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Did I damage my speakers?

Group,
Need your expertise: I own a pair of Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grand SE's.

I recently paired them with a new-to-me set of Bel Canto REF600M monos, which replace a Bel Canto REF500S dual mono stereo amp. My preamp is a Bel Canto Pre3VB with the battery power unit.

This weekend the tweeters and upper mids, vocals (mostly female), piano,  sound hazy, at times somewhat distorted, grainy. My listening level is typically between 60-75db. I don't push these speakers hard, but I'm also getting acquainted with an amp now giving 100wpc more than I'm used to. Recently I may have pushed these speakers a bit too hard, getting up into the 80db range a few times. Could I have over-driven the tweeters with this more powerful amplifier?

I've owned the REF600M's for about two months; until this weekend, never heard this kind of distortion/congestion at the top end. Doesn't happen on everything I play (mostly CD's). Before this weekend the sound has been wonderful.

I've had these speakers for almost 7 years and have never noticed something like this before.

Wondering how to troubleshoot this.

Thanks in advance for your insight/perspective.

J


arcamguy

Showing 3 responses by arcamguy

arcamguy OP
84 posts
 
@douglas_schroeder 

Thanks for the input. I don't do digital streaming, but I do have another preamp I can put in the system to see if that eliminates the issue.

Never thought it could be the preamp. I should note I do not keep my system on 24/7, and powered it up after being off for several days. I usually keep it on throughout the weekend.

I'll keep you updated,
Regards,
J







arcamguy OP
84 posts
 
Hello all,
Thanks for your responses.

@millercarbon I always enjoy your posts. Sounds like you listen at louder levels; I will take your advice and check other issues. 

@erik_squires  thanks for the advice; I will leave them on 24/7. 

@douglas_schroeder thanks for that; I'm going to live with this for the week, keeping the amps on; I'll see if the issue improves. Didn't sound bad this morning, but still the occasional brightness/etch to the upper end. If this doesn't improve over the week, I'll swap out the preamp and see how that goes.

I am relieved to hear you all think it's not the speakers; what a pain this would/will be if those things have to get serviced. So, I am more relaxed about that. I checked all the connections: everything's good.

Any more thoughts, keep 'em coming.
Thanks all...
J
arcamguy OP
84 posts
 
Hello group,
Apologies for the delay in communicating; I sent the Bel Canto preamp and battery unit off to get checked at Bel Canto and they returned with a clean bill of health yesterday.

Put it back in the system and it sounds the same: not quite the "body" to the sound I'm used to; highs are still a bit etched. However, the system has been off for a couple weeks so I'm letting it run in. 

Next option is to get the REF600M's checked. Again, as those of you with much more experience have said, speaker damage, given my listening levels would be unlikely. However, I'm not ruling that out.

I will be switching out components this weekend: I will slide in another pair of speakers to see if the sound is different.  

I appreciate your feedback, folks. Thanks much.

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