CSi5 Tweeter sounds different then mains (RTi8)
bobcalkin
Posts: 4
I have had a CSi5 paired with RTi8's for about 2 years and have loved them. Recently, I bought a blu ray and started noticing a that voices seemed to be sounding a little muffled. I recalibrated and noticed that during the test tones the CSi5 sounded a little different than the RTi8's. I am a little paranoid about the tweeters since I blew one on my old Monitor 60's so I put my ear to each tweeter. The CSi5's tweeter is definately working but is much quiter than the RTi8's. There is no crackling or anything like that just lower volume. I swapped the wires and the speakers sounded the same reversed. I thought the tweeter was gone so I had Polk send me a new one (great customer service 
). After installing the new tweeter it sounded exactly the same as the old one. I am wondering if the CSi5 is supposed to sound different than the RTi8 or if there is maybe a problem with the crossover. I have checked the binding posts and they are secure.
). After installing the new tweeter it sounded exactly the same as the old one. I am wondering if the CSi5 is supposed to sound different than the RTi8 or if there is maybe a problem with the crossover. I have checked the binding posts and they are secure. Post edited by bobcalkin on
Comments
-
Is it only with the BD player, or with other sources too, like CDs or cable/satellite box?"Don't forget to change your politician. They are like diapers they need to be changed regularly, and for the same reason."
-
It is on all sources.
-
They shouldn't sound the same with test tone from the receiver. Two different speakers reproducing full range noise will obviously sound different. The RTi is going to have louder and deeper lows, because it rolls off about 15 Hz lower than the CSi, and that will effect your perception of the highs.
Play a high frequency test tone. You'll know if the tweeter is defective. Still might be some difference, depending on crossovers or possibly just different cabinets, but at least the woofers won't be interfering with what you hear. -
As a temporary test you can swap the tweeter out of the (9/64" Allen wrench) center and one of the RTi8's and swap them. See if the "much quieter" tweeter follows the tweeter or stays in the same position. Note the CSi5 tweeter will not physically fit into the RTi8 hole but at least there you can eliminate one of the trouble spots. If the RTi8 tweeter gets quieter when you put it into the CSi5, it could be the crossover on the CSi5.
It may also be your room acoustics (unless you have a perfectly symmetrical room- very rare in the real world) the left may not even sound the same as the right when playing test tones.-Eric
-Polk Audio -
I am quite certain that the tweeter is good, the new one sounds identical to the old one. I have put my ear to each tweeter during the test tones and on the RTi8's it is very loud and actually hurts the ear. On the CSi5 it is clearly audible but dramatically lower in volume. I guess I am trying to find out if it is designed this way or if there is a problem. I have swapped the leads with RTi8's so I know it is not a problem with the receiver. From every thing I have read on the subject it would seem that when tweeter or crossovers fail they usually either go dead or will crackle neither of which is the case here.
-
Ok one more test- you can unscrew the crossover board (input cup) with a Phillips head screw driver. Look at the board, if anything (particularly the white ceramic resistors and the capacitors) looks broken, charred, melted etc, than the crossover is shot.-Eric
-Polk Audio
