2. amps-preamps
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Proac Ribbon Tweeters Damaged

Hi all - this is my first submission, so looking forward to your responses...

I own 2.5 year old Proac D48 R speakers, powered by a Parasound Halo A21 amp (about 8 years old). When listening the other day I thought the speakers sounded dull, muddy. It appears both of my ribbon tweeters have gone out and I am at a loss to understand why.  The amp is certainly not under powered to cause clipping damage and I never play my unit abnormally loud  - maybe 1/4 to 1/3 total volume.

As you can imagine, my repair/driver replacement will not be covered by warranty as this is not considered a manufacturer defect. I am told the tweeters run $399 per.

Worst thing I can do is have these repaired and then have it happen again. HELP!
gnoworyta
gnoworyta OP
70 posts
 
jetter - He really couldn't say. Although he did not "test" it, he said the amp appeared to be operating normally. He just said that somehow some sort of "system spike" had to have been generated to cause the ribbons to go. 
jetter
3,117 posts
 
Well, that doesn’t help much as you originally posted to find out what was wrong so it doesn’t happen again. As I mentioned earlier, I had (still have) speakers with two scanspeak 7" woofers in each speaker. Same thing happened, turned it on one day and all 4 woofers dead. Sent them to the dealer for his inspection and he had the manufacturer replace them under warranty. Nothing like that happened again using same amps and speakers. I am sure you have it under control and sorry to sound like a broken record, but before spending the big bucks on completely replacing the tweeters if that is what your are thinking of doing, I would telephone Millersound and see if they can help. 
gnoworyta OP
70 posts
 
Jetter - thanks. You're right - not much help in ascertaining the cause. And although I understand their position that the speakers are not exhibiting a certain "defect in workmanship or materials", I think they still could have stepped up and assisted financially in some way.

Thanks for the advice on Millersound. I'll see what they say.

Either way, once I get these repaired, I will have to decide whether I feel comfortable continuing to use that amp, or bite the bullet and purchase something new. Have to keep cost down, so considering PS Audio Stellar...
jetter
3,117 posts
 
I also was hoping that your dealer would come through for you.  Even if he was to just offer the tweets at dealer cost.  

I have read great things about the PS Audio Stellar amps.
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
... once I get these repaired, I will have to decide whether I feel comfortable continuing to use that amp, or bite the bullet and purchase something new.

Based on what has been said in the thread thus far, if in fact electronics in the system caused the tweeters to fail I'm not sure that the amp is any more likely to have been the culprit than the CD player.

Good luck as you proceed.  Regards,
-- Al 


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