Help! Horrible crackling sound from tweeters

[ScottV]

Hello, hopefully someone out there can help me. I have just upgraded from a beginer out-of-the box home theatre system to a somewhat respectable middle grade 7.1 system with all new components. when listening to FM radio at loud volume with the powered sub at medium volume a horrible crackeling/distortion sound comes from the tweeters in the floor standing speakers (all six) and the center channel. When listening to CD's, DVD's, or TV/Cable I can crank it up till the house shakes (had to try it once) and the tweets were fine, no crackeling sound/distortion. I can listen to a song on the radio at higher volume and have the crackeling sound of tweeter death occurr and then listen to a CD of the same song at the same volume and it will sound great. I can only guess the problem is with the FM stations and not just the system.
I really have no idea what could be going on and would love someone to tell me whats going on and even better how I can fix the problem. Thank you for any help you can give me!

 

[pzaur]

Well, hopefully you don't have any Rice Krispies in there!
Sorry, really bad. Are the radio stations coming in perfectly clear? Have you tried on multiple radio stations?

If "yes" to both it sounds as though the radio tuner isn't working properly. Hopefully, there's someone knowledgeable about this issue that chimes in.

Just to trouble shoot, it might be easier if you can let us know what receiver you're running. Maybe it's a known issue with that model...

-pat

 

[jamie2112]

It sounds like a Receiver issue to me..........

 

[jamie2112]

It sounds like a Receiver issue to me..........or the fm reception is very bad on that particular unit.

 

[TLS Guy]

I think you are probably in a spot where you are getting severe multipath distortion.

What are you using for an antenna. Good FM reception begins with a well built and designed roof antenna, like those from Winegard.

 

[ScottV]

Thanks for answering so quick! you guys rock. Anywho for kicks i grabbed a different reciever and hooked it up to see if it was a hardware problem and I got the same thing. Haha....yeah didn't fill the towers with rice crispies but same issue.......snap crackle pop from the poor tweeters.
The reception is not the best as I am only using the supplied FM wire. Could that be the issue? If so I'll actually be a lil relieved. Although my neighbors will be wondering why I'm attaching a 20' antenna to my roof and then horrifed when I can actually crank out my fav stations again! Any and all help, advice, or constructive critisism welcome! Thanks!

 

[markw]

Hmmmmmm. Veddy Intelesting.

Lessee what we have here...

1) It doesn't happen on anything except FM.

2) It only happens at high volumes.

3) It happened with two different receivers.

...It's that last one that gets me.

Now, if it were an FM problem, it would manifest itself at all volumes.

If it were the receiver, swapping it out would most likely cure it.

If it were the speakers, it would happen on all sources.

Anyone else have any ideas here?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Lessee what we have here...

1) It doesn't happen on anything except FM.

2) It only happens at high volumes.

3) It happened with two different receivers.

...It's that last one that gets me.

Now, if it were an FM problem, it would manifest itself at all volumes.

If it were the receiver, swapping it out would most likely cure it.

If it were the speakers, it would happen on all sources.

Anyone else have any ideas here?

Goodness, do you suppose it could be the FM reception? I would never have thought of that on my own!

 

[TLS Guy]

Lessee what we have here...

1) It doesn't happen on anything except FM.

2) It only happens at high volumes.

3) It happened with two different receivers.

...It's that last one that gets me.

Now, if it were an FM problem, it would manifest itself at all volumes.

If it were the receiver, swapping it out would most likely cure it.

If it were the speakers, it would happen on all sources.

Anyone else have any ideas here?

I'm pretty sure he has severe multipath distortion at his location. That generates lots of harmonic distortion. As he turns it up, it is threatening to fry his tweeter, and it is distorting as it can't handle the THD. I bet there is a lot of HF hash along with it also.

This is what he needs.

http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewitem.asp?p=HD6055P

He will then have good rear rejection, and won't get the reflection and echoes causing his problem. If the station he listens to are in opposite directions, he will need an antenna rotator.

