for f**ks sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pieoftheday]

good morning, ive lost all low frequency sound from my speakers, just getting sound from the tweeters. i hooked up my speakers from my micro system and they worked fine, different cable though as these are hard wired, guess i can rule out the amp then.i removed the jumper cable(low frequency to high) and get nothing at all. i guess im going to have to try some different speaker cable,but why would both sides fail at the same time? and if its the speakers why would they both fail at the same time? any ideas anyone?:scratch: this hangover isnt helping. cheers jim

[DSJR]

Check for DC coming out of the amp, which would blow both bass units in seconds if it's high enough voltage. Hope you haven't done permanent damage, fingers crossed.

[Rare Bird]

All you need is a multimeter, Give us a DC offset reading from the speaker outputs

[Pieoftheday]

cheers dave, the amp has been recently serviced and fully tested and drives my micro's speakers fine. ill see if i can borrow a mates amp and cable, jim

[StanleyB]

Swap the + and - speaker wire round on the lefthand speaker terminal outputs on the amplifier. Don't touch the righthand speaker wiring.

[DSJR]

If it's fine with other speakers, you're safe - whew - :clap:

Please may we have some more info regarding the speaker cable. The Bi-wire links supplied with the speakers should be fine for the purpose, particularly if they're gold plated. The tweeters carry very little current or voltage through them so don't get anal about foo links at silly prices - at this point anyway...

[Haselsh1]

Oh shite, I hope you haven't damaged your bass drivers. This is always so depressing when everything is going so well and then all hell breaks loose. I bloody hate these moments.

[Rare Bird]

It must be horrible when drivers pack up on mega buck speakers, but as i always say if you can afford the speakers you can afford new drivers, im glad i use cheap old crap from King Arthur days..

[Pieoftheday]

speaker cable is kimber 4tc with kimber 4tc jumper's

[Rare Bird]

good cable..

[StanleyB]

speaker cable is kimber 4tc with kimber 4tc jumper's
Have you tried my suggestion yet?

[DSJR]

No it's (4TC) not! It's highly capacitive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just get some bloody 6A mains cable, or Talk 3 cable for a top quality version of the same!!!!!!!

[StanleyB]

Has anyone else figured out yet that the bass has gone due to phase reversal of the signal due to a polarity reversal of the wiring?

[Ali Tait]

Yep, crossed my mind as a possibility, though some would still be in evidence surely?

[walpurgis]

You're not bi-wiring by any chance are you?

[StanleyB]

Yep, crossed my mind as a possibility, though some would still be in evidence surely?
It depends on how big the room is and at what angle the speakers are facing each other.

This was a common "fault" reported by customers who had sent their amp away for repair and then had to wire it back into their system afterwards. But until one actually tries out reversing the wiring on one channel there is no way of excluding that possibility. But what do I know. I only make the world's most popular and largest selling bi-wiring enabled speaker switch :rolleyes:

[Pieoftheday]

Have you tried my suggestion yet?

hi stan, just tried your suggestion , no change im afraid:(

[Pieoftheday]

You're not bi-wiring by any chance are you?

nope, single wired with same cable used as jumpers

[Rare Bird]

Is the Bass tone control still working on the amp ?

[walpurgis]

Hmm. If your other speakers work fine, then it has to be something simple.

You would not under any realistic circumstances blow both bass drivers simultaneously, unless of course you were seriously partying last night and just did not notice, but I'd normally (but not always) expect the tweeters to blow first.

I'd start going through the system from the front to the back again carefully. My guess would be that nothing is damaged, just something not hooked up right.

[Pieoftheday]

Is the Bass tone control still working on the amp ?

yes, hooked up my micro's speakers and all was well

[Pieoftheday]

Hmm. If your other speakers work fine, then it has to be something simple.

You would not under any realistic circumstances blow both bass drivers simultaneously, unless of course you were seriously partying last night and just did not notice, but I'd normally (but not always) expect the tweeters to blow first.

I'd start going through the system from the front to the back again carefully. My guess would be that nothing is damaged, just something not hooked up right.
hi geoff,i did have it cranked up for a bit last night but too silly, after 10-15 mins the bass just went i was left with just faint tinny sound from the tweeters, when i get a chance im going to disconnect everything and start again. jim

[Rare Bird]

Do these Castles still use the 'Castek' fusing on the crossover like the old ones did?

