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Wilson Witt series 1 speakers, very odd problem, help!

Ok so I have a pair of Wilson Witt series 1 speakers I purchased used approx. 4 months ago and was very happy with them.
Now I am experiencing a very odd problem.
Roughly 50% of the time when I start playing music through them the mid drivers do not work at all on either of them.
This usually occurs if I am playing at night and START at lower volume levels.
The next day I play them maybe at much higher start volume they will work just fine.
That is what is most peculiar to me, just how they can work one day but not the next and work again.
I am not sure it is directly related to volume but that does seem to be when they decide to not work.
Does anybody have an experience with this or have any ideas what possibly to look for?
Source does not matter, it could be tt or cd or tidal, and usually when the mid drivers are not working just turning up the volume does not make them work on that run.
Very very odd and I truly cannot fathom just how this can be happening at all?
uberwaltz

Showing 11 responses by uberwaltz

uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
Fitted the new Focal 121t tweeters last night and now we have sweet music again, better that the originals? Hard to tell as been a while since have listened to the speakers with all drivers fully functional...lol
Crazy part though....the cheapest place to buy these tweeters from even after shipping was W.A.R Audio in Perth, Australia!
Oh well, Im now happy.....
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
Purchased a pair of updated brand new Focal t120 tweeters and waiting for them to arrive and hope that will be the end of my woes.
3 to 10 business days...groan...lol
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
I replaced resistors for mids and tweeters at same time.
The tweeter on one speaker is def bad, it sounds awful but needed to do all resistors first.
I found a pair from Wilson Sofia 1 on eBay and also some focals but looking for info first
Thank you
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
Well finally got time to replace the resistors this morning, little surprised to see that for all the money Wilson charge they use plasterboard screws to hold it together with the square heads!
Anyhoo we now have life at the mids but the tweeters are definitely shot, most likely from my daughter using them when the mids were not working at all.
So any recommendations for a good replacement tweeter for these?  
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
Just and update so far
I pulled one mid driver to test solo and lo and behold music so I am going to assume both mids are good.
Spoke with Jerron at Wilson who confirmed that the likely cause is the resistor on the crossover and that they are accessed by a panel on base of the speaker.
I ordered 4 resistors for both mids and tweeters( may as well do both while at it) and just waiting for them to arrive and hopefully that will be it.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
@KALALI    
Along the same lines as audioconnections thought process I think and a fairly quick and cheap test for sure!
Thank you!   
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
And I meant I was now going to call Wilson just to see how I get into to check resistors on the crossover without damaging the finish anywhere
So yes there is a lot of point to my post to see how others may have fared with the same speakers or good thoughts as per audioconnections last suggestion
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
@audioconnection 
not quite sure what you mean by play it solo out of the cabinet?
do you mean desolder it from the main wiring and just hook up a pair of speaker leads to it and play direct at very low volume from my amp?
if so not a bad idea at all, thank you!
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
@gdnrbobThank you for your concern. How do you know I have not already spoken at length to polk432?
Which I have at length......
I questioned audioconnection simply because I did not see how pics would go is all.
What are your suggestions?
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
@audioconnection 
what are you thinking on the binding posts? they are not overtightened etc?
the mid woofers themselves externally look like new, internally when I removed them to check for loose connections there was some very minor dust and light corrosion on the frame but that was it.
soldered connections were good.
I am leaning towards blown resistors on the crossover but have yet to figure out how to even get to them to check.
It looks like the side panels should come off but when I prised off the caps that I would have though covered a screw or bolt head all I saw was what looks like factory applied blob of adhesive?
will be calling Wilson tomorrow to try and get good info to proceed further.
Should be simple enough to replace the resistors if it is them but do not want to risk any damage to the speakers or finish monkying around trying to get into the them the WRONG WAY.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
An update to this as I played them this morning at higher volume, after being on vacation for a week.
Now the mids will not play at all and it sounds like the lh speaker tweeter is also on the fritz as just sibilance is all I can here.
maybe something on the crossover boards?
Any thoughts will help here, thank you
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