Potential problem with in ceiling audio cable

[Aus_audio]

My new house came with 4 in ceiling speakers - 2 in the TV room and 2 in the dining area. The audio cables for all 4 speakers come out of the same place in the TV room.

The speakers in the kitchen did not work when we moved in. I took them down and learned that the smaller of the 2-in-1 speaker was not working for both of th kitchen speakers. Our electrician checked the audio cables and found a signal In each one with his multimeter. We assumed that this meant we just needed new speakers.

However, today we tried switching the TV room speakers (which work) into the kitchen. When I turned on my Yamaha HTR-5940 amp, I kept getting the 'Check SP cable' warning and the speakers do not work (my amp also shuts down randomly). Am I right to assume there is something wrong woth these audio cables? Are there audio cable problems which can not be picked up with a multimeter? If the cable is in fact damaged, it will be nearly impossible for me to replace as it travels maybe 20m in total through the wall and ceiling.

Any advice would be greatly appreicated.

 

[highfigh]

My new house came with 4 in ceiling speakers - 2 in the TV room and 2 in the dining area. The audio cables for all 4 speakers come out of the same place in the TV room.

The speakers in the kitchen did not work when we moved in. I took them down and learned that the smaller of the 2-in-1 speaker was not working for both of th kitchen speakers. Our electrician checked the audio cables and found a signal In each one with his multimeter. We assumed that this meant we just needed new speakers.

However, today we tried switching the TV room speakers (which work) into the kitchen. When I turned on my Yamaha HTR-5940 amp, I kept getting the 'Check SP cable' warning and the speakers do not work (my amp also shuts down randomly). Am I right to assume there is something wrong woth these audio cables? Are there audio cable problems which can not be picked up with a multimeter? If the cable is in fact damaged, it will be nearly impossible for me to replace as it travels maybe 20m in total through the wall and ceiling.

Any advice would be greatly appreicated.

Does the ceiling have another floor above it, or attic? If it's under another floor, it's more difficult to replace, but not impossible. The first thing I would do is remove the speakers and find out if the speaker cable goes to one speaker before heading to the other- if it does, leave one speaker disconnected and see if it still shuts off- are they wired parallel? That might not make the amplifier happy.

By "2 in 1", does this mean each has a single tweeter, or a double? If it has a double tweeter, it should have a four conductor cable going to it and two sets of terminals for the connections. The fact that you have connections to the speakers doesn't mean it will work- disconnect the speakers and check the wires with a meter set to measure continuity and if you see anything other than 'open' (which is usually seen as OL in the display), the wire has a problem. Then, measure each speaker- if it's less than around 6 to 7 Ohms, find out why. The number won't be exactly that, but it should be close for a speaker with 8 Ohm rating because the meter is measuring DC resistance and audio signal is AC.

 

[Aus_audio]

Unfortunately I do have a second floor above the ceiling, so it will be difficult to do much with the cords.

My speakers have only one set of inputs and the two kitchen speakers are definitely connected by two separate wires and are not in series.

http://imgur.com/a/SSorY

I am using an 8ohm amp (in 6 ohm mode) so I was wondering if it might be a problem that it says 4.7ohm on the resistor in speaker. I can't find documentation on this model of speaker anywhere!

 

[TLS Guy]

Unfortunately I do have a second floor above the ceiling, so it will be difficult to do much with the cords.

My speakers have only one set of inputs and the two kitchen speakers are definitely connected by two separate wires and are not in series.

http://imgur.com/a/SSorY

I am using an 8ohm amp (in 6 ohm mode) so I was wondering if it might be a problem that it says 4.7ohm on the resistor in speaker. I can't find documentation on this model of speaker anywhere!

That network is a first order crossover for the speaker. The resistor is to pad the tweeter. It has nothing to do with the impedance of the speaker

I suspect a builder put a nail through a speaker wire a long time ago.

What happens when you disconnect the speakers and put an ohm meter across the speaker wires at the receiver but not connected to it?

 

[mtrycrafts]

My new house came with 4 in ceiling speakers -....

Welcome

Is this house new construction(under warranty) or just new house for you.

 

[Aus_audio]

It's a 20yo house that's new to us. Definitely no warranty . I was thinking the whole nail thing as well, but then I think it is pretty weird that both speakers don't work.

We think there was a bit of water damage near one of the speakers, but not sure if that would wreck the wire.

I'll get a multimeter and check the line myself. So annoying to keep taking down the speaker again and again!

 

[mtrycrafts]

...
I am using an 8ohm amp (in 6 ohm mode) so I was wondering if it might be a problem that it says 4.7ohm on the resistor in speaker. I can't find documentation on this model of speaker anywhere!

If and when this gets straightened out, you need to just leave the amp in the 8 Ohm mode, not 6.

What you could check simply is to connect the speaker pair to your receiver directly, don't place them back into their ceiling frames. Get some cheap zip wire to connect them directly and see what is what.

What are your plans for those ceiling installation in the end, background music?

 

[BMXTRIX]

How old/new are the speakers? If the speakers are damaged, then it may explain everything. If they were installed 20 years ago, then it would be somewhat unusual for a new issue to suddenly develop with the wires, but not impossible.

I would get a inexpensive multimeter and do some measurements. Ask here, ask how, but I would do a continuity check first with no speakers connected. Ensure that the wires are good. Then measure the speakers.