Polk L800 help
Answers
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I'll forward this to Scott Orth.
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I received an automated reply saying that Scott would be back at work on January 5th. Since he is head of engineering and designer of the L800 he will be helpful.
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Thank you!!!
I sent you a message
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Here is Scott's reply:
I'm having trouble parsing the information, but I'll do my best to try to help.
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> I'm going to assume that the amplifiers are not balanced output. That should be confirmed before proceeding. Here are a few things you can do to make sure the speakers are wired properly:
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> 1) Connect the left speaker to the left output of the amp. Leave the right speaker unplugged. Do not attach the interconnect between the two speakers. Play pink noise at a reasonable volume. You should hear sound from the woofers and the right/inner tweeter/mid array (the stereo array) and not the left/outer mid/tweeter array (the dimensional array). If the left array plays instead, then that is a right speaker, not a left speaker.
> 2) Repeat the process with the right speaker. The left array should make sound and the right array shouldn't. The woofers should make sound.
> 3) Assuming that both speaker's stereo arrays are functioning, connect both speakers to the amp and play the noise. There should be noise from both speakers. If the noise is mono then there should be a center image. Play some music and the speakers should behave as a normal stereo pair.
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> That should establish the stereo arrays as working properly. We can now move on to the dimensional arrays. The interconnect sends the positive amp connection to the opposite speaker which is then connected to the negative input of the dimensional array.
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> 4) Unplug both speakers from the amp. Connect the interconnect between the two speakers. Plug the positive connection for the left channel of the amp into the left speaker's positive input. Plug the negative connection from the left channel of the amp to the right speaker's positive input. Leave the right channel of the amp unconnected. Play the pink noise. There should be sound coming from the left speaker's dimensional array only (the left or outer array).
> 5) Repeat the process with right speaker by connecting the amp positive output to the right speaker's positive input and the negative to the left speaker's positive input. The right dimensional array should now make sound.
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> If all of that works and there are no polarity issues, then the speaker should operate properly. Great care should be taken to make sure not to short the amp to itself during the process.
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> As I said earlier, I'm not entirely sure what the complaint is. Hope this helps.
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> Scott
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He then sent this as an overall guide:
Condition:
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> * Left speaker connected to amp, both "+" and "-"
> * Right speaker connected to amp, "-" only
> * SDA interconnect in place.
> * Bi-wire straps are in place
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> What should happen given a signal in the left channel:
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> * Left stereo array plays
> * Left dimensional array is quiet because the connection to R+ is missing.
> * Right stereo array plays, but sounds wrong. The right stereo array is driven through the dimensional array's crossover and transducers.
> * Right dimensional array plays
> * Left woofer plays normally.
> * Right woofer plays, but sounds wrong because it is driven through the dimensional array's crossover.
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> So, this condition seems to correspond to the users report. So, nothing wrong.
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> Condition:
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> * Left speaker connected to amp, both "+" and "-"
> * Right speaker connected to amp, "+" only
> * SDA interconnect in place.
> * Bi-wire straps are in place
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> What should happen given stereo music (not mono) in both channels:
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> * Left stereo array plays
> * Left dimensional array plays.
> * Right stereo array is quiet since the circuit is open (no R-)
> * Right dimensional array plays.
> * Left woofer plays normally.
> * Right woofer is quiet since the circuit is open (no R-)
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Perfect. I will try all of this tonight
Thank you so much for your help -
This point is important given all the cable maneuvers!
"Great care should be taken to make sure not to short the amp to itself during the process." -
Also, just a side note I would wait atleast 10 minutes between power up and power down, just my opinion as that's alot of cycling- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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I went through all the steps above
Stereo without SDA plays fine on both speakers. Sounds great
Very different results with SDA cable attached
Still on the first email
When interconnect connected and I follow steps 4 I get sound from both right and left SDA arrays only
Same when I follow step 5 sound from both right and left SDA array speakers
When I go to the second email:
SDA cable in place
Left both connect
Right negative connected
Left speaker plays both SDA and stereo
Right channel plays both SDA and stereo but sounds horrible. Right woofers barely playing. Maybe not at all. When I turned off I heard high pitched sound for split second out of left speaker
Left speaker connected right speaker only positive connected
High pitched loud pearcing sound immediately from left speaker not sure If any sound from right.. I turned off immediately as the pearcing sound was really loud and painful
I attempted again with same result.
