Lsi-9 driver rattle [Archive]

burdette

12-09-2002, 12:12 PM

What you need to do is carefully remove all the retaining screws holding the driver to the baffle. You may choose to remove the wires as well, but you don't have to. Now, take about three feet of duct tape and completely cover the front of the driver cone, being sure to press the tape firmly onto the cone material. Take some cotton batting and stuff it in behind the cone, between the cone and the metal basket.

That should eliminate any rattling.

Steve@3dai

12-09-2002, 01:55 PM

I hope you're being sarcastic.

MxStYlEpOlKmAn

12-09-2002, 06:03 PM

me to...LOL!

Zero

12-09-2002, 06:07 PM

Burdette, I also burned some chicken feathers and did a weather dance ! But to no avail! :(

mantis

12-09-2002, 09:28 PM

I think Atcvenom is playing his music into distortion.Blow out of the rt2000i's and now the lsi9's.........man TURN IT DOWN would yeah...........YOU NEED CLEAN AND POWERFUL POWER TO DRIVE SPEAKERS LOUD WITHOUT DISTORTION.:p

MxStYlEpOlKmAn

12-09-2002, 10:35 PM

Quote - If the first wat sucks, why continue? - UnQuote

Zero

12-11-2002, 02:18 PM

Dan,

Man, you couldnt be farther off track! : ) : )

Its not the volume so much as the heavy bass tracks that are being played, the little 9's just cant handle the deep deep stuff well at all.... It does NOT require much volume to do this.

As for the 2000p's, Guilty as charged there! hahaha Just had to see what the woofers limits were. ;) Good God those little 8' things could rock the house. If their drop off point wasnt so high I would say they are the best subs I have heard -bar-none.

gidrah

12-12-2002, 01:09 AM

I'm sure you've already just tightened it back down and things are fine, but if you feel up to it. While you're working with that driver, take it out and give us a pic of the back. There are tweaks that can be done to drivers that once completed convey a new appreciation of said speaker. I've read about people that have done a tweak or two to the basket just for G.P. and were amazed by the results. They never knew there was room for improvement, but bam. Then again it might just be psychosomatic.

IMHO there are 3 kinds of subs:
1) accurate but not as deep. Multiple small drivers
2) inaccurate but deep. Boom away with large driver and smaller cabinet.
3) accurate, deep, large, & expensive.
Most subs fall within a combination of #1&#2.

P.S. Mantis brought up clean power. What's up with that AMC amp? Are you letting it collect dust and using the HK receiver?

Zero

12-12-2002, 01:22 PM

Giddy,

Thanks for the advice,

I have heard of possible upgrades for the 9. Supping up speakers, now there is something I have rarely thought of in regards to the 9's. It may be a cheaper way to go as well. Im thinking of upgrade its internal wire - its just your typical Home Depote wire..

The AMC amp was never purchased, I came *VERY VERY* close, but withdrew.

hoosier21

12-12-2002, 01:37 PM

I came *VERY VERY* close, but withdrew

I did that in High School alot.

Zero

12-12-2002, 03:56 PM

We still talking about speakers, Hoosier? lol!

Dr. Spec

12-12-2002, 07:43 PM

The driver sounds blown - send it back. Are you using a sub? If so, are your speaks set to small? Or is this a dedicated full range 2 channel rig?

Doc

rt7s

12-17-2002, 05:42 PM

It's blown, I call it the death rattle. My midrange MW7009 in my rt20p just got the death rattle too - i'm guessing it is a residual effect since I have learned my lesson. u r not alone.

You will probably do this about 1-2X more before you learn! Polks are a sensitive and blow fairly easily IMO.

Bass=FLAT
Treble=FLAT
Never exceed 1/2 of the maximum volume setting or 0dB.

What will really stop you from blowing speakers is buying a nice PSW1200 to compliment (err...dessimate) your speakers.

fireshoes

12-18-2002, 12:25 AM

I wonder if that's why they have never quite sounded right since you got them? Perhaps there was something defective to start with.

Zero

12-20-2002, 02:40 PM

Thank you all for your suggestions and guidance.

I tend to sway against the idea of a blown driver due to the fact that the rattle only occurs with heavy bass tracks at higher volumes. Later today I will test it again using bi-wire cables and see if that could have been the problem.

I made a mistake in diagnosing which driver was rattling btw: it was the top driver on the right speaker. As said before, its un-noticable until you really ask it to perform.

Will see how things go - if worse comes to worse, I could always just buy a new driver, I would imagine it would not be too costly.

gidrah

12-21-2002, 02:44 AM

Swap left for right. Get back with us.

RuSsMaN

12-21-2002, 06:57 AM

Yeah, and kill any bass contouring, no 'loudness' buttons, no '3D' bass, none of that crap. Keep it flat, don't drive your amp to clipping, and it wont matter what kind of music you listen to.

