New Hi-Fi Set up only playing Mids/Lows?!? Please help.

[hybridauth_Twitter_1216737870]

Hello,

I found this forum and it seems very helpful. I just set up my new Hi-Fi system and suddenyl after a day or so of use both of my speakers stopped playing Highs. All of the sound coming out is purly Low/low mids. I tested another receiver to see if my new one was busted and SAME ISSUE so it can't be my receiver. I also hardly thinkg it can be my speakers since they both did it at the exactly the same time and sound exactly the same. I have unplugged and un wired and re set it up to make sure everything was installed and plugged in right/fully.

What is happening?!?! I can list off my Receiver/speaker names and models if you need. Just ask.

Thanks so much! Hopefully we can get this figured out.

 

[hybridauth_Twitter_1216737870]

Sorry for spelling/grammar mistakes. Forum isn't letting me edit my post haha

 

[Al ears]

That does sound a little strange. Please give more info as to what exactly you are using equipment wise and exactly how you have speakers wired up.

You say it was working fine at some point and you have tried with another receiver so somehow it has to be the speakers.

Can you borrow another pair of speakers and try those with your receiver?

 

[lindsayt]

Most likely cause is the speakers or the wiring to the speakers.

Were you bi-wiring or single wiring between your amp and speakers?

Do the speakers have multiple terminals for the woofer and the tweeter? If so are the tweeter terminals actually receiving the input from the amp?

If you're sure the amp and speakers are connected properly and the signal from the amp is OK that leaves the internal wiring / crossover in the speaker and the tweeters themselves.

 

[his dudeness]

blown the tweaters parhaps.

 

[steve_1979]

blown the tweaters parhaps.

Possibly. I wonder if the OP was playing music a high volume when the tweeters stopped working?

 

[hybridauth_Twitter_1216737870]

I couldn't have blown the tweaters. I was playing the speakers at SUPER low volume when it happened. I had some friends over and we were all talking and they suddenly stopped working. I powered down the receiver and restarted as soon as I did that the problem started.

Plus I am also very anal about treating my sound eqipment right. I would never bring the levels to anywhere I could possibly blow something.

I will be answering more of the in depth questions and giving you guys a few product names/pictures in the next few hours. Hopefully we can figure out what the hell is going on.

 

[Andrewjvt]

If you single wired them check someone aint removed the link between hi and low frequency on the speaker connection. Doubt you could of blown both tweeters at the same time. You need to do tests to check

 

[hybridauth_Twitter_1216737870]

Alright guys so I just got some new speaker wire from my work to make sure that wasn't the propblem. Still the same issue.

So I have taken some pictures of my set up. VERY basic wiring and set up here. FIrst I want to elt you guys know my Mixer Model and Speaker Brand. My receiver is a Yamaha htr5230 and my speakers are Pioneer cs-g403

Here is my input that is coming from my Phone/Computer

Here is my speaker wires in the back of my speakers.

Here is my Speaker wire coming from my A port on the receiver to the speakers.

With this info let me know if you have any other questions. I'm down to run any tests you just have to tell me what I need to do.

Super basic setup... I have tested with new receiver, speaker wire, and input wire from my phone/computer. I mean it pretty much has to be the speakers... right? But why would they both suddenly do this at the EXACT same time wat such a low volume...? it has to be something...

 

[andyjm]

While it dosnt explain your sudden loss of high end, is there a reason you are using the 'external decoder input'? I don't know what the Yamaha's innards do with this input, but this would be the place to connect an external 5.1 source. The normal place to connect a stereo source such as your phone or PC would be 'aux' or 'cd'.

 

[Al ears]

Can I assume the photo showing the speaker wiring at rear of amp is just an example and you actually have the left-hand speakers wire up this way as well in normal use.

I still think you need to get hold of a different pair of speakers and wire these in to test, and thus eliminate speakers from the problem.

 

[hybridauth_Twitter_1216737870]

I mean it really has to be the speakers.
I just wanted to come here to see if this was like a basic ***** problem you guys have seen before. I'll grab a new pair of speakers if I can and test. If the same issue occurs with the new speakers I'll be back, which sounds impossible because I have literally replaced EVERYTHING in the setup except for the speakers lol.

 

[hybridauth_Twitter_1216737870]

I have tried the other ports on this receiver and the easiest port I used was the EXT decoder. I'll throw it in the CD or aux and see if that does anything.

 

[lindsayt]

Most likely reason for the fault is blown tweeters.

It's unlikely that the internal wiring / crossover would develop a fault in both speakers at the same time.

The way I would test it would be to put my ear next to the tweeters when playing some music. If there's no sound coming from the tweeters I'd unscrew each tweeter from the from the front panel, (maybe disconnecting the tweeters to be on the safe side) and put an AC voltmeter (on its most sensitive setting) across the wires leading to the tweeter and play some music through the system again. If there's some (high frequency) voltage reaching the tweeters, then the tweeters have a fault.

Either that or I'd just go ahead and swap the tweeters or the whole speaker. You might need a bit of luck in tracking down replacement tweeters for your Pioneer speakers.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Do you really think someone who owns a voltmeter would beed advice on how to test the tweeters lol

 

[MajorFubar]

If there's no sound coming from the tweeters I'd unscrew each tweeter from the from the front panel, (maybe disconnecting the tweeters to be on the safe side) and put an AC voltmeter (on its most sensitive setting) across the wires leading to the tweeter and play some music through the system again. If there's some (high frequency) voltage reaching the tweeters, then the tweeters have a fault.

If you're going to make an assumption he's got (and knows how to use) a voltmeter / multimeter, he may as well just put it across the contacts on the tweeter and check for continuity. That'll tell him if the coil's blown at least. But nowadays most people can't do that. I don't know when exactly HiFi changed from being a passtime for tinkering hobbyists, maybe it was a gradual transition, but it seems most people these days can't even wire a plug let alone work a multimeter.

