Audio Systems: Dead Speaker, vienna acoustics bach, best case scenario

Question
Hi,

Ugh, I bought a set of used Vienna Acoustics Bach tower speakers on Ebay. They were described as having beautiful sound (which I already knew.) When hooked up as FR/FL speakers with my Pioneer VSX84TXi 7.1 AV receiver, one speaker works, while the second is completely dead. I hooked my old speaker to it's cable, and it worked fine. The dead Bach makes no sound whatever, not even at extremely low level. I reversed polarity, no luck.

Am I overlooking something basic?

Thanks so much in advance. I will be calling SumikoAudio to get their input also.

John

Answer
Hi John,

  This is indeed troubling...  

  The best case scenario would be one of two things - a binding post short or a blown overload fuse.

  If the binding posts in back have the jumpers set across (running black-to-red, black-to-red) instead of running vertically then the speaker would be shorted out and wouldn't play.

  If there is an overload fuse - usually an in-line glass tube hiding behind a small screw-cap in back - and it has broken in-transit then simply replacing it with one of the same spec should put you back in business.  You could quickly troubleshoot this by swapping the fuses between the L&R.

It has been a while since I've really memorized the Sumika/VA line-up, but unfortunately I don't recall the Bach Grand having either option - biamp capable binding posts nor an overload fuse.

  I suppose a remote third possibility would be that the left channel of you amplifier isn't quite up to spec and can't handle the unusually low impedance of the speakers (most of Vienna Acoustics is 4-Ohm).  
  If that were true then the left channel still wouldn't work if you hooked the right speaker to it.



  You could investigate further with a $20 multi-meter (V, A, and Ohms).  
  If you put the probes across the speaker terminals (red to red, black to black is fine) it should read around 3.2 static Ohms.  If the left one is significantly lower than the right then you have a defective speaker.  If the left reads "0" then you have a short somewhere.   If the left won't read at all then you do not have continuity and something is "blown out" or not connected.

  I would, at this point, give negative feedback to the Ebay retailer if it was my purchase.

  The next step might be to carefully pop off the rear terminals and investigate the condition of the hook-up wire.  This is a great use of the "continuity test" feature of most multi-meters:
-Is there a loss of connection from the terminals to the crossover (on either the "plus" or "minus" wire)?
-Is the choke-coil shorted out or not (verify with a resistance measurement)
-Is there a loss of connection from the X-over either speaker (on either the "plus" or "minus" wire)?

It's doubtful that the problem is downstream of the crossover, since neither the tweeter nor the woofer plays any sound.  I would visually inspect carefully for any hook-up wire that came loose from its jumper in transit, or for any signs of blown X-O componentry from misuse.

A speaker-repair shop or local Vienna Acoustics dealer may be able to assist you with any replacement components if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, though you may have to shill out $500 for a new X-over (if that is the problem).   These speakers did work at some point or they never would have left the Sumiko factory.

  I hope your quest is met with success, when (if) they work I'm sure you'll be very happy with your new speakers.