Center speaker buzzes on Male Vocals

[r22yu]

So I've recently upgraded to the Onkyo RC370, but I've noticed that the center channel now plays back deeper vocals very fuzzy like. Like it buzzes at the lower end of each word.

I plugged the center channel back into my old Pioneer vsx520 and it's clear as day again, so I do not think it is the speaker or the speaker cable.

I also experience the same effect when watching blueray DTSMA(or was it TrueHD) through HDMI on my ps3, and on plain dolby digital through my HTPC.

Any ideas what could be the problem? Should I go exchange the reciever?

 

[sholling]

Was the speaker in the same location when you tested it? Because the first thing that I would suspect is that cabinet resonances (vibrations) are being transferred between the speaker and the stand. That will give you a bit of a buzz just like you described. Move the center out to a carpeted floor and test it. If that's the problem then the cure is to isolate the speaker from the entertainment center. I use Auralex Mopads but if the speaker is light enough (and you don't mind ugly) these may work.

You can also get a muddy sound if the sound of the center is reflecting off the surface of the entertainment center. Make sure that the front of the center sticks out a bit from the front of the entertainment center.

The next troubleshooting step is to rerun Audyssey and then double check the crossover point for the center. Audyssey is sometimes a bit optimistic about the speaker's capabilities and sets the crossover a bit low.

 

[r22yu]

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately moving the speaker to the carpet did not help.

When I plugged it back into my old receiver the speaker was left in the same place.

I have a Polk CS2 center, so it is fairly heavy and their specs have it going as low as 50hz. I have my center channel crossover set as high as 200 and as low as 40 but none of that helps.

Anything else it might be?

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately moving the speaker to the carpet did not help.

When I plugged it back into my old receiver the speaker was left in the same place.

I have a Polk CS2 center, so it is fairly heavy and their specs have it going as low as 50hz. I have my center channel crossover set as high as 200 and as low as 40 but none of that helps.

Anything else it might be?

I suspect you have a defective receiver. Try one of your mains on the center channel and see of you still have the problem.

No buzz with different receiver is very suspicious that you have a bad receiver. If the receiver does it on another speaker, it's the culprit. I would have a low trigger for dumping it a getting another under warranty.

 

[r22yu]

So I think I have it somewhat figured out. When I run the Audyssey calibration it sets me center channel to -7.5db. If I bump it back up afterwards manually to -5.0db the buzzing goes away, but then the center channel is somewhat dominant.

I also tried plugging my Polk Rti4 bookshelf in as the center channel, and it still buzzed on some words, most words were fine however.

So does this mean the speaker is not getting enough power at -7.5db? Or is this still a faulty receiver and I should go exchange it? I still have about 10 days to get a full refund on the onkyo.

 

[TLS Guy]

So I think I have it somewhat figured out. When I run the Audyssey calibration it sets me center channel to -7.5db. If I bump it back up afterwards manually to -5.0db the buzzing goes away, but then the center channel is somewhat dominant.

I also tried plugging my Polk Rti4 bookshelf in as the center channel, and it still buzzed on some words, most words were fine however.

So does this mean the speaker is not getting enough power at -7.5db? Or is this still a faulty receiver and I should go exchange it? I still have about 10 days to get a full refund on the onkyo.

Your argument holds no water. Reducing power will not make a speaker do that, in fact the reverse.

I would return that Onkyblow right away.

 

[r22yu]

Your argument holds no water. Reducing power will not make a speaker do that, in fact the reverse.

I would return that Onkyblow right away.

Can you shed some light on the science behind why reducing power will not cause a slight buzz at the end of a word?

I'd was going to refund it, but they have already given me a brand new unit and at the moment they don't carry any receivers comparable to the new onkyos. The new replacement no longer buzzes, and I have 3 year warranty on it so if it's a lemon in 1-2 years (as is the case in another thread here about onkyos), I can make a swap for a new receiver

 

[TLS Guy]

Can you shed some light on the science behind why reducing power will not cause a slight buzz at the end of a word?

I'd was going to refund it, but they have already given me a brand new unit and at the moment they don't carry any receivers comparable to the new onkyos. The new replacement no longer buzzes, and I have 3 year warranty on it so if it's a lemon in 1-2 years (as is the case in another thread here about onkyos), I can make a swap for a new receiver

If a speaker buzzes there is either gap rub, a dropped turn on the voice coil or a mechanical problem such as cone voice coil separation.

In these situations increasing the power will make it worse and more apparent.

As I suspected your previous receiver was faulty, so now you have a new one. Enjoy it.