 

[Al ears]

If there's no sound coming from the tweeters I'd unscrew each tweeter from the from the front panel, (maybe disconnecting the tweeters to be on the safe side) and put an AC voltmeter (on its most sensitive setting) across the wires leading to the tweeter and play some music through the system again. If there's some (high frequency) voltage reaching the tweeters, then the tweeters have a fault.

If you're going to make an assumption he's got (and knows how to use) a voltmeter / multimeter, he may as well just put it across the contacts on the tweeter and check for continuity. That'll tell him if the coil's blown at least. But nowadays most people can't do that. I don't know when exactly HiFi changed from being a passtime for tinkering hobbyists, maybe it was a gradual transition, but it seems most people these days can't even wire a plug let alone work a multimeter.

I'd have to agree with you there Major, in this day of the throw-away society, I can only think that the only person likely to own a multimeter would be an electrician.

The idea that you might actually be able to repair something yourself has obviously become quite alien to most of the population.

There is another thread on this forum where someone is asking about cable connectors to extend a speaker cable - has nobody heard of a soldering-iron?

That being said the easiest way to solve this problem is simply to plug in another pair of speakers that are known to be working. The need to actually take his speakers apart to test the tweeters is simply not necessary and anyone who thinks most people have a multimeter lying around the house is clearly deluded.

 

[MajorFubar]

There is another thread on this forum where someone is asking about cable connectors to extend a speaker cable - has nobody heard of a soldering-iron?

Lol don't start me on that one Al. I'd not been here long when someone put up a post wanting to know where he could buy some particular audio cable that he was having trouble sourcing in the right (long) length. I innocently asked why didn't he just go buy the plugs and bare cable from Maplins, CPC etc or even eBay and solder-up his own, and the dumbfounded responses I got from him and other parties made me realise with some amazement that's now classed as a specialist skill.

 

[The_Lhc]

There is another thread on this forum where someone is asking about cable connectors to extend a speaker cable - has nobody heard of a soldering-iron?

Lol don't start me on that one Al. I'd not been here long when someone put up a post wanting to know where he could buy some particular audio cable that he was having trouble sourcing in the right (long) length. I innocently asked why didn't he just go buy the plugs and bare cable from Maplins, CPC etc or even eBay and solder-up his own, and the dumbfounded responses I got from him and other parties made me realise with some amazement that's now classed as a specialist skill.

Sorry major but the idea that there was some golden age where 90% of the population could solder is rubbish, it's always been a specialist skill. Ditto regarding the idea that everyone used to own a multimeter.

 

[lindsayt]

£4.84 is hardly a huge investment to make, is it?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-LCD-Multimeter-Voltmeter-Ammeter-OHM-AC-DC-Circuit-Checker-Tester-Buzzer-/360538749861?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item53f1c8bba5

Of course, if he doesn't fancy the voltage testing route, a pair of OK sounding speakers can be had for £20 to £50.

It's possible (but unlikely) that a tweeter could measure Ok with an ohmeter and still have a fault stopping it from working properly.

 

[MajorFubar]

Sorry major but the idea that there was some golden age where 90% of the population could solder is rubbish, it's always been a specialist skill. Ditto regarding the idea that everyone used to own a multimeter.

I didn't say then could. 90% of the population were never into HiFi, but 90% of HiFi enthusiasts were hobbyists who weren't afraid of waving a soldering iron around. Maybe less so the mulimeter, they were expensive back then. Frequently you couldn't even go to a shop and buy many pre-made cables, you were expected to make your own from the bare cables and plugs they had on sale. HiFi mags were as full of adverts for kit speakers and kit HiFi as fully-made stuff, and sometimes it was available in kit-form or fully-assembled with the latter being more expensive (obviously). Among reviews of new gear, articles of the day included circuit diagrams for building something contemporary and practical such as your own FM demuxer or RIAA phono stage, or tutorials on how to upgrade your amp with higher-spec valves. Not like now where they print reviews of HDMI cables and where website-debates extend to pages about which frikking USB cable sounds the best.

 

[spiny norman]

Proper winters, Gold Top on the doorstep in the morning, smog, telegram boys, honest day's work then a soak in the tin bath in the kitchen, whooping cough, bacon slicers on shop counters, 6d for 10 fags, National Service, The Black & White Minstrel Show, jumpers for goalposts, etc.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Take your amp to a local hifi dealer and ask him if you can demo any speaker and if it works fine on all frequency then you need new speakers

 

[Coll]

Sorry major but the idea that there was some golden age where 90% of the population could solder is rubbish, it's always been a specialist skill. Ditto regarding the idea that everyone used to own a multimeter.

I didn't say then could. 90% of the population were never into HiFi, but 90% of HiFi enthusiasts were hobbyists who weren't afraid of waving a soldering iron around. Maybe less so the mulimeter, they were expensive back then. Frequently you couldn't even go to a shop and buy many pre-made cables, you were expected to make your own from the bare cables and plugs they had on sale. HiFi mags were as full of adverts for kit speakers and kit HiFi as fully-made stuff, and sometimes it was available in kit-form or fully-assembled with the latter being more expensive (obviously). Among reviews of new gear, articles of the day included circuit diagrams for building something contemporary and practical such as your own FM demuxer or RIAA phono stage, or tutorials on how to upgrade your amp with higher-spec valves. Not like now where they print reviews of HDMI cables and where website-debates extend to pages about which frikking USB cable sounds the best.

You must be the same age as me I would agree with you 100%

 

[Vladimir]

Throw those POS speakers in the bin and get some proper ones second hand. A pair of Cerwin-Vegas will be a significant upgrade.