Sad day for my Quads

aiconn
aiconn Posts: 277
I have a pair of Quad 12L active speakers that I picked up from @dorokusai a couple of years ago. Since I've been at home for the last couple of months I've been listening to them a lot. I have them set to roll off at 100hz as I also use a Martin Logan sub. Today I was listening to Anita Baker, and the woofer in the right speaker started popping on bass notes. I tried switching the XLR cables, going back to RCA, making sure all cables are tight, and finally connecting them directly to my spinner with no change. I think it's the amplifier, but I'm not positive. Unfortunately no one near me is willing to check them out.

So I've got a couple options. I could try and find another pair of speakers. If they're not active I'd want to replace my Parasound HCA1000a as well with an amp with XLR inputs. My budget is $1000 give or take.

I could rehab my Polk M5s with peerless tweeters. To do that I'd need to find another set of tweeters. I have a pair of M4s I can use for parts. The tweeters look the same, but I'm not sure If they are. The M5 tweeters have nothing on them, and the M4 tweeters have a "Made in the USA sticker and 75140783 on them.

Opinions and/or suggestions are appreciated.
PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC/Preamp
Denon DVD 2910
Quad 12L Active Monitors
Marin Logan Dynamo 700W

Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,709
    If the tweeters look the same on your Monitor speakers they are the same.
    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

  • Gardenstater
    Gardenstater Posts: 4,136
    That's interesting aiconn because up until now I had been believing that 7514xxxx meant they were Danish. I guess not!!
    George / NJ

    Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
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  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
    I could rehab my Polk M5s with peerless tweeters. To do that I'd need to find another set of tweeters. I have a pair of M4s I can use for parts. The tweeters look the same, but I'm not sure If they are. The M5 tweeters have nothing on them, and the M4 tweeters have a "Made in the USA sticker and 75140783 on them.

    What is wrong with the tweeters in the M5's? And, to the best of my knowledge Peerless tweeters that have the 7514 serial number were made in Denmark. The 0783 would be the date manufactured, July 1983. Regardless, as F1nut said, they will work.
  • aiconn
    aiconn Posts: 277
    One of the tweeters has no sound, and the other is very distorted. Also they have this white stuff that looks like corrosion on them. I've checked, and the wires are still soldered to them. I suppose it could be the crossovers. If I rehab them I'll update the crossover components as well.
    PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC/Preamp
    Denon DVD 2910
    Quad 12L Active Monitors
    Marin Logan Dynamo 700W
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    aiconn wrote: »
    I think it's the amplifier, but I'm not positive.

    So, did you try a different amp?

    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 7,952
    BlueFox wrote: »
    aiconn wrote: »
    I think it's the amplifier, but I'm not positive.

    So, did you try a different amp?

    Me thinks they are powers speakers Bud...
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
    Game Room 5.1.4:
    Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra

    Bedroom 2.1
    Cambridge Azur 551r; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    Okay, that makes sense. Thanks.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
  • aiconn
    aiconn Posts: 277
    AHA! The Quads will play again. Today I set up my amp with another pair of speakers to have something to listen to. After a couple of minutes of listening to Tidal through my PC the popping occurred in the right speaker again. I noticed the volume was higher in the right speaker. My first thought was my preamp was the culprit. I decided to try a different source, and the popping was gone. I checked the sound settings on my PC and everything looked normal. I swapped the right and left RCA cables between the preamp and amp. The volume was now higher in the left channel, and the popping returned. as an experiment I turned down the gain on the affected channel of the amp with the same result. Next I set the gain on the amp back, and dropped the output level of the right channel on the PC. Voila! The popping is gone, and everything is working correctly. I'm using the usb output to the preamp so I guess I'll have look into what I can do with it. All in all it was a good day!
    PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC/Preamp
    Denon DVD 2910
    Quad 12L Active Monitors
    Marin Logan Dynamo 700W