You are going to call me nuts...

[boomboxnation]

I have a Tannoy 6iLII (that's wrong...but the model number is illegible due to a poor font choice, it also doesn't really matter...cause this problem is so strange) Suffice to say this is a early 90's Tannoy set of speakers.

The crossover board seems to be affected by flesh proximity, sound drops out completely if I get within @4 feet of the beast, and works perfectly if I hold my hand directly over the connection posts/x-over.

This one's mate works perfectly. I have to note I have a TON of mixed RF operating near these. There is a Wi-Fi router operating within about 8 inches of the posts/x-over. I also have a 20-watt FM transmitter about 30 feet away up on the roof. Right now I am trying to shield the x-over with some AL foil...but it doesn't seem to really help. The only thing that consistently helps is just holding my hand over the posts. That's not really acceptable though...

Any ideas?

EDIT: The FM transmitter I mentioned is also the main source of the audio I usually listen to on this system. (My FM radio station ---> receiver --> mixer -->amp--speaker). So just writing this post made me think to do the obvious test with a different audio source...my phone/mp3s. And of course the problem goes away.

So my x-over is somehow suddenly feeling in tune with my pirate FM radio station. Can anyone explain?

 

[j_garcia]

I'd start by swapping the two speakers. If the problem follows the speaker, it is the speaker...if NOT, then you'll want to check the wiring, amp, sources, etc... If it is the speaker, verify all the wires are properly tight at the input cup, X-over, drivers, etc..., clean accessible contacts and try an alternate speaker cable. IMO, shielding the x-over isn't going to work.

 

[Pyrrho]

You are dealing with radio, and as good technicians will tell you, it is voodoo. Not literally, of course, but it is metaphorically. There are all sorts of strange problems that one can have with EMI (Electromagnetic interference, aka RFI, or radio frequency interference). Here is an introduction to the subject:

Electromagnetic interference - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You can also watch some videos on the subject; though they are not precisely aimed at your specific problem, you may want to watch them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk0MknK2ZAk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7Ov_Sr9nus

You might want to try rerouting your speaker wires, as well as other wires in the area, to see if you can eliminate your problem. And moving the sources of EMI further away might help. Of course, if your radio station is really a pirate one, you may regard your problem as poetic justice and just stop your illegal activities to rid yourself of the problem.