Speaker Sound Quality Issue - Please help

[desmondlewissmi]

I am running a Proficient SS8P Speaker Selector to 4 pair of speakers and sometimes songs play with no bass... other times they play with bass and it sounds normal.

Here's my setup.

I have a Harman Kardon 3490 Reciever with the right and left speakers connected to my Proficient SS8P Speaker Selector.

My Proficient SS8P Speaker Selector connect to 4 NON impedence matching volume slider controls by Proficient (VC60's)

The speakers are as follows

Masterbedroom has two ERS110DT Speakers running at 4 ohms
Gameroom has two ERS110 Speakers running at 4 ohms
Outside has two Proficient AR525 Outdoor Speakers running at 8 ohms
Livingroom as two JBL SP8II Speakers running at 8 ohms

Half the time this setup sounds great, the other half of the time it crackles and loses bass.

What would cause this?

 

[highfigh]

I am running a Proficient SS8P Speaker Selector to 4 pair of speakers and sometimes songs play with no bass... other times they play with bass and it sounds normal.

Here's my setup.

I have a Harman Kardon 3490 Reciever with the right and left speakers connected to my Proficient SS8P Speaker Selector.

My Proficient SS8P Speaker Selector connect to 4 NON impedence matching volume slider controls by Proficient (VC60's)

The speakers are as follows

Masterbedroom has two ERS110DT Speakers running at 4 ohms
Gameroom has two ERS110 Speakers running at 4 ohms
Outside has two Proficient AR525 Outdoor Speakers running at 8 ohms
Livingroom as two JBL SP8II Speakers running at 8 ohms

Half the time this setup sounds great, the other half of the time it crackles and loses bass.

What would cause this?

Check the speaker and subwoofer settings on the receiver. If it's set for LFE and in certain surround modes, it won't play any/much bass.

You need impedance matching volume controls. The amp will puke if you go too long with this setup.

 

[Knucklehead90]

highfigh:
The 3490 is a stereo receiver - the sub outs are full range only - there is no EQ'ing other than the bass control on the front which gives you + or - 10db bass.

It sounds like you have an intermittent bad connection somewhere in the wiring. With 4 sets of speakers and no impedance matching hardware in between you are likely going to have more severe problems with that setup soon. Impedance is possibly somewhere south of 4 ohms - maybe near 2 giving your 3490 the life span of a fruit fly.

 

[desmondlewissmi]

You need impedance matching volume controls. The amp will puke if you go too long with this setup.

I talked to Proficient, they said the SS8P is already impedence matching, so if I was to have the VC60i impedence matching volume controls, they would just cancel each other out.

I had intially purchased the VC60i Volume knobs, but they are now on Ebay as the instructions for the SS8P clearly states "do not use with impedence matching volume controls".

 

[highfigh]

I talked to Proficient, they said the SS8P is already impedence matching, so if I was to have the VC60i impedence matching volume controls, they would just cancel each other out.

I had intially purchased the VC60i Volume knobs, but they are now on Ebay as the instructions for the SS8P clearly states "do not use with impedence matching volume controls".

Sorry- I didn't see/check into the selector. Have you turned speakers off, one set at a time, while it's acting up? Do you have a set of headphones you can try so you can find out if it's the receiver?

 

[desmondlewissmi]

Do you have a set of headphones you can try so you can find out if it's the receiver?

That's a DAMN GOOD IDEA!!! I'll try that now!!