Help with SDA 3.1tl speakers

lnech25
lnech25 Posts: 4
edited February 2008 in Troubleshooting
I have a pair of Polk Audio SDA 3.1tl's. Recently my right channel has lost all dynamic range when listening to music. The left channel is normal, as for sound quality, but the right channel sounds flat. It's as if all dynamic range has been lost except for the mid range. All drivers are working in each speaker, all connections have been checked, and my pre-amp and power amp have been checked.

Could there be a problem with the crossover? or another aspect of the speaker?

I would appreciate anyones help!

Thanks,
Lnech25
Post edited by lnech25 on
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Comments

  • 2-tall
    2-tall Posts: 98
    edited February 2008
    I had something like this happen to my 3.1tl's once.It ended up being a blown tweeter.The right channel had sound but was flat.If there is no sound from the tweeter pull it and put an ohm meter across the the terminals that would indicate if it is dead.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited February 2008
    Yep, bad tweeter. Call 1-800-377-7655 x 891 to order two new RD0198-1 replacements. The SL3000 is no longer made.
    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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  • 2-tall
    2-tall Posts: 98
    edited February 2008
    I put the RDO198-1 "s in my speakers.Much smoother Highs.
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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited February 2008
    It never hurts to swap tweeters from one speaker to the other to make sure the problem follows the tweeter. This rules out the possibility of the loose connection.

    If you liked the way your speakers sounded before, I and many others on here can sell you a used tweeter just like yours (sl3000) for about $30 including shipping guaranteed to work.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited February 2008
    Actually, the RDO's are guaranteed to work as well.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited February 2008
    True but you have to buy 2 of them which is 3 times the price of a used sl3000.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited February 2008
    or he could just put hook up a cap to it....I've heard that works wonders.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • rskarvan
    rskarvan Posts: 2,374
    edited February 2008
    Another possibility is that the tweeter is absolutely fine and the polyswitch has failed - killing the highs to the tweeter. Definitely worth swapping tweeters to see if the problem follows the tweeter... or, if its with the cross-over. Otherwise, you may be flushing the wrong ****.
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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited February 2008
    TroyD wrote: »
    or he could just put hook up a cap to it....I've heard that works wonders.

    BDT

    Good idea. I just tried a sl3000wc in my right sda 2b and it sounds great. Not quite as airy and detailed as the sl2000wc but a close 2nd.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?&attachmentid=30823

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=31246
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited February 2008
    rskarvan wrote: »
    Another possibility is that the tweeter is absolutely fine and the polyswitch has failed - killing the highs to the tweeter. Definitely worth swapping tweeters to see if the problem follows the tweeter... or, if its with the cross-over. Otherwise, you may be flushing the wrong ****.

    For someone who owned the 3.1TL's, you don't know much about them. They do not have a polyswitch. Talk about flushing the wrong ****. :rolleyes:
    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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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited February 2008
    candyliquor35m wrote: »
    Good idea. I just tried a sl3000wc in my right sda 2b and it sounds great. Not quite as airy and detailed as the sl2000wc but a close 2nd.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?&attachmentid=30823

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=31246

    If FrankenPolks is your bag, knock yourself out.

    I wouldn't recommend it, especially if you can't explain what achieves and why.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • BAD ASP
    BAD ASP Posts: 361
    edited February 2008
    My problem was a little easier to diagnose.One of the sda drivers was blown. The sound became flat but the easy part was that the driver was buzzing. I repaced drovers in both speakers and everything was back to great. I don't know if I heard a difference while waiting for the speakers to break in but these 3.1 tl's are a really nice sounding speaker, regardless.
    Home Theater
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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited February 2008
    TroyD wrote: »
    If FrankenPolks is your bag, knock yourself out.

    I wouldn't recommend it, especially if you can't explain what achieves and why.

    BDT

    This is the conclusion of another trusted forum member:

    "The cap in series with the tweeter like that will b a 6db roll off at higher frequencies."

    This is exactly what I'm hearing so that explains it.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited February 2008
    candyliquor35m wrote: »
    This is the conclusion of another trusted forum member:

    "The cap in series with the tweeter like that will b a 6db roll off at higher frequencies."

    This is exactly what I'm hearing so that explains it.


    Let's include the rest of that paragraph, so that no one thinks what you are doing is a good thing.


    "The cap in series with the tweeter like that will b a 6db roll off at higher frequencies. I can't hear much past 12k. Maybe candy can't either? If he likes it cool, but I also think it is bad advise. It throws the phase out of whack, and flattens the top."
    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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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited February 2008
    It sounds incredible and there's no way it can do any damage. That's all my ears need to know.

    I'd rather have a cap on my tweeters that flattens the top and leaves the other 95% of the signal alone than a new tweeter that sounds totally different than the stock tweeters. That's what I would call FrankenPolks.
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited February 2008
    candyliquor35m wrote: »

    I'd rather have a cap on my tweeters that flattens the top and leaves the other 95% of the signal alone than a new tweeter that sounds totally different than the stock tweeters. That's what I would call FrankenPolks.

    Sure; makes a lot of sense. the new tweeter was designed by Polk to replace the stock tweeters. While the cap was designed by....you.
    _________________________________________________
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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited February 2008
    Actually someone else made the recommendation back in 2006 and I tried it and have been sold on it ever since.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited February 2008
    It was a dream, yours, not mine.
    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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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited February 2008
    $3 per tweeter, sounds great, removes harshness and brightness, 100% safe, no brainer.
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  • lnech25
    lnech25 Posts: 4
    edited February 2008
    candyliquor35m wrote: »
    It never hurts to swap tweeters from one speaker to the other to make sure the problem follows the tweeter. This rules out the possibility of the loose connection.

    If you liked the way your speakers sounded before, I and many others on here can sell you a used tweeter just like yours (sl3000) for about $30 including shipping guaranteed to work.

    Thanks for the advice regarding my tweeter problem in my SDA 3.1tl's. After switching the tweeters between channels, it is the tweeter that's bad. Closer inspection shows that the top of the cone is deformed and looks almost slightly melted. I would like to buy one sl3000 from you.

    If you ahave one MW 6503 driver for sale I will buy one too. After switching the tweeters, I noticed a rattling sound from the first MW 6503 driver above the bass radiator. After closer inspection, and manually pushing cone a bit, you can feel and hear the problem. It seems to have also taken a dirt nap.

    Please fill me in on how you want to conduct the payment for the sl3000 tweeter, and if you have an extra MW 6503 driver. I would like to get these parts asap, because we are hosting a party in the next few weeks and I want my speakers in tip top "sound" shape. :-)

    Thanks,
    lnech25
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  • lnech25
    lnech25 Posts: 4
    edited February 2008
    I want to say thanks to all who replied to my problem. It's amazing how quickly you notice any deficiency in the sound quality. I'm not as knowledgeable regarding the speakers as many others who visit this site, but I am quickly learning!

    Thanks again fellow Polkies!
    lnech25
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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited February 2008
    pm sent
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  • lnech25
    lnech25 Posts: 4
    edited February 2008
    candyliquor35m wrote: »
    pm sent
    I can't respond to you via private message currently. However; thanks for the information regarding how to order a MW 6503 driver. My party is two weeks from this Saturday. I'll mail out the money order on Friday. Can't wait to have my Polks back to normal.

    Thanks again,
    lnech25
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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited February 2008
    When you call polk to order the driver, make sure you mention that you're a member of this forum and you'll get free shipping and maybe a discount.
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