Sound diff. between two speakers

Vette C6.r
Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
edited May 2010 in Vintage Speakers
Hey Guys.

I have a set of 2.3's. One of the speakers is noticably louder than the other. I have moved them extensivly with no change in sound. As well as it being louder the left speaker is much clearer and sounds much, much better.
I previously thought it was the amp I was using so I would always set the gain accordingly. I just got new gear and it is doing the same thing.

The XO’s updgrade was just ordered and should be here soon. I am not doing the upgrade but was wondering what you guys thought this could be and what to look for if it is the XO’s. The polyswitches will be removed and a .5 ohm reisistor put in place.

All of the drivers seem to be in working order and all have sound coming from them. The tweeters in the right speaker are working but just don’t see to up to there potential. I don’t crank it so loud that the polys would trip.

I have checked the wiring a million times so I really doubt it is that.

Thanks for the help guys.
Post edited by Vette C6.r on
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Comments

  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited April 2010
    Tony,

    I would bet it was a bad cap/or resister in the crossover.

    Scott
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    Thanks Scott.

    Did you hear this issue when you heard it ??

    Like I said I had the gain up higher on one so it might now have been very noticable.
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited April 2010
    I did not, besides Jesse was blocking the soundstage everytime he was turning down the treble control:D
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2010
    That sure sounds like Jesse. :D
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    MillerLiteScott wrote: »
    I did not, besides Jesse was blocking the soundstage everytime he was turning down the treble control:D

    I didn't notice it as much before but with the new gear it is more obvious.
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    OK guys I took the XO's out. They will be moded in the next couple of weeks. Fingers crossed that is the problem.


    Anyone experience the volume difference with there SDA's ???
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    OK Guys I am dropping the crossovers off in a day.

    I didn't notice any burn marks and all of the resistors and caps have the same resistance.

    Do you guys have any other ideas ?????
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited April 2010
    Have you verified it's not further up the chain?

    A bad I/C connection can cause what you're talking about~
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    I was thinking that too Rabbit.

    I am going to try the MONO test when I get it all back together.

    Thanks
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    New IC's. Upgraded to Sonicaps and Mills. STILL DOING IT !!!!! uggggggg


    Any other ideas guys ????
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2010
    Is your room and setup perfectly symmetrical?
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited April 2010
    Also, is it possible you have one (or more) bad drivers? Did you find out anything about the ICs or speaker wires? Have you checked all your wiring with a Multimeter to rule out any internal issues causing an increase in resistance? I'd physically trace & examine from amp binding posts to the inside wiring of the speakers for any bad contacts, breakage, etc.
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited April 2010
    Change the speaker cables (left to right), test; change the preamp-amp IC's, test; change the source-preamp IC's, test. This should give you where the problem is, if not in the speakers.

    Don't laugh at this one...is your hearing similar in both ears?
    _________________________________________________
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    Face wrote: »
    Is your room and setup perfectly symmetrical?

    No it isn't Face. I took that into account. I am basing this of standing directly in front of the speaker.

    Rabbit - I have completly changed the pre amp and power amp, IC's and speaker cable.

    The XO's were done by someone that has TONS of experience with soldering and curcuit boards. I didn't mention what driver what bad and he said that he saw an issue with a "solder short" on the speaker in qustion. I was very eager to hear the difference. Still doing it.


    Ricardo - Good idea with the hearing but I am standing in front of them when I do the test. Plus the GF hears the same thing.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2010
    Vette C6.r wrote: »
    No it isn't Face. I took that into account. I am basing this of standing directly in front of the speaker.
    Are you using a SPL meter?
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    Face wrote: »
    Are you using a SPL meter?

    No I am not. I might be able to get my hands on one soon.
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited April 2010
    Tony I have a meter if you need one.

    Scott
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited April 2010
    Vette

    I had a very similar problem also. Drove me nuts. Check/wiggle the push on connections of the XO to the speaker terminals inside the speaker.
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  • wayne3burk
    wayne3burk Posts: 939
    edited April 2010
    May i suggest you try running them in mono mode??? At least then you're getting the same signal to both speakers at the same time...

    Take off the Interconnect cable and switch speaker positions and see if the low volume follows the speaker...

    Trade your speakers for my SDA-1C Studios as a last resort.

