Polk Audio
Home› Speakers

Sad day for my Quads

aiconnaiconn Registered UserPosts: 282
in Speakers
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
· Share on TwitterShare on Facebook

Comments

  • F1nutF1nut Posts: 45,633
    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

    · Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
  • GardenstaterGardenstater Posts: 1,843
    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, most mods comp. (1979, orig owner)
    Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
    Crown D150 amp
    Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
    iFi nano iDSD DAC
    iPurifier3
    iDefender w/ iPower PS
    Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
    iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
    Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
    Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform
    · Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
  • FaustinFaustin Posts: 1,019
    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.
    · Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
  • aiconnaiconn Registered User Posts: 282
    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
    · Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
  • BlueFoxBlueFox Posts: 14,366
    aiconn wrote: »
    I think it's the amplifier, but I'm not positive.

    So, did you try a different amp?

    Lumin X1 file player
    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.
    · Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
  • rooftop59rooftop59 Posts: 7,067
    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 2.1: Dynaudio Contour 1.3mkii; Martin Logan Grotto sub; Musical Fidelity A308; Marantz SA 14S1; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room HT: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology SM450; Definitive Technology LCR2000; Definitive Technology StudioMonitor350; Mirage Nanasats; Sub - HSU VTF-2 MK5
    Master Bedroom
    Cambridge Azur 551r; Definitive Technology promonitor 800; ACI Titan Subwoofer
    · Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
  • BlueFoxBlueFox Posts: 14,366
    Okay, that makes sense. Thanks.
    Lumin X1 file player
    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.
    · Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
  • aiconnaiconn Registered User Posts: 282
    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
    · Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Sign In or Register to comment.

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Register
© Polk Audio 2014