Cheers,
Russ

Zero

12-21-2002, 03:31 PM

These things are a piece of crap. Nuff said. They are being driven by a Rotel 35 wpc integrated, which I have yet to push even half way........ everything flat, and the amp has yet to be driven to half its power......

Why Polk allows a signal to pass to the drivers that they obviously cannot handle is beyond me.

Yet another thorn in my side...

phuz

12-21-2002, 06:17 PM

Something just isn't right with your speakers. I've heard 9's driven to ear bleeding volume with all sorts of music and they performed beautifuly.

I think you just got a bad pair of speaks man. Take em back and get a new pair!

Frank Z

12-21-2002, 06:27 PM

ATC,
What do you have your crossover Freq. set at? Keep in mind that the over all frequency response is 38Hz-27Khz. Sounds to me like you are expecting better bass response than these speakers are designed to provide. Have you tried letting your sub handle the frequencies from 80 - 100hz on down?

I'm not slammin' ya, but I think that your expectations regarding the bass response are a little to high. I have also heard the 9's driven to high volume levels, but there was a sub connected to handle the low-end.

Zero

12-21-2002, 06:33 PM

FrankZ,

The KLH sub is not hooked up the the 9's. They are currently standing a lone as part of a 2 channel rig.

The sub is part of the HK and Klipsch rig for the computer -which might I add is working absolutely flawlessly.

Expectations? No, believe it or not I dont have any high expectations in regards to the 9's bass out put. But I DONT expect them to rattle at such modest volumes. I did some more tests today using the Incubus cd, at 85 db almost all the way around the room...... rattle rattle..

Sorry, it just doesnt drive.

phuz

12-21-2002, 06:34 PM

I think they are rattling because you've done some damage to them, and it will probably only get worse.

Are you getting your DB levels from an SPL meter?

Zero

12-21-2002, 06:37 PM

How any damage has been done is beyond me. Initially ran with a Harman Kardon 3470 reciever using MIT terminator 4 wires.

Now being ran with Rotel . Monster Z2 bi-wires. Using a cheap source, but its never given me problems before.

Yeah, perhaps I did damage them. If so, it does not give much credit to the speaker...........

Yes, the DBs are tested from a SPL meter.

phuz

12-21-2002, 06:42 PM

What is the absolute loudest you've ever had them? You mentioned 90db before, ever gone to 95? or 100?

I think it's probably the combination of high vlume with low frequencies (30-40hz on a rap record for example). I think frank and Mantis made some really good points.

Remember, they aren't your 2000's. ;)

If I were you I'd get em fixed and add a sub, or get em fixed and sell them for some towers. Just my opinion though.

Zero

12-21-2002, 06:47 PM

I believe the highest they have played yet is in and around the 95 db mark. I can never handle this for any length of time... Generally for about 15 seconds until the volume is turned down.

Mantis's statements were made before the Rotel arrived, which he and others claim to be "high current". So much for that little theory, eh?

I do not mean to come across as an ******* but Im simply tired of running into problems with Polk gear. This is the only brand Ive had difficulties with............

phuz

12-21-2002, 06:51 PM

Mantis also said "Turn it down!' heheh

I think you tried to blow them just like you tried to blow your 2000's. :p

Zero

12-21-2002, 06:54 PM

hahaha Now the 2000s I did abuse. Didnt know much about audio, had them being powered on a cheap Pioneer reciever with "midnight" on. Computer audio settings on full - talk about over-load. Especially when considering how crappy the audio quality of pc software tends to be.

The 2000s only blew once , when I pushed them to their limits. It was just the one driver that blew thankfully. But ohhhh the bass, it was worth it. !!!

However, the 9's have been given the opposite treatment.

Frank Z

12-21-2002, 08:17 PM

They are currently standing a lone as part of a 2 channel rig.

I think adding the KLH sub should be the next step, that is before you give up on the 9's. Geeze I don't want to sound like I'm talking down to ya but I really feel that if you add a sub to handle the low end you'll be much happier.

I have read so many posts, threads, and magazine articles about how a good 2 channel system does not need a separate sub, and I guess that most of the time that may in fact be true. BUT, if the 2 channel system in question does not have the low-end frequency response the options are pretty clear:

1) listen to nothing but Yanni cd's
2) buy speakers that are better suited to handle the low-end
(passive bass, powered bass)
3) Add a sub to take care of the low-end.

I do not mean to come across as an ******* but Im simply tired of running into problems with Polk gear. This is the only brand Ive had difficulties with............

Who's an A-hole? Not you, you're just after good sound, not a damn thing wrong with that! That's what we're all here for! Now for the hard part...don't take this the wrong way....How many other post/threads have you seen here or elswhere that describe the same problem, or any problem with the Lsi9? If you are having so many problems I would contact Customer Service and see what they can do for you.