    :) wayne :(
    Yamaha RX-V2700, EMI 711As (front), RCA K-16 (rear), Magnavox Console (Center & TV Stand), Sony SMP-N200 media streamer, Dual 1249 TT =--- Sharp Aquas 60" LCD tellie
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited April 2010
    I don't know Tony, I've read all of the replies to your OP and I still think it is the room. My reasoning behind this is that I had a few Polkies here around Polkfest '08. Rich, SCompRacer noticed some bass being trapped in the back wall corners of the room. When we went to the front of the speakers, about 3' away (Bass waves are longer than other frequencies so you need to get further away from the speaker) we noticed that the right speaker had less bass response than the left. They are the same distance from the side walls and back walls. I checked all the XO connections, speaker binding post connections, and made sure all the clip terminals on the drivers were tight.

    It was recommended to me to get some bass traps around the room.

    I would imagine you could be having a similar issue.
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    MillerLiteScott wrote: »
    Tony I have a meter if you need one.

    Scott

    Scott, may I take you up on that offer ???? I pretty tapped out.


    Joe I completly agree with you if bass was the issue. The sound in question is the mids and highs.

    I had the same gear that I am running on modded 1c's and they BLEW them away.

    I would also like to mention that I took every driver out to check phase, all were correct.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,755
    edited April 2010
    I see a trip to your side of town in my future.
    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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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    F1nut wrote: »
    I see a trip to your side of town in my future.

    Jesse, there will be a nice dinner at the steak house near me thrown in.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited April 2010
    F1nut wrote: »
    I see a trip to your side of town in my future.
    Vette C6.r wrote: »
    Jesse, there will be a nice dinner at the steak house near me thrown in.

    Dum-dee-dum-dum! Just the facts maam!:D;)
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    Part 2 of this question.

    I have aprox. 15-20 hrs on the XO's. Like I said they are Sonicaps and Mills.

    Is the break in a subtle sound diff. or is it major. To tell you the truth I don't notice a heck of alot of clarity as of yet.


    I have read that some people hear a pretty massive diff. within 8hrs.

    They are on 24/7 at this point.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited April 2010
    Vette C6.r wrote: »
    Part 2 of this question.

    I have aprox. 15-20 hrs on the XO's. Like I said they are Sonicaps and Mills.

    Is the break in a subtle sound diff. or is it major. To tell you the truth I don't notice a heck of alot of clarity as of yet.


    I have read that some people hear a pretty massive diff. within 8hrs.

    They are on 24/7 at this point.

    When we did mine with Sonicaps and Mills on my 1.2TLs XOs they sounded like absolute s#it. My wife even commented that Jesse and I wrecked my speakers. Then suddenly after 340 hours of break in SHAZAM!!! they just sounded awesome it every way.

    I didn't realize you XOs haven't been burned in yet Tony. That could very likely be the problem. Is Jesse schedule to go to your house? He'll know just by the sound if it is break in related or not.

    See post #33 if you don't want to read the whole thread! Although reading the whole thread will give you some insight as to how burn-in affects the sound and how over time they start sounding more and more stable.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54124&page=2
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    GREAT TO HEAR JOE !!!!!!!!

    I'm very much looking forward to it. I have spent alot of coin, for me, and am pretty bumed out.


    I still fear the sound difference will be there as it is still doing the same thing as before.

    I spiked them and tried to move those beasts myself and ripped the carpet up. Man I hope there is light at the end of the tunnel.

    As soon as one of my friends comes over I will take the spikes out and look at the terminals inside the speakers.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited April 2010
    Vette C6.r wrote: »
    GREAT TO HEAR JOE !!!!!!!!

    I'm very much looking forward to it. I have spent alot of coin, for me, and am pretty bumed out.


    I still fear the sound difference will be there as it is still doing the same thing as before.

    I spiked them and tried to move those beasts myself and ripped the carpet up. Man I hope there is light at the end of the tunnel.

    As soon as one of my friends comes over I will take the spikes out and look at the terminals inside the speakers.

    Did you read that thread I posted Tony? I was really freaking out and panicking but good ole level headed Jesse just calmly kept reminding me to be patient and give it more time.

    Funny thing, when he got his kw SACD/CD player back from the repair shop he was calling me all freaked out about it not sounding right, CD stage sounding this, the SACD stage sounding that, and I for once had to keep reminding him calmly to give it time. It took almost a month for the new mother board and other additions to burn-in.
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    OK small update.

    Since they are bi-amped I turned off the tweeter amp and just had the mids playing. Not a heck of alot of difference.

    I then played only the tweeter amp. The difference is def. in the tweeter. My brother did the XO's and he is out of the state so I dont want to bother him with what he beileved was a "solder short". He re-soldered everything on the board.

    XO pic included.

    Besides the XO what should I be looking for in the tweeter circuit ????

    I have 1000% faith that the XO were done expertly.
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    Damn, the file of the XO's is too big to upload.

    Since they are already in I can't re-take the pics.
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