Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Strange "pitter-patter" sound from DSP Speaker! Help! EEK!

The virus incubators (aka- the kids) have provided me with a compelling reason to be home (aka- I'm sick ) so I decided to watch a movie. Well, when I paused the movie I noticed this strange "pitter-patter" sound coming from the left rear speaker. So I turned the speaker on and off. When I hit DVD on my remote to get the speaker to become active, the pitter patter returned. It was there on all inputs. And it gets louder/ softer with volume changes. I tried turning the 800 and 861 off/ on and I also made sure all connections were properly made. Same result. Played back some of the movie and there is no sound coming from this speaker, just the pitter patter. I tried running the calibration figuring I could isolate the speaker. All speakers play the SPL sound fine but the left rear makes its "pitter-patter" . So I swap the center and left speaker connects on the 861. Same result.

So it seems to be the speaker. I am planning to call M on this, but I wonder if anyone here has ever experienced this? Our lovely local power company has recently flipped the power off and on a few times... I am worried that they might have fried my DSP!

Any thoughts?

best regards,
Jerry

Do you have the rear speakers protected by some sort of conditioner or surge protector? I have been using Hydra with very good results, and I think it offers adequate protection.

I have the entire system on an isolated circuit from the power company (isolation transformer with separate ground), each speaker with its own dedicated 20 amp line and industrial strength surge protection (its a professional unit that does not restrict voltage or power). Any "dirty" uses such as the motors in my seats in the theater are on their own special "dirty" power line which is not on this power line at all. So everything is sufficiently isolated....

best regards,
Jerry

Jerry,

Does it sound like a sort of electronic tone which rises and then falls away? I get the same sound on my system and Meridian haven't been able to offer a cure.

Mark

No. Its literary a "pitter-patter" . Try putting your lips together and make a "putter putter putter" sound while whispering. It gets louder or softer with volume. Whats interesting is the speaker is responsible for the left and right rear. It passes along the signal to the right rear no problem, so that means its not the actual input. Is it possible the amp is having an issue? I have a few calls in, we'll see what comes back. Seeing as its the rear channel, Im just going to enjoy the theater while I am under the weather and Ill just power down the speaker.

best regards,
Jerry

On the topic of sound/hum out of a DSP , is it normal to hear a faint hum out of the tweeter when you are close to it?. Noticed that in all DSP speakers

Could be a blown unit. Have you tried swapping the rears around to isolate the speaker and not the channel? blown or semi blown bass units and tweeters make that putter putter sound.

Hey Jerry,

Maybe the virus incubators have been playing their music a bit loud.....lol

Regards........Ian

Ian,
LOL. Yes, Barney, The Wiggles, and the worst of all: High School The Musical! Fortunately, they have yet to realize daddy's room can play their music and videos too.

Yes, I've tried swapping speakers. For example, I can just switch the center channel audio and the rear audio so the center will now play the Left rear and the left rear (speaker with the problem) will play center channel audio. The center speaker works fine. The problem rear, playing the center audio makes the same sound.

I don't think its an actual driver thats blown because the same sound comes from the tweeter, mid and bass units. I think there is something gone wrong with the electronics for this specific speaker. It passes along the other channels audio just fine (its the "master" of the two rear speakers).

Tried re-typing it, etc. No luck . My dealer and Meridian USA are going to figure this out because at this point I am out of options on my own.

Please keep the thoughts coming!!!

best regards,
Jerry

Sounds like motorboating (a putt-putt-putt sound like a 2-cycle engine) - usually a sign of something bad in the amplifier power supply...

Yes- and I have a feeling its going to be something like that.

Thank you for all the advice

best regards,
Jerry

sreddy,
Yes if you mean a faint hiss with the speaker out of stand-by,if you hear a buzz then that would be some noise from a ground problem or another piece of equipment upstream.

Hope that answered your question.