When I got my Lsi's I had to wait for the 15's to show up, so I hooked up the 7's as my mains cuz I'm an inpatient SOB, and they kicked ass!! I let my PSW350 handle the sound below 80Hz.

Give it a shot, you've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Zero

12-21-2002, 08:54 PM

Frank Z,

Generally when individuals refer to a decent 2 channel rig, it entails towers with full range capability - with some very few exceptions. Unfortunately, I made the error of purchasing some bookshelf speakers

Unfortunately I made the mistake of purchasing bookshelves with the hopes of the fullfilling the capabilities of a tower. I intended on purchasing a sub to accompany the 9's, but felt comforted that the 9's could hold their own till that time comes. Looks like I was wrong.

Clearly, the only recourse I have is to contact Ken or call the Polk service and attempt to find a solution to this problem.

I am not positive what the deal with the LSi-9s are. It was suggested that perhaps the use with the HK earlier is the root of the problems, but I doubt it. I have noticed many other members using the 9's on their recievers with absolutely no problems being reported.

Unfortunately I have a lot to loose, and thats cash and dancing around with my parents again about selling things. Always a lovely ballad.

I do thank you all for your suggestions though, I really appreciate it.

RuSsMaN

12-21-2002, 09:49 PM

The 9's can and will hold their own. The driver is defective, or you blew it, period.

I ran my Kef Cresta 2's (5.25 2-way) with an M400a (201 wpc cont), and nothing BUT full-range signals. No issues, even at twice the manufactures stated power ratings. I've done the same with other bookshelf speakers, from B&W to Polk.

The speaker is bad, or you blew it. Halfway (or almost) on the Rotel would be too much, imo. You were probably clipping on bass heavy tracks. I've never seen 12 o'clock on any volume knobs, unless it was a passive preamp.

35 watt Rotel right? Well, that would probably be enough for me, maybe it isn't for you. Maybe you need a 60 watt, or 100, or 200 watt Rotel (or any other good amp) to drive your music to the levels you like to listen to, without clipping.

I hope you get it all worked out, I really do. But I don't think the long-term solution is to ditch the 9's.

Cheers,
Russ

Zero

12-21-2002, 10:28 PM

Russ,

Afraid I will just have to put my foot down here. They have not been abused or over-driven. Period - end of story.

Hell, the loudest my speakers have ever played is when my dad listened to his Eric Johnsons "White cliffs of Dover". In fact, they are much more abusive then I, as their volume is often up and constant at levels I cannot tolerate. Same applies with friends.

Half-way up is never needed for music, but is needed for various films. Sum of All Fears had its way with the 9's.

The 35 wpc is more then enough power for me, especially in this room. I am simply past tired of accustations or suggestions of clipping due to high volumes. And indeed if thats the case, then the source or the speaker is not worth much. Not as much as I payed at least.

As for ditching the 9's. We will see. If worse comes to worse, I will have the SDA's to use. Yeah - I could live with that.

RuSsMaN

12-21-2002, 10:41 PM

You say they haven't been abused, yet your parents and friends use them at levels you cannot tolerate? You had this little integrated turned up HALF WAY on movies?

Sounds like abuse to me my brotha. If you don't want to believe you can clip your amp at 'only halfway', then there is really no need to discuss it further. Not trying to talk down to you, but thats just my experience and opinion. IMO, if you are running the volume at or near halfway consistantly, the amp DOES NOT have enough power for you.

Man, NEVER, I mean NEVER let your 'friends' touch the volume. All it would take is one 2 second 'crank' while you are in the pisser, and they (your speakers) will be *done*.

Cheers,
Russ

Zero

12-21-2002, 10:58 PM

Russ,

I appreciate what you have to offer and say.

I can tell you, the Harman Kardon handles the 9's with absolute ease. Have yet to clip the damn thing. The AMC and CARVER gear had no trouble either with other speakers.....

I was not clear with my examples. The only time my dad has cranked the music with my system, has been on the SDA's and 2000's, which handled it perfectly and begged for more juice. My parents love abusing the RT100's and RT15s, along with the KLH 10' sub.

My friends, no, they are not allowed to touch my personal rig. I am speaking of their own speakers in the car, that they love to blast.

That however, is besides the point. I am having trouble understanding a few things here.

a) If an amp is unable to use half of its power, then why on earth is it there? Perhaps I dont understand amps.

b) If a speaker cannot handle a signal, why is it allowed to pass? I guess I dont understand drivers either.

Im frustrated beyond belief at this moment - and if I could smoke some weed by God I would be all over it right now - unfortunately thats not an option.

I just want some decent sound - God forbid, I dont believe it will ever come.