I did receive an email from Polk with the first response you sent.
I also tried 2 different SDA cables.
Amp is Proceed HPA3.
I will reply with this same response
Just hooked up my B&W 801 80’s and everything works perfectly
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I'm not sure how this is relevant.Just hooked up my B&W 801 80’s and everything works perfectly
3 channel with balanced inputs "could" be your problem.Amp is Proceed HPA3.
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Just commenting that the amp still works.
Sorry
The amp does have balanced inputs. I was not aware. I can switch to an Emotiva A300 tomorrow to check connections.
Post edited by warlocks1 on -
Interesting. When I look up the amp you mentioned it shows and talks about using balanced or single ended inputs.The amp does not have balanced inputs?
This usually happens with SDA's with an incompatible amp.High pitched loud pearcing sound immediately from left speaker not sure If any sound from right.. I turned off immediately as the pearcing sound was really loud and painful
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Do you have a different amp to test with? That's basically a triple mono amp, correct? ML/Proceed can have some unique circuits and perhaps there is something that doesn't work well with the SDA circuit. The fact that each channel has its own power supply might be part of the problem.
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https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0003/3275/9084/files/Proceed-HPA3-owners-manual.pdf?2364
According to the owners manual page 10 and 15 -
You are correct. I wasn’t aware it had them. I did not use the balanced.
Will try the Emotiva later.
My bad -
I will move to my 1.2tl rig with a Sherbourn amp that is not balanced
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warlocks,
Didn't you say you tried your other amps with the same results?
Your Proceed amp has separate Toroidal's for each of the 3 channels.
Is that the amp you just did the tests with?
Your Emotiva & B&K have a shared Toroidal.
If those two ended up with the same results that would narrow it down to the speakers.
Exactly what is your Paramount amp?
Never heard of that.
It's not a Parasound is it? -
I've forwarded your results to Scott.
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Followed the above directions and everything works as it should.
Thank you to all
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Followed the above directions and everything works as it should.
Thank you to all
With a different amp, correct? -
His reaction:
My reaction to his findings are that the amplifier is not playing nice with the L800's. I took a quick look at the owner's manual for the Proceed HPA3. It appears that it has separate power supplies for each of the channels. That may be the source of the issue. The amplifier can be used in bridged mode and he certainly shouldn't be using that with the L800s. Does he have any other amplifiers that appear to work normally with the speakers? -
There was also an HPA2 dual mono amplifier. I recall the HPA3 was based on that but just added a third separate channel for home theater systems.
There are other amplifiers that have two transformers inside, like the Rotel RB-1590, but not true separate power supplies for each channel. There are also amplifiers that have one transformer but are dual differential designs!
Always best to check on the internal amp design before hooking it up to a pair of L800s.
FWIW, the existence of balanced XLR jacks on an amp doesn't really determine whether it's a dual mono or dual differential design inside. They are there in most cases in home use for convenience and because they look like they are better than RCA jacks. -
I used the Emotiva x300 2 channel to check. If passed all of the test. I am now trying to figure out where to go from here.
I assume the Proceed won’t work for my 1.2tl’s?
If not, I will be on the hunt for another amp.
I’m just going to park the l800 for now and use the B&W.
Will figure the rest out later.
What an adventure! I would never have figured it out without the Forum.
Great people, great info
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1.2tl's will need a dreadnought to function properly.I assume the Proceed won’t work for my 1.2tl’s? -
That’s what I thought
Also just realized that I put all the drivers back in anf forgot to put the Polly Fibre back in.
I need a break from these!! -
Glad you found the incompatibility issue.
Now go enjoy some tunes.
"What an adventure! I would never have figured it out without the Forum."
Yes, awesome bunch of people here always willing to help.
