I think one of my Dynaudio Contour 1.1 speakers has a fault. On music it
sounds as though something's rattling inside, or one of the drivers is
loose. I've taken the woofer out and it looks OK, insofar as I know what
OK is - nothing burnt or blown.

It's difficult to replicate with music, so I recorded a tone and this is
what it sounds like:

http://patchoulian.googlepages.com/speaker

It's a 500kB mp3 file.

Short of contacting Dynaudio and asking about a replacement woofer, any
suggestions?

Thanks, Rob

On Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:18:58 GMT, Rob
wrote:

I think one of my Dynaudio Contour 1.1 speakers has a fault. On music it
sounds as though something's rattling inside, or one of the drivers is
loose. I've taken the woofer out and it looks OK, insofar as I know what
OK is - nothing burnt or blown.

It's difficult to replicate with music, so I recorded a tone and this is
what it sounds like:

http://patchoulian.googlepages.com/speaker

It's a 500kB mp3 file.

Short of contacting Dynaudio and asking about a replacement woofer, any
suggestions?

Thanks, Rob

Sometimes the cone suspension can sag a bit, allowing the voice coil
to rub against the magnet. The way to fix this is to rotate the
speaker 180 degrees before you bolt it back in, so it can sag back the
other way again. If that doesn't fix it, then in all probability the
coil has overheated and some turns have lifted and got loose.

The waveform from the other speaker is none too special either, I have
to say. Have they had a hard life?

d

Don Pearce wrote:
On Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:18:58 GMT, Rob
wrote:

I think one of my Dynaudio Contour 1.1 speakers has a fault. On music it
sounds as though something's rattling inside, or one of the drivers is
loose. I've taken the woofer out and it looks OK, insofar as I know what
OK is - nothing burnt or blown.

It's difficult to replicate with music, so I recorded a tone and this is
what it sounds like:

http://patchoulian.googlepages.com/speaker

It's a 500kB mp3 file.

Short of contacting Dynaudio and asking about a replacement woofer, any
suggestions?

Thanks, Rob

Sometimes the cone suspension can sag a bit, allowing the voice coil
to rub against the magnet. The way to fix this is to rotate the
speaker 180 degrees before you bolt it back in, so it can sag back the
other way again. If that doesn't fix it, then in all probability the
coil has overheated and some turns have lifted and got loose.

The waveform from the other speaker is none too special either, I have
to say. Have they had a hard life?

d

Thanks Don - tried that, in fact that sample is after rotation.

They haven't had a hard life - very well looked after really, rarely
played loud or with poor sources. No sign of singed foam inside. About 7
years old. This has arisen in the past few days. They haven't been
played loud for some months.

It was a quick/cruel recording with a basic dictaphone which may explain
why both sound dreadful - but if it comes to it I'd replace both I
think. I'll appeal to Dynaudio's sense of fair play of course.

Rob

"Rob"

I think one of my Dynaudio Contour 1.1 speakers has a fault. On music it
sounds as though something's rattling inside, or one of the drivers is
loose. I've taken the woofer out and it looks OK, insofar as I know what OK
is - nothing burnt or blown.

It's difficult to replicate with music, so I recorded a tone and this is
what it sounds like:

http://patchoulian.googlepages.com/speaker

It's a 500kB mp3 file.


** Sounds like the voice coil has partially detached from the cone and is
hammering in time with the low frequency tone.


Short of contacting Dynaudio and asking about a replacement woofer, any
suggestions?


** Run the test with the driver removed and see if you get the same
distorted tone.

Check for any object caught in the back of the frame or held by the
magnet.




...... Phil

It may well be that there are some holes in the dust protection and debris
has taken its toll.
One might wont to bite the bullet and get something different.
Some speakers last forever almost, but it seems to depend on the materials
used for the suspension and dust covers. I still have nice sounding Tannoy
dual concentric from the late 60s, but later model Missions of a friend have
had serious problems in the rubbing area!
Some lowthers have had to be totally renovated.
Interestingly a pair of budget Wharfdales from the 60s still work remarkably
well!
Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Don Pearce" wrote in message
news:49a73780.1392939515@localhost...
On Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:18:58 GMT, Rob
wrote:

I think one of my Dynaudio Contour 1.1 speakers has a fault. On music it
sounds as though something's rattling inside, or one of the drivers is
loose. I've taken the woofer out and it looks OK, insofar as I know what
OK is - nothing burnt or blown.

