Hi TLS Guy. The speaker in question is a Paradigm ADP-470 v3. All my Paradigm's are over 7 years old. From your description this sounds like normal wear are tear.
I can find out if Paradigm will sell the parts to me. I do know that they do driver repairs, but it is not much cheaper than buying a new one. Since they have stock they will only sell me a new one anyways. When another driver (same as this one, but from a different surround speaker) needed replacing they had to repair it because they had no replacement stock.
Perhaps I will buy this one to get up and running again quickly. Then, if possible, get the parts and repair the busted one to have as a spare.
You state you use your gear gently. If that is so, it is not normal wear and tear. As far as I can tell Paradigm drivers are not known for failure. If not over driven a speaker driver should pretty much last for eternity. I have drivers in my system in regular use for close to forty years.
I think that speaker was defective to begin with, most likely a poorly wound voice coil. I think the fair thing is to ask Paradigm to inspect the driver, and if there is no sign of burning in the voice coil, then the ethical thing for them to do is replace that driver. When you take a driver apart it is easy to tell if it has been over driven. What have you been driving it with?
I suppose it is possible you have over driven it, but surrounds are not often called into hard service, though that is getting more common. However that driver has been used on speakers other than surrounds, and in a quick search on the NET, I find no reports of excess failure of that driver. In any event there are two drivers in those speakers. I think it very unlikely this failure is your fault.
Before sending it back, I would make sure that the connectors are all tight on the driver end and the crossover. I would remove the connectors and give them a good clean with contact cleaner anyway, and see if that cures the crackle.
