Distortion in the woofers

[oguinn]

Today in the right channel I started noticing some distortion in the woofers. At first I chalked it up to a scratched record but I noticed it happened on all inputs.

Here's what I've done so far:

• Removed the Kaiju, which would have normally driven the woofers, from the chain and drove with only the Stereomour II. The issue persisted.
• Tried multiple inputs. Issue persisted

Here's what I plan to try next:

• Once the BeePre tubes cool I plan to swap them. I anticipate this will not be the issue. (BeePre tube issue)
• Swap the crossover boards to see if the problem follows the board. (passive crossover issue)
• Swap the left and right cables to see if the issue follows the channel (BeePre construction issue/speaker issue)

Anything else I ought to try?

[oguinn]

Updates as I get them. Here's what I've done so far:

• Removed the Kaiju, which would have normally driven the woofers, from the chain and drove with only the Stereomour II. The issue persisted.
• Tried multiple inputs. Issue persisted
• Swap the left and right cables to see if the issue follows the channel. It didn't. That, in my mind, eliminates the BeePre, the cables, and the tubes.

Here's what I plan to try next:

• Once the BeePre tubes cool I plan to swap them. I anticipate this will not be the issue. (BeePre tube issue)
• Swap the crossover boards to see if the problem follows the board. (passive crossover issue)

[oguinn]

Swapped the crossover boards. Initially no change: distortion and weak output from the right channel. However, after a few seconds the sound kicked in fully without distortion.

This to me sounds like a loose connection inside the cabinet, which sucks since that means I have a new project. I'll wait until it acts up again.

[Paul Birkeland]

When I have run into this with my Jagers, it has always been a loose banana plug (a loose set screw, not the connector itself).

[oguinn]

I'm satisfied by that explanation for now. Saves me from light surgery.

Thanks, Paul.

[Doc B.]

Ditto, and when it happened to me it was at a banana plug in a binding post on the cabinet. Time for me to serve up my rant about cleaning all the connectors in your system once a year.

[debk]

I too had some "distortion"  in the woofers.  The quick disconnects fit very loosely on the terminals of the woofers.  I crimped them tighter on the terminals and the distortion went away.

Debra