

Sony Stereo Audio Receiver - STRDE197 http://www.abtelectronics.com/product/15452.html

Polk Audio Speakers x 2- T20e
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/t20e/

10-inch Powered Subwoofer - PSW10
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/psw10/

---

After I bought the above products I wired them correctly in my basement. Within 2 hours of use the speakers started to distort and the bass on the speakers was sounding like an open drum. Granted I was playing them loud, because they are intended to be used for parties. I was playing them at 85% of max volume allowed by the amplifier. Needless to say, I returned the speakers and exchanged them for new ones.

I arrived at home with the second pair of speakers and wired them up correctly. I play music through a laptop that connects to the amplifier. I turned the volume up to 40/72 on the amplifier which is a little over half volume (not loud), and a puff of smoke emerged from the right speaker's tweeter. The speakers were blown again...within 5 seconds of turning on the music. I figured it might have been a power surge or something. We connected the amp to a power strip that connects to an outlet in the basement. The outlet in the basement is high powered im guessing because we plug the hot water heater into the same outlet...we leave the hot water heater unplugged when we use the stereo.

I returned to tweeter with the amp and the 2 speakers and they were all broken. I received a new amp and 2 speakers and set them up again. They worked fine for 3 hours during a party playing at 65/72 volume and now they are broken again a week later after no use.

My question is what steps should I take to rectify this problem. I figured speakers could be played at near or max volume... why would they have that setting on the amp if it was harmful to the speakers? It doesn't make sense to allow the sound to reach a level that would damage the speakers...Any suggestions would be appreciated !

Thanks in advance.

wallstreet

I never go past 12:00 on my amp. 1:00 is tops for any receiver. If it's not loud enough at that point, your receiver is underpowered (which yours is).

MillerLiteScott

How high does the speedometer on your car go up to?

Do you drive it that fast for hours at a time?

Just saying.

AndyGwis

I have the same speakers (the T20ebs), and, albeit in a smaller room, I could get those things up very loud with no distortion or fading on my B&K St-202.

Unless you've hosting a rave in a huge area, the speakers should be the problem. I'm not sure if the receiver is hearty enough for insane listening levels, but I'd guess it would run out of steam before the speakers blew up. Also, I would think your ears would give up somewhere inbetween the receiver and the speakers.

Sounds like you should get something that's a little better suited for your particular application. Maybe some Cerwin Vegas or white van speakers. Stuff that can get crankin really loud, to the point that you can't tell how good it sounds anyways.

Drumingman

Gee, I hate to tell you this but the Sony is a piece of crap.
First it's power is rated from 40 to 20 K @ 100 watts per channel.
This is the first indication that they REALLY Scrimped on the amp.
Never buy a reciever with poor specs like that and expect it not to blow up your new speakers. If you buy a higher quality unit like a Harman Kardon or a Denon, somethng in that class, you will not be blowing speakers up.

Amplified

Thanks for the responses. I'm sure if I drove my car at top speed I would not have a problem; got to love BMW engineering

I'm guessing the optimal solution is to buy a better receiver.

MSALLA

You say you plug this into the same outlet as your hot water heater. Check the outlet power. That sony is not all that great. I don't know what your budget is like but if you can, return it and upgade. Your only using it for 2 channel, so you can get a fair receiver for another 100 to 150 (not great but better.) I'm surprised it smoked like that. Have you ever had any problems with your hot water heater.

Amplified

No we haven't the hot water heater has always run fine. It is probably a pretty high voltage line but I thought that didn't matter since the receiver only draws the power it needs? I'm not to familiar with electrical wiring so I could be wrong. All I know is we have ruined 3 sets of speakers and I need to figure out why before I walk into Tweeter again haha :cool:

MSALLA

Amplified wrote:

Thanks for the responses. I'm sure if I drove my car at top speed I would not have a problem; got to love BMW engineering

I'm guessing the optimal solution is to buy a better receiver.

Ditto!!! my 530i loves to scream all day.

Amplified

325i here, I'm from Media PA noticed you were from Drexel hehe.

ledhed

A rule of thumb is to NEVER turn the volume past 12 o'clock. Also, if you are just doing 2 channel, you could get a Harmon Kardon or Denon for about 200-300 that might do better

cfrizz

He likes to blast his speakers, so he is always going to be burning out the speakers & the receivers, since receivers really aren't designed to play at extreme levels for long periods of time.

What a waste of good equipment.

Amplified

Well I dont want to waste equipment thats why Im posting on this board in an attempt to find a solution.

With a budget of 800-1000$ what can I get that wont break? I intend to play the music loud, not incredibly loud for a 3-4 hour period once to twice a month.

tommyboy

Amplified wrote:

Well I dont want to waste equipment thats why Im posting on this board in an attempt to find a solution.

With a budget of 800-1000$ what can I get that wont break? I intend to play the music loud, not incredibly loud for a 3-4 hour period once to twice a month.

so you spent all your money on your bmw?

Amplified

Sadly yes haha. I just don't want to pay more than 1000$ dollars for a stereo; I don't value it any higher than that.

joeparaski

You need to get PA suff for your parties, not home stereo equipment. Check the DJ equipment rental places, they may sell you some second hand stuff that will suit your requirements and not blow up.

