Help Needed: RCA Plug Loose On Powered Speaker (Klipsch XF-48)

[wdlvwdlv 4]

Hello Community,

 

This is my first post and I'm hoping I can use your collective knowledge. I have a pair of Klipsch XF-48s and they are quite phenomenal still after 10 years. I've been moving around a lot over the past years and it's possible I did some unwitting damage to one of the RCA plugs.

 

Long story short, I was running speaker wire (speaker level) to the speakers from a Pioneer Elite receiver, IMO they sounded better than being plugged in via RCA but I digress. Now, I've purchased a new preamplifier Schiit Freya+ and was going to let the speakers power themselves and be fed via RCA cables. One of the speakers is fine, the other had a loose plug (last time I checked that was not the case but again I digress), I was quite alarmed and hoped this is not massive damage. Good thing is that sound still comes through good and clear no hum through RCA on the speaker in question.

 

I called Klipsch via telephone and was told I should try to take off the faceplate via the front screws to access a nut that would tighten the RCA plug from the backside. Not being able to remove the faceplate made think of different solutions. I double checked the RCA plug and saw there was some travel but would not travel beyond say 2mm at that point it was very secure. I thought perhaps to get a plastic or rubber washer between the RCA plug and make it secure. Nothing like that was available so, I thought I'd use an old credit card and see if it fits beneath the RCA plug and between the speaker housing, it did. So, I cut two thin strips and had one layer on both sides but it was not snug, I was without too much effort to double it up and the RCA plug is almost as secure as the "good" speaker.

 

Is this a good DIY fix or am I putting undue stress on the plug or the internal wiring? Should I have superglued the plug to the back? I'd like to hear from the community and hopefully find an elegant but most importantly a good solution.

 

Looking forward to your responses, thank you.

Edited November 14, 2020 by wdlvwdlv
Correcting grammar and comprehension

[billybob 13865]

At this point would not be to concerned with nothing else but the input connector rotating as the backside hidden washer unscrewing and falling off. Maybe alright if it did but, yes wire suppose could come off and fall inside.

Then you would indeed need to go inside.

Think if it bothers you, would find the right size Torx bit to unscrew the small bolts to remove the plate.

Sometimes, if working alright, it is best to let well enough alone 

Welcome!

 

[wdlvwdlv 4]

Thanks @billybob I've tried taking off the faceplate with the proper size Allen key (thought it was Torx but the former worked).  I unscrewed everything but the faceplate wouldn't budge, I love the speakers and don't want to brick them. I tried a few reasonable things to see if it would budge…no dice. I can post a few more pics if needed but the screws are also where the grille is held together with magnets so, not sure if the screws are functional.

 

I'm not surprised if this particular speaker isn't meant to be user-serviceable ala Apple. If all I can do is jury-rig it, I'm fine with it.

[billybob 13865]

Yes thinking will come off but yeah.

Proceed with more information from Klipsch or someone here, as the speaker is semi rare on the used market.