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Infinity Kappa 9 S EMIT not functioning or Hearing Loss?

First post after lurking for a couple years, so please be gentle.

I recently acquired a set of Kappa 9s. I know, I know, "amp killers," "poor design," etc. I'm having fun with them for now, so I'm willfully overlooking that part. Currently bi-amped with Audio Research Dual 75 running the top end. A more "budget" 2 channel solid state amp I pillaged from my home theater setup is temporarily running the bottom end with the bass extension of the 9s switched to off.

Question. Is it possible the frequency range of the S EMIT up top is out of my hearing range? I play test tones and the top of my range is somewhere between the 14kHz and 15kHz, but I don't think it's coming from them, rather the EMIT below. This is the case with the S EMIT on BOTH speakers. 

I used my 8 year old as a test subject and he said he can definitely hear sound emanating from the top S EMIT, starting around 19kHz. Being the skeptic I am, can I trust that he's hearing from the S EMIT and not the EMIT below?

I thought the S EMITs were crossed over around 10kHz, so I should hear something from them. I'm really far from a technical wizard or electrical expert. Physically digging into and testing crossovers and whatnot is a bit over my head.

There's another forum that has seems to have a more Infinity focused following, but I can't seem to create an account or search the site for whatever reason, so I'm turning to the experts here.

Richard

P.S. I've learned SO MUCH from you all, reading most of the top discussions delivered to my inbox every night for the last 2+ years.  

 

 

richardt9000
richardt9000 OP
9 posts
 

Thanks for the tip @russ69. Don't know why I didn't think of that simple approach. I think I can sort of hear something, definitely not pronounced out of one. Nothing out of the other. I ran some test tones on each speaker individually and used a frequency measuring app on my phone. The speakers both play between 10kHz and 21kHz at more or less identical levels.

As an aside, it's weird to watch an instrument measure something you cannot hear. Nevertheless, I can see it's producing the frequencies (whether it's emanating from the S EMIT or not), so I'm just going to roll with it and enjoy the show!

I feel like I'm blowing through my music library toying with these, need to find some new tunes to enjoy!

Thanks again.

richardt9000 OP
9 posts
 

@roxy54 i didn't see your post until now. Thank you for the insight, that's actually very comforting! They sound great, so I was quite curious about what I could possibly be missing.

ervikingo
149 posts
 

@richardt9000 hi!  
 

on the component side of things (not your hearing) clean the pots, look at the crossovers to make sure everything looks OK.

Speaking from experience with my betas. I could trace a situation with mine and I thought it was my ears (I lost some frequencies on my left ear/medical situation). I thought it must be my hearing loss. 
 

I decided to open the crossover box and found that a cap was not soldered. On the Betas the crossover components hang down and are held in place with what looks to be hot glue. I soldered back, affixed other components that looked weak. 
 

MAGIC was back!

inwish there was a way to test the crossover components and drivers without disconnecting them (everything is “hardwired” on the Betas). 
 

forget about all the hoopla about amp killer, etc. if you enjoy the way the reproduce music… enjoy them. 
 

BTW you should contact Bob Douglas and ask him your concern with the driver. 
 

I started a thread about IRS Beta, there might be other Kappa owners there

ervikingo
149 posts
 

BTW I can hear my S-EMITs. Get up close and they are sparkling 

ross6860's avatar
ross6860
103 posts
 

Richard, how old are you?  Have you been exposed to loud noise (work, concerts, hobbies)?

My hearing is done by 14kHz, but I'm 63.

The EMITs are around 3.2-4 ohms, so you can check for continuity.  Have your son use a paper towel tube between his ear and the drivers to help isolate them.

I've had a few of the older Infinity speakers and luckily never had a driver fail.  Never blew an amp either, well, except for that old Kenwood...

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