Joe

MSALLA

If your just talking for house parties, you could get away with some monitor 60's and a used higher end receiver. I'm willing to bet whats loud to you is not whats loud to most members on here. Are you playing the music so loud the cops are coming?

tommyboy

I can't believe I'm recomending this but:o

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/MTX-PA-DJ-Speaker-TP112/sem/rpsm/oid/75522/catOid/-12950/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

and get a cheap stereo reciever like the onkyo 8011, or 8511. From my experience, if you just want something loud, cheap, with no regards to sound quality(you only use it a couple times a year so...) this is the way to go...

tommyboy

Jim Shearer

Amplified wrote:

Hello,

Just some background information. I bought this system from Tweeter, it is my first system I have ever purchased so I am unfamiliar with most technical terms relating to speaker systems in general.

The Products I bought are as follows:

Sony Stereo Audio Receiver - STRDE197 http://www.abtelectronics.com/product/15452.html

Polk Audio Speakers x 2- T20e
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/t20e/

10-inch Powered Subwoofer - PSW10
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/psw10/

---

After I bought the above products I wired them correctly in my basement. Within 2 hours of use the speakers started to distort and the bass on the speakers was sounding like an open drum. Granted I was playing them loud, because they are intended to be used for parties. I was playing them at 85% of max volume allowed by the amplifier. Needless to say, I returned the speakers and exchanged them for new ones.

I arrived at home with the second pair of speakers and wired them up correctly. I play music through a laptop that connects to the amplifier. I turned the volume up to 40/72 on the amplifier which is a little over half volume (not loud), and a puff of smoke emerged from the right speaker's tweeter. The speakers were blown again...within 5 seconds of turning on the music. I figured it might have been a power surge or something. We connected the amp to a power strip that connects to an outlet in the basement. The outlet in the basement is high powered im guessing because we plug the hot water heater into the same outlet...we leave the hot water heater unplugged when we use the stereo.

I returned to tweeter with the amp and the 2 speakers and they were all broken. I received a new amp and 2 speakers and set them up again. They worked fine for 3 hours during a party playing at 65/72 volume and now they are broken again a week later after no use.

My question is what steps should I take to rectify this problem. I figured speakers could be played at near or max volume... why would they have that setting on the amp if it was harmful to the speakers? It doesn't make sense to allow the sound to reach a level that would damage the speakers...Any suggestions would be appreciated !

Thanks in advance.

OK, let's put it in car terms: that Sony reciever is the equivalent of a Yugo; the speakers are on par w/ a Ford or Chevy, while the sub is on the order of a Yaris. All will work within their limits, but the limits are modest. Would you expect a Yugo to keep up w/ your BMW? Then don't expect that reciever to perform like a couple of 600w Krell monoblocks! That you blew the tweeter in mear moments says you are driving the reciever into clipping, and that will destroy almost ANY speaker, no matter how much power it is rate to accept. It might be possible to use that small an amp if you have VERY efficient speakers--maybe Klipschorns (rather large and not cheap.) :eek:

And as for the bass: if you want to shake the room, then you probably better plan on spending at least $1K on a sub, or perhaps a couple of subs.

What you have presented is a very demanding application, which will require serious money.

Cheers, Jim

MSALLA

tommyboy wrote:

I can't believe I'm recomending this but:o

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/MTX-PA-DJ-Speaker-TP112/sem/rpsm/oid/75522/catOid/-12950/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

and get a cheap stereo reciever like the onkyo 8011, or 8511. From my experience, if you just want something loud, cheap, with no regards to sound quality(you only use it a couple times a year so...) this is the way to go...

tommyboy

You know what, this is right up your alley.

AndyGwis

Those are pretty close to my idea of getting some Cerwin Vegas.

Please get them!!!

And, get some type of cheap power amp to play them at high levels. What's cheap with power over quality, maybe a Crown, Crest, or Gemsound amp off ebay? Hell, plug the source right into the amp if it has gain/volume control and go for it.

Then, with whatever budget you have left, buy some glow sticks for your guests and rock the effin' paint off the walls!

Amplified

Thanks for all the responses guys, its much appreciated.

I think I'm going to trade in all my old stuff and just get a refund...

I decided to give these a shot for speakers..
http://cgi.ebay.com/Cerwin-Vega-VE-12-Tower-Speaker-New_W0QQitemZ9715843084QQihZ008QQcategoryZ71569QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Going to get 4 of them and place them around the room. Not going to get a subwoofer, since the 4 speakers will probably pump out sufficient bass.

As for an amp going to go with..
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TECHNICAL-PRO-3000w-STEREO-AMPLIFIER-DJ-POWER-AMP_W0QQitemZ270057355100QQihZ017QQcategoryZ14983QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Hopefully this works haha, I'm tired of breaking equipment :mad:

danger boy

joeparaski wrote:

You need to get PA suff for your parties, not home stereo equipment. Check the DJ equipment rental places, they may sell you some second hand stuff that will suit your requirements and not blow up.

Joe

I agree with Joe.. you need these or even bigger ones..
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-JBL-JRX115-15-2-WAY-DJ-PRO-AUDIO-PA-SPEAKERS-JRX-115_W0QQitemZ270058140814QQihZ017QQcategoryZ47094QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

No matter what home audio speakers you buy.. you're going to toast them within minutes.. each and every time. Replacing your receiver is a great idea.. but with the party volume levels you like to listen to a few times a month.. save yourself the headache and get some pro audio speakers. they are incredibly rugged, and are often times used in dance clubs. that's the kind of speaker you need. get a big beefy amp and those pro speakers. as ugly as they are. that's what i would do.