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Kappa 9. Parasound HCA-3500 WILL NOT power them

I purchased a pair of Infinity Kappa 9's a few weeks ago. I had the Infinity RS3A's and decided to sell them and upgrade to the Kappa's. I first hooked them to one of my Denon POA-2400 200wpc amps. Not enough power. So posted this problem on here and after some research I decided on the Parasound HCA-3500 350wpc dual mono amp. So I bought one from a real nice guy here on audiogon. I hooked it up last night and this thing won't power them! The amp gets real hot fast. It clips when turned up and the speakers sound like crap. We hooked up a pair of Infinity SM-152's to a Denon POA-1500 150wpc amp next to all this and it sounds better! Also, I think I blew one of the soft poly mid-ranges. The yellowish white rubber on the mids turned clear around the outter edges after listening to moderatly loud music. I'm really frusterated. Three thousand dollars later my stereo sounds way worse and I can't turn it up as loud as I used to. Does anyone have any advise? Could there be a short in the speakers? Why did my midrange blow? What amp should I buy now?
400bill

Showing 3 responses by 400bill

400bill OP
5 posts
 
I have the amp out in the open. As far as the midranges may not be blown, there is no sound comming out of either one. Before I turned them up last night, both of them had sound comming out. I was told that you can't kill Kappa 9's. Only Kappa 9's can kill amps. I live in Indiana. Should I take the Kappa's to guru in Tennessee? What is his name and website? I've heard he used to work for Infinity and does work on the Kappa's and is in Tennessee. I could maybe go $3,000 on another amp or pair of mono blocks. What about the Threshold SA1 or SA2 mono blocks?
400bill OP
5 posts
 
The current lights on the front turn from green to red when I turn up the volume. I still want to know why the midrange speakers blown and can I rebuild the midranges or do I have to replace the whole thing? I do think that it's going to take a larger amp. Not all is lost. I also have a pair of Kappa 8's that are going in the front next to the 9's. I'm sure the Parasound can handle the Kappa 8's. I do want to find something that is all black to somewhat match the Parasound for the 9's.
400bill OP
5 posts
 
I did not cross or touch any wires together. Asked for amp advice a few weeks ago when I purchased the Kappa 9's and my Denon POA-2400 wouldn't power them. I decided on the Parasound HCA-3500. The amp came in Thursday via UPS. I thought everything was going to be great. I hooked everything up Saturday and all this happened. I'm asking more than one question at a time because more than one bad thing happened Saturday. The drivers seem fine, but there is no sound comming from the soft polydome mids and they did have sound at first. I've already seen that Orange Co Speaker has replacements, but I don't want to replace anything until I get this worked out. I ask amp questions because so many say that it takes a monster amp to power these. I do think that the 85 Parasound is a monster. I'm just trying to find out if it's monsterous enough.
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