Distortion with music only on left channel lsi15

orgthtogod
orgthtogod Posts: 41
edited July 2008 in Troubleshooting
Hi,

I'm curious about some distortion I'm detecting with my front left Lsi15. It ONLY occurs when I listen to music NOT when doing movies??? Not sure why the difference, but this is the second time I've noticed it now.

I bought the speakers used on ebay and have had no problems, that is until I finally put some music in, not even once when movie watching? I don't exactly listen to movies at a "low" volume either? When I have music on at a similar listening level is when the distortion is noticed.

Any ideas? I just bought a tweeter in "excellent" condition off ebay for a very good price. But, I'm not sure if this is even where the problem is coming from???

I'd really appreciate some input as I REALLY like these speakers and want to fix the problem asap! Not sure where I can even get them serviced in my area (Phoenix, AZ)?

PLEASE HELP!!!

Thanks
Post edited by orgthtogod on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited July 2008
    Check all your connections, move cables/speakers to different channels to see if the noise moves. Try to eliminate any external issues prior to taking out drivers/crossovers. etc.

    Good luck......
    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
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited July 2008
    It may not be the speakers, but your CDP that has a problem with that channel or it could be your AVR when the CD input is selected. As Dennis states, you're going to have to check things one by one.
    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

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • orgthtogod
    orgthtogod Posts: 41
    edited July 2008
    Thanks for the input so far....

    I spoke with a Polk representative today and was relieved to find out that with my membership here, whatever I need to replace, mid, tweet, crossover... that I get a nice little discount and it won't be too bad to replace whatever is the culprit.

    That being said, I'm quite certain it's the left channel. My connections are in good order. As far as F1nut's suggestion, my CDP is my DVD player too and when I use it for movies I have NO such problem at the same or in some cases louder listening levels.

    So, unless there's any other possibilities, I'm gonna have to do as suggested by the Polk rep I spoke with and take out the mids and the tweet and test them individually to figure out where the problem lies....
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited July 2008
    swap speakers left to right... see if the distortion follows the speakers...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited July 2008
    ^^ Yes do this first IMHO

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited July 2008
    That being said, I'm quite certain it's the left channel. My connections are in good order. As far as F1nut's suggestion, my CDP is my DVD player too and when I use it for movies I have NO such problem at the same or in some cases louder listening levels.

    That right there tells me it's not the speakers. Your all in one player uses different circuits for CD and DVD processing. Try a different CD player, preferably a dedicated one that's known to be trouble free.
    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

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited July 2008
    I agree, it sound like your DVD/CD player is the problem.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited July 2008
    I also agree that it's probably not the speaker. Movies play the same sounds as music (and there's usually music in movies too, right?) so it's most likely something with the source or the processing when you're playing music. If not the DVD/CD player, maybe a receiver setting for your "CD" input has some crazy DSP or tone controls affecting the sound.
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • orgthtogod
    orgthtogod Posts: 41
    edited July 2008
    F1nut wrote: »
    That right there tells me it's not the speakers. Your all in one player uses different circuits for CD and DVD processing. Try a different CD player, preferably a dedicated one that's known to be trouble free.

    Well,

    You should know that I have the same problem (distortion in the left channel) when I use my iPod to listen to music too. It's not just with CD's in the CD/DVD player.

    The commonality here seems to be that it's ONLY when I listen to music whether a CD or the iPod (different inputs on the AV receiver) and it's ALWAYS in the left channel, not the right, and ONLY with music at a "louder" level.

    I'm going to switch the left speaker to the right side and see if it follows the speaker, I just haven't had a chance/the time to do this yet.

    Thanks
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited July 2008
    You don't have to physically move the speakers, just change the cables on the back of the AVR or Speaker.

    I am sure you already knew this, but when focused on fixing a problem, you do not always think of the obvious solutions.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • orgthtogod
    orgthtogod Posts: 41
    edited July 2008
    I finally got to switching the speakers around, not a big deal for me, and it's DEFINITELY the left speaker. The distortion follows it.

    It sounds to me to be the top mid driver, but it could be the tweeter too, I'm not positive. At any rate, I scored a tweet off ebay that should reach me soon and I will call Polk tomorrow and have them send me out a mid driver and go from there.

    BUMMER!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited July 2008
    You can test the drivers individually to see if they are working before buying new ones.

    But, in any case, good luck. Where did you get your speakers originally?

    What are you driving them with? Your gear may have caused the problem. . .
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • orgthtogod
    orgthtogod Posts: 41
    edited July 2008
    AndyGwis wrote: »
    You can test the drivers individually to see if they are working before buying new ones.

    But, in any case, good luck. Where did you get your speakers originally?

    What are you driving them with? Your gear may have caused the problem. . .

    Bought the speakers used off of ebay. They still sound great with surround sound for movies and such...

    The AV receiver is brand spankin new, it's a Yamaha RXV-663, please spare me the Yamaha comments, I know there aren't a lot of Yami fans here....

    Last of all, I just got a Rotel RMB-1075 off of ebay in seemingly great shape!

    The Polk tech I spoke with gave me the run down on how to test the drivers individually so I'll give that a whirl, maybe tomorrow?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • orgthtogod
    orgthtogod Posts: 41
    edited July 2008
    Well,

    I've been busy and haven't been on here for a while so, I just wanted to update and say that my tweeter I got off ebay came and WA-LAH, my distortion is GONE!!!

    After I installed the tweeter and fired everything up, the distortion was 100% GONE!~ I'm very pleased with the result, it sounds night and day different. I guess the tweeter was blown and it just didn't show it self out on surround sound mode. However, 2 channel music now sounds AWESOME!

    I really cranked it up just to "test the waters" and WOW, does it sound great now!

    Thanks for your support....
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited July 2008
    I'm glad you got it figured out, certainly a strange one.
    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

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited July 2008
    Nice you got it working again.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter