2. amps-preamps
  3. 147744-3552

Amp or speaker issue?

Was not sure if this should be under amps or speakers, I picked amps.

I have a Sunfire 300w x 2 amp. In 2012 I sent this to Rita”s, Carver”s shop, and they replaced a handful of capacitors and upgraded some wiring. Has seen little use since then. 

I purchased a pair of used Vandersteen Model 2 speakers and the sound was great. After a month or so I started to get a “crackle” on deeper bass only on one speaker. This was in 2014. Over the past couple years I haven”t used this setup often but both speakers have started to, for lack of a better description, crackle on bass.  Not constant but seems more frequent. I am setting a simple 2 channel setup and was thinking of getting new Vandersteen”s.

Yeah, finally to the question...Is this crackle from the age and damage to the speakers, if so new speakers. Or could the amp be too much power for the speakers? If that is the case what amp would be recommeded for new Vandersteen Model 2CE Sig 2?

Thanks for any advice!
walstib
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Walstib, is the crackle volume dependent? How much volume does it take to get the crackle started? 
Erik is right. Most likely it is the woofers failing. The surrounds and spiders fail and in some instances the voice coil lacquer deteriorates and the coil becomes unsprung. If you push on the woofer you can feel it grind. Amplifiers do not fail like this. If you can't get to the woofers just take the amp to a local store and plug it into other speakers. If it is working fine then you know for a fact it is the speakers.
tomcarr
1,534 posts
 
You can get to the woofers but it requires some work. Youtube has a video showing how to do it. It's not difficult, just requires a bit of patience and being careful.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,883 posts
 
Another vote for Erik's assessment. Surround failure on woofers is a common problem with older loudspeakers. If a foam surround, ten years might be as long as it holds up.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,441 posts
 
Had the same problem on one of the Vandersteen 2CE speakers I was using. Removed the woofer and sent it to Vandersteen. Seems the glue holding the surround lost its grip and the speaker voice coil came uncentered. Vandersteen sold me another woofer for around 100.00 or so. That was 13 years ago and the raw driver probably costs more now. Vandersteen said the older woofer could no be repaired.
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