[Pieoftheday]

Do these Castles still use the 'Castek' fusing on the crossover like the old ones did?

i dont know, but im guessing this isnt a good thing ?

[Rare Bird]

It wasnt a problem with the old castles However other than that i see no other issue than out of Phase as stan has points out, that would give you lack of bass

[Pieoftheday]

many thanks for all your replies, ill report back tomorrow when ive had chance to disconnect and reconnect everything, jim

[Lodgesound]

It does sound suspiciously like the voice coils on your LF units may have gone open circuit - this can happen extremely quickly if the amp you are using squares off on it's output due to simply not having enough power during high level listening.

The fact that you say it went whilst you were listening at a high level does rather point to the above.

[Pieoftheday]

It does sound suspiciously like the voice coils on your LF units may have gone open circuit - this can happen extremely quickly if the amp you are using squares off on it's output due to simply not having enough power during high level listening.

The fact that you say it went whilst you were listening at a high level does rather point to the above.

thanks stewart,when i say cranked up i meant half way round the dial,ive gone louder for longer many times before. ive had a chance to make sure everything is correctly connected now and my amp drives my other speakers so its definitely a speaker problem, they are only 4 months old so ill be boxing them up tomorrow and sending them back, jim

[Avondale Audio]

Take a "C" or "D" cell battery and apply it to the loudspeaker terminals.

The cone should move in one direction or another without any scraping
noises. Reverse the polarity of the battery and repeat.

Please report on your findings.

[Pieoftheday]

Take a "C" or "D" cell battery and apply it to the loudspeaker terminals.

The cone should move in one direction or another without any scraping
noises. Reverse the polarity of the battery and repeat.

Please report on your findings.

Just tried your suggestion, nothing at all I'm afraid

[Puffin]

Both bass units are dead? So - no low bass means no output at all?. Sorry if everyone else has already got this, but the early posts seemed to suggest otherwise.

[Pieoftheday]

Both bass units are dead? So - no low bass means no output at all?. Sorry if everyone else has already got this, but the early posts seemed to suggest otherwise.

Hi rob, there is some output from the tweeters, just a tinny nonsense ! As they are under warrany I'm sending them back for appraisal and repair, a right pain !!!

[Audioman]

It does sound suspiciously like the voice coils on your LF units may have gone open circuit - this can happen extremely quickly if the amp you are using squares off on it's output due to simply not having enough power during high level listening.

The fact that you say it went whilst you were listening at a high level does rather point to the above.

The amp listed is 70w per channel into Castles which are quite efficient so this does sound unlikely. If coils go like that must be down to faulty manufacture. I take it these are the new Chinese made product?

[istari_knight]

If he was listening to "bass I love you" all bets are off :lol:

I can only echo what everyone else has said, sounds like the bass drivers are knackered :(

[walpurgis]

If they are still covered by warranty send them back. If not take a bass unit out and check it directly with a low voltage battery or meter. If you get nothing then the coil is knackered!

[Pieoftheday]

the castles are on the way back to the dealer, having to make do with tv speakers, boooo...

[Pieoftheday]

Forgot about me cans,aaaand relax

[Lodgesound]

A further thought on this....

The fact that your voice coils failed (it does seem likely) could point to a failing in your power amplifier.

The fact that it is working with different speakers doesn't really count as the loading factor of your former speakers could have a huge bearing here.

Be VERY careful when you connect up and run your speakers when you get them back - I suspect very strongly that your power amp may have a nasty fault that needs repair.

Do the DC offset measurement as recommended earlier in this thread - if it is more than a fraction of a volt then DO NOT connect your power amplifier to your speakers until the fault is rectified.

[Pieoftheday]

A further thought on this....

The fact that your voice coils failed (it does seem likely) could point to a failing in your power amplifier.

The fact that it is working with different speakers doesn't really count as the loading factor of your former speakers could have a huge bearing here.

Be VERY careful when you connect up and run your speakers when you get them back - I suspect very strongly that your power amp may have a nasty fault that needs repair.

Do the DC offset measurement as recommended earlier in this thread - if it is more than a fraction of a volt then DO NOT connect your power amplifier to your speakers until the fault is rectified.
hi stewart, the amp was serviced and fully tested only a few weeks ago so should be ok ? how do i do a dc offset measurment just to be on the safe side? cheers jim

[Pieoftheday]

just got my speakers back:cool: one of the drivers was faulty and has been replaced. i find it odd that only one was faulty as neither speaker was working? anyhoo they both work now so maybe i shouldnt fuss about it.

