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4 Pi Crossover [message #93058]

Fri, 05 February 2021 08:37

truenorth
Messages: 4
Registered: February 2021
Location: Toronto,Canada

Esquire

Hello Wayne,

Greetings. I've been enjoying my 4 Pi for over a decade until couple weeks ago while listening (at normal sound level) I noticed I was getting ear fatigue after 10 minutes from one ear. After switching left <> right speakers, my ear fatigue followed the speaker swap. So now I am focusing my troubleshooting on a speaker, most likely the speaker crossover.

While going through my saved crossover schematics (2Pi and 4Pi), for some reason, I can only find the original 4Pi schematic and not the updated version. Can you please send me the latest 4 Pi crossover schematic? Also, any suggestion as to which component could be the culprit?

My 4 Pi is made up of 2225H, DE250, and H290C. I also have 15 ohm across DE250 (added later for H290C).

Thanks in advance,
Norb

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Re: 4 Pi Crossover [message #93059 is a reply to message #93058]

Fri, 05 February 2021 08:55

Wayne Parham
Messages: 18785
Registered: January 2001

Illuminati (33rd Degree)

I'll send plans via email.

I would suggest swapping the midwoofer, then the tweeter compression driver and then the crossover board. Make sure you are focused on the right thing.

If it turns out it's the crossover, I'd replace the resistors first, followed by the capacitors. I can't imagine the coils going bad but if all else fails, I guess you could try swapping them too. But I'm sure you will have found your culprit long before you get to that point.

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Re: 4 Pi Crossover [message #93061 is a reply to message #93059]

Fri, 05 February 2021 09:34

truenorth
Messages: 4
Registered: February 2021
Location: Toronto,Canada

Esquire

Thanks for the tip Wayne.

You got me thinking, before pulling the midwoofers out (not fun), I am now thinking I can use a dBMeter phone App and some kind of tone generator to see if I can isolate the issue.

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Re: 4 Pi Crossover [message #93108 is a reply to message #93059]

Tue, 09 February 2021 23:03

truenorth
Messages: 4
Registered: February 2021
Location: Toronto,Canada

Esquire

I like to report my Issue is now solved! Thanks for the schematic Wayne.

Root cause: Human error Sad

My culprit tweeter wiring got reversed. Story below....

Here is how I found the issue:
1] I started by running an online tone generator application from an android device connected to my amp via the headphone jack. On the receiving end, I ran audio/spectrum analyzer on my iphone. Ran frequency sweep and measured frequency response on each driver at a time. Although it is crude, it showed both speakers were putting out between 38Hz to 18KHz (roughly) and no distorted waveform. Which meant the speakers were doing what it is supposed to.

2] At this point, I was still getting mild ear fatigue, next, I decided to switch each driver from one side to the other. Since my 4 Pi has the tweeter in a separate box seating on top of midwoofer box I proceeded to switch the tweeters first. At this point I noticed the wiring for the tweeters weren't the same. After double checking with crossover diagram I noticed the polarity on the suspect tweeter to be reversed. Further memory recall, pointed to about a month ago I was messing with the wiring but didn't get to listen to the 4 Pi right away until sometime afterwards which lead me to a wild chase.

I am happy to report my 4 Pi is back....

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Re: 4 Pi Crossover [message #93110 is a reply to message #93108]

Wed, 10 February 2021 08:47

Wayne Parham
Messages: 18785
Registered: January 2001

Illuminati (33rd Degree)

Nice work tracking that down!

Thanks for reporting back. It will be useful for others facing your same circumstance.

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Re: 4 Pi Crossover [message #93124 is a reply to message #93110]

Sun, 14 February 2021 20:37

docjrev
Messages: 6
Registered: February 2021

Esquire

Hello,
Same thing happened to me. Had my Pi4s for 10 plus years. I recently replaced my horn with the new Wayne horn (H90C and add the 16 ohm resistor) and forgot that in the B&C DE250 driver "red" binding post is the "-". I was listening and seemed that the sound and stage were out of focus. I knew something was wrong.

I use an "AudioTool" program from StudioSix called speaker polarity detector to detect polarity while playing a "speaker pop wav file". This tool sends pop-like sound to your speakers and using an iPhone, you can post the iPhone mic to each driver and it will tell you the driver's polarity.

Corrected, everything sounded very, very good. The improvement from the old to the newer horn is outstanding! Hard to explain but my speakers sounded like a much better pair. Thanks Wayne.

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Re: 4 Pi Crossover [message #93125 is a reply to message #93124]

Mon, 15 February 2021 06:29

rvsixer
Messages: 58
Registered: February 2011

Baron

docjrev wrote on Sun, 14 February 2021 18:37

I use an "AudioTool" program from StudioSix called speaker polarity detector to detect polarity while playing a "speaker pop wav file".

Great tip on this speaker polarity tester. After googling a bit, I found in addition to the tool being bundled within AudioTools, it is also available standalone for a bit of cost savings:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/speaker-polarity/id293263027

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Re: 4 Pi Crossover [message #93130 is a reply to message #93125]

Mon, 15 February 2021 15:49

truenorth
Messages: 4
Registered: February 2021
Location: Toronto,Canada

Esquire

Nice!!!

I wish I had this tool/utility when I was troubleshooting my issues... I think this is a must have tool when building speakers.

I just downloaded the pop wav file and ran it from my laptop connected to the amp and also downloaded the app for iphone and it all checked out Smile

The Pop wav file can be found here:
https://studiosixdigital.com/audiotools-modules-2/speaker-test-modules/speaker_pop/

iphone speaker test apps:
- search for "speaker polarity" in the app store and you should come across several app options. I used app called "Audio Control"

Thanks for sharing.

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