It's difficult to replicate with music, so I recorded a tone and this is
what it sounds like:

http://patchoulian.googlepages.com/speaker

It's a 500kB mp3 file.

Short of contacting Dynaudio and asking about a replacement woofer, any
suggestions?

Thanks, Rob

Sometimes the cone suspension can sag a bit, allowing the voice coil
to rub against the magnet. The way to fix this is to rotate the
speaker 180 degrees before you bolt it back in, so it can sag back the
other way again. If that doesn't fix it, then in all probability the
coil has overheated and some turns have lifted and got loose.

The waveform from the other speaker is none too special either, I have
to say. Have they had a hard life?

d

Phil Allison wrote:
"Rob"
I think one of my Dynaudio Contour 1.1 speakers has a fault. On music it
sounds as though something's rattling inside, or one of the drivers is
loose. I've taken the woofer out and it looks OK, insofar as I know what OK
is - nothing burnt or blown.

It's difficult to replicate with music, so I recorded a tone and this is
what it sounds like:

http://patchoulian.googlepages.com/speaker

It's a 500kB mp3 file.


** Sounds like the voice coil has partially detached from the cone and is
hammering in time with the low frequency tone.


Short of contacting Dynaudio and asking about a replacement woofer, any
suggestions?


** Run the test with the driver removed and see if you get the same
distorted tone.


OK - it still buzzes, but less loudly. I've put a sample on the web page.

Check for any object caught in the back of the frame or held by the
magnet.


Can't see anything - thanks anyway. The only thing that looks slightly
odd is what looks like a line drawn on the yellow cloth bit behind the
cone - but I'd guess that was some sort of manufacturing marker.

Rob

Brian Gaff wrote:
It may well be that there are some holes in the dust protection and debris
has taken its toll.

The dust cap (if that's what it is) does have slots, but I can't see if
there's anything lodged inside.

One might wont to bite the bullet and get something different.
Some speakers last forever almost, but it seems to depend on the materials
used for the suspension and dust covers. I still have nice sounding Tannoy
dual concentric from the late 60s, but later model Missions of a friend have
had serious problems in the rubbing area!
Some lowthers have had to be totally renovated.
Interestingly a pair of budget Wharfdales from the 60s still work remarkably
well!
Brian

Indeed, strangest thing, I've owned all manner of speakers and this is
the first one I've had that's failed. I did buy some old Castle speakers
once and didn't notice the cone surround had come unstuck from the
frame. Also, and wouldn't you believe it, the one that's failed is the
most expensive.

I can see very very few references to failed Dynaudio drivers on
t'internet. I think I might see if Dynaudio will consider some kind of
goodwill gesture, but that'll almost certainly involve sending them
back. I'll enquire next week.

Thanks everyone for the input.

Rob

On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:18:48 GMT, Rob
wrote:

Phil Allison wrote:
"Rob"
I think one of my Dynaudio Contour 1.1 speakers has a fault. On music it
sounds as though something's rattling inside, or one of the drivers is
loose. I've taken the woofer out and it looks OK, insofar as I know what OK
is - nothing burnt or blown.

It's difficult to replicate with music, so I recorded a tone and this is
what it sounds like:

http://patchoulian.googlepages.com/speaker

It's a 500kB mp3 file.


** Sounds like the voice coil has partially detached from the cone and is
hammering in time with the low frequency tone.


Short of contacting Dynaudio and asking about a replacement woofer, any
suggestions?


** Run the test with the driver removed and see if you get the same
distorted tone.


OK - it still buzzes, but less loudly. I've put a sample on the web page.

Check for any object caught in the back of the frame or held by the
magnet.


Can't see anything - thanks anyway. The only thing that looks slightly
odd is what looks like a line drawn on the yellow cloth bit behind the
cone - but I'd guess that was some sort of manufacturing marker.

