Ask Goughy: What the heck is wrong with my speakers

[markTHEblake]

Goughy. This is about speakers, and doesnt make sense, and I figure this is right up your alley.

Speakers, Steinman SMS2

2011-06-07 21.51.39.jpg2011-06-07 21.52.35.jpg

No Sound comes from Speakers C & D any more on this side only, the other main speaker is fine.

On the initial advice from the retailer yonks ago, connect the wires diagonally, so either 1+4 or 2+3. I dont even get this anyway.

I go through the usual logical steps, of trial and error, like
- swap speakers, wires, and problem follows the speaker. I even hooked it to centre speaker.

Now it got interesting. If i connect the wires the speakers work as follows
1+2 = A+B
3+4 = C+D
1+4 = A+B
2+3 = C+D

So it is not the amp, cones or wires. I pulled the back off off and had a look inside. No snakes, no obvious wires fallen out.

[kpac]

makes no sense.

If infact that is the case, something is stuffed.

Far more likely that the connection of 3 is oxidised or something. Based on 'best guess' without playing with it.

Wouldn't be hard to fix. Speakers are very basic electronics, and by the sounds of things your wires seem to be the only issue.

[markTHEblake]

Far more likely that the connection of 3 is oxidised or something

I thought of that, but then why does it still work>and looks ok.

why do they do that 4 connections thing for anyway?

[henno]

I am guessing there are separate crossovers (or high/low pass filter thingers), which explains the A/B and C/D split.

[TourFit]

The 4 connectors are to allow bi-wiring, or even better bi-amping. That way you run the tweeter/mid range separately to the bass section.

Obvious question, did you check the connection at the amp end? Did you check for the speaker cable being compromised?

When you switched the speakers around (L to R) was the problem the same...ie the SAME speaker did not work, or did the other speaker not work in the same way.

[Tomson]

MTB to make sure the speakers are stuffed. Get a 9v battery and and connect the + and - to the speakers, it will test the speakers to make sure they are okay, if they do not pop out and hum then you know that there are connection issues or voice coil issues.

[goughy]

I find it hilarious that mtb wants to ask me, after the kubuntu thread! Surely you know I have no technical know how, I just wing things. My technical advice is your speaker is f'ed

And while I'm at it, your shoulder is f'ed too.

[markTHEblake]

I am guessing there are separate crossovers (or high/low pass filter thingers), which explains the A/B and C/D split.

I emailed www.aussiehifi.com.au where I bought these, and they gave me a call, explaining pretty much what you said (and tourfit), that by design the top row of connectors is for one set of speakers and the bottom two is the other set, and that the gold connnector between the two of them has lost contact. He even said he prefers to remove that contact and replace with good grade speaker wire.

I just unscrewed the connectors, found no physical issues and reconnected it all back together and works perfectly.

Thanks Goughy.

[markTHEblake]

Surely you know I have no technical know how, I just wing things.

You build your own speakers. Aren't you worried that you might wire it wrong and blow up something.

[PeteyD]

Speakers, not like it is rocket surgery.

[goughy]

I just follow what the instructions said! Just for a bit of fun you know. But out is getting time to put a nice timber look laminate on them and rebuild the sub box.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

[BrisVegas]

sorry i missed this thread. But you've found what i was going to suggest. It seemed like the plate linking your "bi-wire" connection is faulty/dirty. Replace with a length of speaker wire or remove and clean etc..

[markTHEblake]

RFC: Change thread title to "Ask Brisvegas" (cos Goughy just wings things)
submissions close 30/06

[goughy]

You seem surprised!

[markTHEblake]

its like when the kids found out their dad is not a super hero. a huge letdown