 

[Rickster71]

Wow, I do type slow..

Now, if it were an FM problem, it would manifest itself at all volumes.

Anyone else have any ideas here?

Mark brings up several a good points.
Just to be sure, double check for the noise at lower volumes.
I have a feeling it's there, though just not as noticeable at the lower volumes.
Another quick and free test: switch the receiver to mono, does a good part of the noise go away?
If so, get a better antenna.

Had a similar problem, I get mediocre FM reception here. When I first bought this house (15 years ago) I put up a large TV / FM antenna and a rotor, and the difference was unbelievable.
With the cheap dipole antenna that comes with a receiver you will pick up all the electrical noise from inside the house. That along with all the multi-path noise.
Unless you can get a good signal bounced off of a nearby building or mountain, FM reception gets better, the higher up the antenna is.
Meaning a roof antenna, as TLS Guy mentioned. You may be able to get away with an antenna in the attic, though it's not ideal.

 

[ScottV]

Thank you guys for the advice given, aside from the sarcastic response it was informative and helpful. I do understand that it is a FM prolem do to it only happening while playing FM stations I was trying to figure out why and anyway to fix it. The issue does not seem to happen at low volumes however as was mentioned it could be that it just is not as pronounced as it is at high volume. I am not a pro (obviously) at this and have only begun diving into the home audio scene and am trying to learn about it. As I stated I do understand that it is an FM issue but the thing I am curious about is that I can have the crackeling sound occur in the tweeters at higher volume with the sub at a medium volume and then turn the sub completely down and the problem stops or is just not notiecable. It seems that the sub (or the bass)may be suspect in this as well as the FM stations. I understand the "what" and if anyone can help me understand the "why" I would appreciate your expertise and opinion.
Thank you guys again I have learned a few things and will be investing in a good FM antenna which will hopefully fix or modestly improve the sound of my investment. Thanks again!

 

[pzaur]

Is the antenna physically crossing or in close proximity to any of the wiring/cables? Mainly, I'm thinking of the sub cable.
And, are you using a shielded sub-cable.

-pat

 

[ScottV]

Yes, I am using a shielded sub cable and I have the FM antenna wire away from all other wires. I have noticed that my TV is causing some of the interference and hopefully an external FM antena would do the trick. Thanks!

 

[PeterWhite]

Yes, I am using a shielded sub cable and I have the FM antenna wire away from all other wires. I have noticed that my TV is causing some of the interference and hopefully an external FM antena would do the trick. Thanks!

Do you have the TV switched on when you hear the interference? Most TVs have a sleep mode which still has some power in the circuitry when you think you've turned the set off. The TV is never fully turned off. It would be interesting to know if there's a difference when the set is fully on, in sleep or standby mode (what you might assume is off but isn't) and unplugged.

 

[ScottV]

My TV has been off when I have had the issue but I will try it with the TV unplugged. I am also going to try the receiver and speakers in a different room away from the TV, Cable box, and DVD player. Although I may not know if moving away from the other electrical equipment helped it or the new room has better FM reception. I am also going to try a diff powered sub and see if that helps.

 

[snappy_snoopy]

My TV has been off when I have had the issue but I will try it with the TV unplugged. I am also going to try the receiver and speakers in a different room away from the TV, Cable box, and DVD player. Although I may not know if moving away from the other electrical equipment helped it or the new room has better FM reception. I am also going to try a diff powered sub and see if that helps.

what you can also try is some houses have built in antennas which go to your roof if you have this you can try connectring to that instead it should be a coax cable comming from the wall, round abouts where your tvt coax plug goes in. At least thats how its arranged in New Zealand. Sounds like bad FM reception to me too and cross over distortion is a problem and remember if its a particular signal thats bad at a particular frequency once you amplify it it will become larger ie signal to noise ration type idea and it will become a bigger problem.