Rob

That's odd. I would expect the buzz to increase noticeably when you
take the speaker out, because the cone will be moving further. This is
almost as if the cause of the buzz is more to do with the cabinet than
the driver. Any way you can pursue that? Perhaps swap drivers between
cabinets and see of the problem swaps as well...

d

Don Pearce wrote:
On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:18:48 GMT, Rob
wrote:

Phil Allison wrote:
"Rob"
I think one of my Dynaudio Contour 1.1 speakers has a fault. On music it
sounds as though something's rattling inside, or one of the drivers is
loose. I've taken the woofer out and it looks OK, insofar as I know what OK
is - nothing burnt or blown.

It's difficult to replicate with music, so I recorded a tone and this is
what it sounds like:

http://patchoulian.googlepages.com/speaker

It's a 500kB mp3 file.

** Sounds like the voice coil has partially detached from the cone and is
hammering in time with the low frequency tone.


Short of contacting Dynaudio and asking about a replacement woofer, any
suggestions?

** Run the test with the driver removed and see if you get the same
distorted tone.

OK - it still buzzes, but less loudly. I've put a sample on the web page.

Check for any object caught in the back of the frame or held by the
magnet.

Can't see anything - thanks anyway. The only thing that looks slightly
odd is what looks like a line drawn on the yellow cloth bit behind the
cone - but I'd guess that was some sort of manufacturing marker.

Rob

That's odd. I would expect the buzz to increase noticeably when you
take the speaker out, because the cone will be moving further.

Nope, just tried with a number of different tones. The buzz becomes
similar in volume in/out as the tones get higher. It's a ported cabinet
if that makes a difference.

This is
almost as if the cause of the buzz is more to do with the cabinet than
the driver. Any way you can pursue that? Perhaps swap drivers between
cabinets and see of the problem swaps as well...


Ah, I would if it wasn't for the probability they'll be going back to
Dynaudio. If it's obvious they've been tampered with they'd be less
likely to offer any concession. I'd fit a new driver myself, but it
seems there is just no way to source drivers from anyone else. Thanks
for the idea though.

rob

On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:44:19 GMT, Rob
wrote:

Don Pearce wrote:
On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:18:48 GMT, Rob
wrote:

Phil Allison wrote:
"Rob"
I think one of my Dynaudio Contour 1.1 speakers has a fault. On music it
sounds as though something's rattling inside, or one of the drivers is
loose. I've taken the woofer out and it looks OK, insofar as I know what OK
is - nothing burnt or blown.

It's difficult to replicate with music, so I recorded a tone and this is
what it sounds like:

http://patchoulian.googlepages.com/speaker

It's a 500kB mp3 file.

** Sounds like the voice coil has partially detached from the cone and is
hammering in time with the low frequency tone.


Short of contacting Dynaudio and asking about a replacement woofer, any
suggestions?

** Run the test with the driver removed and see if you get the same
distorted tone.

OK - it still buzzes, but less loudly. I've put a sample on the web page.

Check for any object caught in the back of the frame or held by the
magnet.

Can't see anything - thanks anyway. The only thing that looks slightly
odd is what looks like a line drawn on the yellow cloth bit behind the
cone - but I'd guess that was some sort of manufacturing marker.

Rob

That's odd. I would expect the buzz to increase noticeably when you
take the speaker out, because the cone will be moving further.

Nope, just tried with a number of different tones. The buzz becomes
similar in volume in/out as the tones get higher. It's a ported cabinet
if that makes a difference.

This is
almost as if the cause of the buzz is more to do with the cabinet than
the driver. Any way you can pursue that? Perhaps swap drivers between
cabinets and see of the problem swaps as well...


Ah, I would if it wasn't for the probability they'll be going back to
Dynaudio. If it's obvious they've been tampered with they'd be less
likely to offer any concession. I'd fit a new driver myself, but it
seems there is just no way to source drivers from anyone else. Thanks
for the idea though.

rob

Oh well, the thing is clearly busted, so if the rotation didn't do the
trick, and there are no foreign bodies jammed in there, I guess a
return is the only option.

d