LSIM tweeter issues

Clipped signals.

I have noticed the cover plate on the LSiM tweeters can get warm when the speakers are driven too loudly for too long. The distortion is audible sometimes, but not always, before the tweeters are damaged. I have not had a problem with blown drivers on the three sets I use. If the tweeters have blown more than once, it's not a defect in the speakers but a case of overdriving the speakers with a clipped audio signal as F1Nut mentioned above.

The KSA 100 is considered a vintage amp. It is a high current amp design, but has it been serviced at all recently to see if it's still functioning within original specs?

Not sure about the tweets being a weak link. I powered my 703’s with 300wpc and by no means babied them, held up with no issues whatsoever.

well that Aragon should of had plenty. For gets and shiggles what is the most DB in room while you are driving them? 100? 120? .... It sure sounds like they are driven to concert level loudness to me. Are you using any tone controls or an equalizer?

Something is amiss plain and simple

jg17512 wrote: »

I have went as far as bi amping the 707s,same result.

jg17512 wrote: »

I don't think I'm pushing the amp or speakers anywhere close to the point of clipping,it seems like the tweets are just the weak link.

jg17512 wrote: »

I have actually used different amps with the same result,the last amp I used was my aragon 4004 ,it just seems that the tweets just don't hold up.

Hold up, wait a minute! So you are saying you've blown tweeters more than once? How many have you blown?

For the record one can search the history on this forum, AVSForum, and any other forum, youtube, etc. where folks posts about the LSiM. I don't think you will find posts about tweeter issues. The LSiM improved Ring Radiator tweet is supposed to have higher power handling than the previous Lsi tweeter. Also, given its a 3-way system it has a nice 3000Hz crossover point that should help take some strain off the tweet vs. a typical 2-way system. Also, If one searches back to the LSi line, the SR car audio line that also used Ring tweeters I don't recall reading about tweeter issues. For sure the car audio environment will have higher incidents of distortion and clipped signals. Since the discount and sales started years ago on the LSiM line, there are for sure many home theater guys powering the Front, center, surround LSiM line with the 250 watt a channel Emotiva amps. For sure these systems are played at loud at or near reference theater levels and there are no widespread reports of blown tweeters over on AVSForum given these system have 5-7 tweeters, 5.1, 7.1, etc. IMO, movies can be more dynamic than just music and really tax out a speaker.

So, I will say any massed produced lower cost driver can have a bad one here and there. However, once 2, 3, 4 tweeters are blown in the same system then one has to start considering a problem with the passive crossover or the electronics.

Questions and Suggestions
1) Are you blowing the tweeter in the same speaker or both speakers?
2) If blowing tweeters in the same speaker, there could be a problem with the passive crossover. It should be checked! A bad cap could be the culprit. I've seen this first hand with some older RT series speakers with dried out caps.
3) Is your preamp possibly over-driving your amp?
4) When you were bi-amping could there have been too much gain on the tweeter/mid amp vs. the low/midbass amp?
5) Could there be some issues with the electronics that maybe your ears are not hearing?

Something smells fishy and its not burnt ferrofluid...not in this case, given they are RR tweets!

I have two sets of lsim, 703 and 705, have run them both with a couple different amp configurations. No problems with blown tweeters. I don't crank them super super loud though. My guess is you have a problem with crossovers or some of your gear. Sorry I can't be of more help, but just wanted to mention I have had no problems with tweeters on two sets of the speakers, also using different equipment to drive them.

They’re 88db, not exactly inefficient either. Me thinks you are driving them way way too hard.

I’m sure they like power, but having power on tap is not the same thing as listening to them at ear and equipment damaging levels.

jg17512 wrote: »

I do drive them pretty hard ,but never to the point of clipping or distortion,the 707s aren't efficient and they do require a lot of power to make them sound good.

Where exactly is the little notch on the volume control knob when you're driving them pretty hard, 9 o'clock, 11 o'clock, 2 o'clock?

At 88dB they are not inefficient loads.

jg17512 wrote: »

I do drive them pretty hard ,but never to the point of clipping or distortion,the 707s aren't efficient and they do require a lot of power to make them sound good.

Define "pretty hard"....because my guess is, your overdriving them causing a clipped signal to take out the tweets.

Just because you have an amp on them, doesn't mean you have an unlimited amount of the volume dial to use either.