abracadabra Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Howdy folks, I've inherited some stuff from a friend who's not doing so well. I now have a pile of his stereo gear and was just testing out some Klipsch RB-5 speakers. They have a very low output, they sound terrible. Not sure if they're both just blown or what. Visibly everything looks fine but I haven't opened them up. I'm using them with an older NAB receiver and Thorens turntable, both of which work just fine. The speaker wires look ok too, in fact I"m using the same wire to power some old Pioneers right now. I'm really not a stereo expert at all but would love to put theses speakers to use. What could be the problem? thanks Abra 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 "sound terrible" isn't much to go on. Bit more description might help, and whether you have checked them or the source system with other speakers. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Is the turntable connected to the phono input or an aux/line/tape input? If there isn't a phono input, the turntable needs to plug into a phono preamp that will then plug into the NAB (NAD?). Bruce 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abracadabra Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 Phono is plugged in to the phono input on the NAB receiver. I'm running the same speaker cable and NAB receiver with some old Pioneers, so I know the RB-5's are the problem. To describe the sound more...imagine if you had a pair of headphones plugged in and cranked the stereo. You can sorta hear the music but it sounds low (this is without wearing headphones of course). Both speakers sound like this, and I've tried using both the A and B speaker outputs, same result. thanks, Mk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Try a different amp to be sure it's actually the speakers at fault. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abracadabra Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 6 minutes ago, CECAA850 said: Try a different amp to be sure it's actually the speakers at fault. I could but the current NAB 7140 amp is powering the Pioneer speakers just fine, which is why I'm assuming its something up with the speakers themselves. Abra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuzzzer Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Are the jumpers in place that connect the HF and LF inputs together? I'm guessing they're not. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abracadabra Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 1 hour ago, CECAA850 said: Hmm I don't see here the jumpers would be, nothing marked HF or LF on the back. I did notice Ohm setting was adjustable on back, its set to 8 which is what the RB-5's should be at. Mk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The History Kid Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Hmm I don't see here the jumpers would be, nothing marked HF or LF on the back. I did notice Ohm setting was adjustable on back, its set to 8 which is what the RB-5's should be at. Mk The jumpers would be where the terminal is. It'd be tied red-to-red, black-to-black. Are you referring to a setting on your amp? Klipsch don't have adjustable impedance. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abracadabra Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 Yeah no jumpers here. Thing is, I'm sure my friend was using these speakers at some point & when I moved the stuff from hid place he had the speaker cable just going in to the top connectors in the back of the speakers. So I need to jumper these in order for them to work? I've never had speakers that needed this, but then again I've mostly had old Pioneers & the like. Abra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abracadabra Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 I guess what I need to know is, if I need jumpers, can they be something as simple as short pieces of speaker cable? Or does it need to be something special? Abra 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Correct just short but adequate lengths will do it...let us know and welcome! Positive to positive and straight to the other terminals or negative. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abracadabra Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 Awesome I will try this tomorrow and report back. I was hoping it was something simple! I'm really looking forward to using these RB-5's in conjunction with my current old Pioneers... Abra 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 1 minute ago, abracadabra said: Awesome I will try this tomorrow and report back. I was hoping it was something simple! I'm really looking forward to using these RB-5's in conjunction with my current old Pioneers... Abra You may well be good to go. Just noticed History Kid gave you a decent pic so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 2 hours ago, abracadabra said: Howdy folks, I've inherited some stuff from a friend who's not doing so well. I now have a pile of his stereo gear and was just testing out some Klipsch RB-5 speakers. They have a very low output, they sound terrible. Not sure if they're both just blown or what. Visibly everything looks fine but I haven't opened them up. I'm using them with an older NAB receiver and Thorens turntable, both of which work just fine. The speaker wires look ok too, in fact I"m using the same wire to power some old Pioneers right now. I'm really not a stereo expert at all but would love to put theses speakers to use. What could be the problem? thanks Abra BTW, hope your friend is doing better soon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abracadabra Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 Unfortunately my friend is waaay down the road with Parkinson's. He's very close to the end & I've been helping his daughter deal with his stuff, hence inherting his stereo gear & records. Abra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 5 minutes ago, abracadabra said: Unfortunately my friend is waaay down the road with Parkinson's. He's very close to the end & I've been helping his daughter deal with his stuff, hence inherting his stereo gear & records. Abra Very unfortunate, yet always hope, somehow. Meanwhile, this is a good place to get help and opinions in case of any future circumstance. We have a vast base here...Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 7 minutes ago, billybob said: Very unfortunate, yet always hope, somehow. Meanwhile, this is a good place to get help and opinions in case of any future circumstance. We have a vast base here...Thanks! Meanwhile should have stated as your friend may inherently already know, music can help in this situation. Best of good fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofers and Tweeters Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 If you see something similar to these, they are not trash. As pictured and stated by others, a pair of wire jumpers work. Dennis posted a couple of pictures in this old thread. RIP djk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzannucci Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 The jumpers should be replaced with high quality wire. The jumpers by many are not considered the best for high quality sound. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.