[Pieoftheday]

well just four days after getting my speakers back one has failed again:steam: when i sent them back the first time both were faulty however the dealer said just one was faulty and as such just one was repaired, ive now asked for a refund and am awaiting a reply

[Lodgesound]

I have to say this sounds a little worrying James.......I seriously suspect that there is a fault in your amplifier...

[Pieoftheday]

I have to say this sounds a little worrying James.......I seriously suspect that there is a fault in your amplifier...
hi stewart, the amp has been serviced and tested and has been driving my micros speakers perfectly, also the dealer did say one of the drivers was faulty , jim

[Xapito]

Ermm, you keep saying it, but why was the amp serviced and were any parts replaced? Was it regular maintenance?

Castle's usually need/demands lots of current from the amp, it's not a matter of speakers sensibility or amp's rms output...

[Pieoftheday]

Ermm, you keep saying it, but why was the amp serviced and were any parts replaced? Was it regular maintenance?

Castle's usually need/demands lots of current from the amp, it's not a matter of speakers sensibility or amp's rms output...
I've now tried the amp with 3 sets of speakers , all fine . Also the dealer that serviced it tested it With they're own speakers,if the castles can't handle what at least 4 other designs can then they're crap, my guess though is that I got a rogue pair, jim

[Rare Bird]

James:
Are you sure your not hammering these speakers? as i find this very odd indeed! you see for some reason people seem to think Hi-Fi speakers are P.A Speakers..

[Pieoftheday]

James:
Are you sure your not hammering these speakers? as i find this very odd indeed! you see for some reason people seem to think Hi-Fi speakers are P.A Speakers..

i dont have the speakers anymore,the dealer admitted that the driver was faulty. living in a terrace means i rarely go above 11pm on the dial:( a pair of usher s520's are on theyre way now:)

[Rare Bird]

O ok 11PM! I have a pair of 90dB Castles & i can not go past 9PM

[Pieoftheday]

O ok 11PM! I have a pair of 90dB Castles & i can not go past 9PM

9pm on my amp with the castle knight 3 was tv listening level, certainly not loud, they came alive around 10pm on the dial which wasn't quite neighbour annoying !!

[Pieoftheday]

O ok 11PM! I have a pair of 90dB Castles & i can not go past 9PM

Which model do you own? I'd like to try a pair of the British built ones at some point, jim

[Rare Bird]

I own the first three models they ever made from the mid 70's 'Richmond Mk.I&II', 'Howard Mk.I' & 'Conway Mk.I', i have two pair of the original 'Richmonds' {These were the first model they made}..I can't see them being your cuppa tea as they look very old fasioned compared to modern equipment. The 1980's models were ok too..

[Pieoftheday]

I own the first three models they ever made from the mid 70's, i have two pair of the original 'Richmonds' {These were the first model they made}..I can't see them being your cuppa tea as they look very old fasioned compared to modern equipment. The 1980's models were ok too..

The knight 3 are quite old fashioned looking, I liked them a lot, both build and sound were very good,was tempted to accept another pair

[Rare Bird]

With all vintage speakers you have the expence of rebuilding the X-Overs..

[Pieoftheday]

Is it worth the expense?

[Rare Bird]

O yes indeedy but not really expence in this instance.. The big square 'Howard' have a handfull of Inductors & a few Capacitors hard wired onto a board, inductors don't go wrong & if they are of high quality like the Castle one are they don't need changing..So as you can imagine just a few Caps won't cost an arm or leg to replace for high quality of choice.. The 'Richmond' however have a PCB X-over Just two inductors/two caps again not an expensive exersize. The 'Conway Mk.I' are like the 'Howard Mk.I' hard wired onto a board.Just those few caps each time make a very big difference imho..

[Pieoftheday]

Maybe something I'll look into next time I get the itch, I've never f
Done any dIY on hifi gear though so id probably cobble em good n proper!!

[Pieoftheday]

With all vintage speakers you have the expence of rebuilding the X-Overs..

ive never seen a pair of speakers like the howards, 1st pic,quite odd to my eyes and kinda cool:interesting:

[Rare Bird]

You could buy them in standard form with low level bolt on Metal stands & of course with the Queen anne style legs & fancy grills.This applies to the 'Conway Mk,I' too.