RT800 spkrs blew tweeters - could my crossover be bad?
New to the club...need help.
I have a set of RT800's and I blew my tweeters (both of them) last year. I like to listen to them loud!!
I ordered replacement tweeters from Polk customer service and installed them. I still don't hear the high frequency tones like I used to before I blew the tweeters. Is there a chance I did damage to my crossovers? They really sound hollow...no "strong highs", but mid range and base tones sound just fine. Almost like my tweeters aren't being driven very hard. I can hear that they are working, just no power behind them.
I have a set of RT800's and I blew my tweeters (both of them) last year. I like to listen to them loud!!
I ordered replacement tweeters from Polk customer service and installed them. I still don't hear the high frequency tones like I used to before I blew the tweeters. Is there a chance I did damage to my crossovers? They really sound hollow...no "strong highs", but mid range and base tones sound just fine. Almost like my tweeters aren't being driven very hard. I can hear that they are working, just no power behind them.
Post edited by sross17 on
Comments
-
Not sure what to tell you on that.. I suppose it's possible that you damaged something on the crossover, but I think it's unlikely. Have you been listening to other speakers while you were waiting on replacement tweeters? Your ears tend to get accustomed to the sound after a while and the Polks may be more laid-back than what you've been listening to. You might call Polk and speak with someone in CS to see if they have any ideas.
What are you driving the speakers with? If you like to listen loud, and you're blowing tweeters, you may be overdriving your amp. -
Really appreciate your input!!
Used to have an old pioneer receiver (110w/ch). I currently have a Yamaha HTR 5940 (105w/ch). Don't know why I blew my tweaters with my old Pioneer, but I'm not a speaker guru. I did talk with CS at Polk and I did purchase two new crossovers. Should have them by Thursday and will give them a try. Right now, they are so bad that I don't think it's my ears that grew accostumed to listening to my other speakers (well I hope not anyway). If these RT800's sounded like this on a showroom floor, I would buy Sony bookshelf speakers over these (ouch). I've had my RT800's for about 6 or 7 years now and they always sound much much much better than this. I just don't have stong high tones anymore Hope the crossovers work!! -
If its not the cross-overs.... perhaps a hearing check is appropriate.
-
I'm not familiar with your model, but Polk has used a tweeter protection device in some of their speakers that I do know about. If your speakers have this feature, the device is probably fried.Don't know why I blew my tweaters with my old Pioneer, but I'm not a speaker guru.
Clipping is your word of the day and will be again, if you don't turn it down or get better power.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 -
Think you guys are right...
Went home last night and pulled my crossovers. Appears nothing is wrong with them. I have a feeling that because my rear surround speakers (bose 161's) are small and the treble is somewhat harsh that I got used to that sound. Much more piercing than my RT800's. Played the RT800's last night in 2 channel stereo and they sounded fine. Seems the Bose 161's are not a good match with my Polk RT800's.
What are your thoughts? Any comments on the bose 161's?
Thanks again for your help guys. Nice to have a souding board on this site. -
Make sure your speaker posts have the jumpers in place.HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable
2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable -
F1nut wrote:I'm not familiar with your model, but Polk has used a tweeter protection device in some of their speakers that I do know about. If your speakers have this feature, the device is probably fried.
Clipping is your word of the day and will be again, if you don't turn it down or get better power.
Everyone here has given good advise,clipping is the word of the day.If your cranking that volume dial past the 12 o'clock position,your most likely clipping your amp in the receiver.Clipping equals distortion....baaaad for your speakers.Get better power if you like to crank it up.Also don't use the crappy brass jumpers on your speakers.Take some extra speaker wire and make some yourself.And lastly...welcome to polk!HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
are you sure you didn't blow the tweeters in your Bose speakers instead of the RT800's?
sounds like the Bose ones can't handle the same amount of power as the rest of your speakers.. in which case.. turn the Bose ones down.. or replace them with some other brand.PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin: -
You guys have given me a ton of good information (i'm just a rookie). Thank you very much!!! I bi-wired my RT800's last night and they sound a little better. The thing that made a difference was I turned up my front channel and turned my rear Bose speakers way down. The treble from my RT800's is much more noticable now and I'm very satisfied. After I turned up my main RT800's on my receiver, I am able to push them harder at a lower volume and don't get the piercing treble out of the Bose 161's.
Thanks again guys!!
