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Woofer damage from new Star Wars THX DVD?

Both woofers in my JM Lab Utopias blew with the THX intro (exploding sphere) on the new Star Wars DVD. Happened at normal listening level through my Theta Casablanca II/VTL 7.5 preamp/Halcro dm58 amps. I've not blown a driver in over 30 years of being an audiophile. I've heard that the base was boosted as much as 36db on some of these DVDs. Even though the speakers are under warranty, I'm out $1,200 for a new Focal woofer (JM Lab only covers 1 driver for this kind of damage). Anybody with information or suggestions? Needless to say, I'm not happy about eating this expense if the fault really lies with an overmodulated DVD with no warning about increased bass levels. At the verey least, I'm curious to see if this happened to anyone else. The sound level was high enough that the concern for hearing loss came to mind (I'm a physician and I don't think I'm this concern is frivolous). Thanks for any thoughts or other input.
avimar

Showing 2 responses by bishopwill

bishopwill
369 posts
 
I have played this DVD on both my HT system (Paradigm 100 V2 and VMPS Larger Subwoofer) and on my music system (Mezzo Utopias), both at higher levels than I would ever do normally. The Utopia woofers suffered no damage whatsoever and did not bottom out, though their output was obviously less than the VMPS sub. I can't help but believe that you experienced an amp problem. We tend to think of only tweeters being damaged by clipping but I suppose it could happen to woofers, as well. Sean, does this sound plausible?

I agree that you should raise holy hell with your dealer and with the mfgr about warranty coverage of only one woofer. Absurd!

will
bishopwill
369 posts
 
Thanks for your comments, Sean; always helpful.

I went back and played the DVD again last night on my Mezzo Utopias (powered by a Belles 350A) and on my Paradigm 100s (Parasound 1500A) with and without VMPS sub (Crown K2). I played them both hellishly loud (paintings on the walls went crooked and stuff in the china cabinet rattled and danced around) and none of the woofers even bottomed, let alone blew.

Something pathological has to be going on with Avimar's system.

will
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