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Issue with ProAc D40 speaker - any suggestions to resolve the issue

Hi,


I recently bought used ProAc D40R couple of months back, and driving them with Bluenode streamer —> Digital Audio company Marachino Class D Mono blocks.


After a month or so I realized that absence of the sound from one of the ribbon tweeter, showed it to local audio equipment dealer, they fixed the issue (it was loose tweeter harness wire), now I get the sound from both the tweeter.


Recently i compared these speakers against my exiting DIY Audio Nirvana 8” Alnico single driver speaker using ‘Spanish Harlem’ Track by Rebecca Pidgeon, to my surprise Audio Nirvana sounded more clear and I can hear all the details especially shakers in the left back corner and all other details while on ProAc D40r I can barely hear all those tiny details in the background to me that should not happen with ProAc being such great speaker especially with Ribbon tweeter, so just wondering What could be the issue, Can it be a Crossover Caps issue (as the person I bought these from mentioned those were in storage for almost a year and I read it somewhere here on audiogon thread that caps in crossover may go bad if you store it for long time). 

Really appreciate any recommendations/remedies to resolve the issue, eventually i will have take it back to audio dealer but just wanted to check on forum that if anyone else experiences this kind of issue and what was the solution.


Thank you,



listener111
listener111 OP
26 posts
 
Thank you motokokusanagi, will try comparing the speakers with level matched though as this will be first attempt to do that so will have to wait and see how it goes.
motokokusanagi
189 posts
 
Sure thing. The crossover frequency should be between 2-4khz. You can verify any gross discrepancies in volume output using your phone, using the old speakers as a control, then the left and right Proacs, and both together. Find some percussive music also and do a sanity check if you find a discrepancy using just test tones. If you find a drop in volume output between the individual speakers of -3db or more, then there's a fault.

Subsequent fault diagnosis would require removing the drivers and crossovers.
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,322 posts
 
Is the bass overpowering the mids/highs? The bass on the D40 is potent.
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,610 posts
 
wow sorry to hear you are having that problem

i have had 8-10 pair of various proacs since the 1990’s...even moved two pair to asia and back when i worked there... i have never had a single driver/x-over problem like that

yes you need to find a tech do a proper sweep of the drivers and crossovers make sure all is working properly... even though a d40 has prodigious bass there is no way the speaker should obscure detail like that!!! won’t be cheap or easy to accomplish... at any time but especially now with covid etc etc
listener111 OP
26 posts
 
Thanks Milpai,
Even though the bass is more than Audio Nirvana it’s not really overpowering and seems fine as its same as what i used to get from Usher CP 6381 i used to own. (though i will try pulling those further away from wall and will see if that makes any difference). The sound is not as balanced, there is not much depth to soundstage as compared to audio nirvana or other speakers i used to own. based on what i am reading D40R should sound much better. I even saw few other videos of other ProAc speakers playing "spanish harlem" and i hear those tiny details through my headphones on youtube video but can’t hear much with D40r
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