Quwiksilver Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Hi. I've had a pair of SF-1 floorstanders for about two years now and just recently they've become extremely fatiguing. They're being powered by a Marantz 2220B run by a Sound Blaster X-Fi sound card. I'm wondering is something is failing in the old Marantz receiver or the crossovers in the SF-1 pair. It's to the point where my ears will be ringing after the music stops (even at moderate listening levels) and the sound is pretty unpleasant. I do have young ears so that may have something to do with it, but like I've said these have been around for two years and I didn't notice this before. Any help would be appreciated...thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 It would seriously surprise me if the problem is in the SF-1's. I would try another receiver or source as the first step. Just do a process of elimination. Change out one at a time until the problem is gone. Oh and when working properly the Marantz would not be described as fatigueing in my book the opposite would be more the norm. But it is 30 years old or so...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
33klfan Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Wow, rare i hear anything about the sf-1's. I've had mine almost 3 years plus they were on display for a few months, but in very very good condition. Hope you get the problem resolved. I know they aren't probably the best speaker for music, at least to some people, but i would have to disagree. With everything i listen to, i am usually surprised at how well they handle anything. Excellent for rock, and they rock even better with my sx-980. They are still my first and only decent speaker that i ever owned. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiocvk Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 I would suspect the Sound Blaster X-Fi sound card before the Marantz or SF-1. My Sound Blaster X-Fi sound card had some type of failure starting and started to change the sound unpleasant. Marantz has a warm sounding signature sound so I doubt that would be coming from it. I have a Marantz that is almost 25 years old and it still sounds great. Good Luck problem solving, hope you get it resolved! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrWho Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 I would start by making sure your woofers are still functioning...crank some bass heavy music and see if the woofers are moving. Or at low volumes put your ear next to them and make sure they are working. It also wouldn't hurt to double check all your wiring...yes, that means unplugging everything and plugging it back in. I'm guess you've got corrosion on a cable or perhaps one of the leads to the woofers has fallen off - both of which are simple easy fixes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiocvk Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 I agree with DrWho, good advice, try those suggestions too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyholiday Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 RMS Power Per Channel 20<--------<<<<< Damping Factor @ Load Impedance > 20 Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) 0.5% Power Bandwidth 10 Hz to 50,000 Hz Intermodulation Distortion (IM) 0.9% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyholiday Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 Front knob position include EQ &loudnes button?........... ^(forum software is a shredder) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 What have you been listening to lately? A better home movie and music reproduction system? Live music? <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Coupled to the most powerful super-computer on the planet, your ears are superb pattern recognition devices. It is possible that nothing is wrong. You simply identified some problem with your system that never bothered you before, and now that you have heard it you will hear it every time you play the system. Welcome to the wonderful world of audio. The only solution is start swap out various pieces of equipment, playing tweaking audiophile until you achieve a high-quality sound system (about age 40 when you can afford all of the good stuff, but your ears have lost their high-end hearing). Does that help? [6] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quwiksilver Posted April 19, 2006 Author Share Posted April 19, 2006 Thanks for the help! I did find a suspect connection behind the left channel binding posts, but I don't think it was causing any problems. Both woofers tested just fine before fixing that connection. Audiocvk: Interesting to note you've had problems with your sound blaster too. It takes a few minutes to switch between my onboard audio source and the X-Fi source, so it's not a completely sure way to tell but it seems like the onboard audio card is much less harsh then the X-Fi. Possibly a problem in the X-Fi is making my ears discharge fluids (haha...sorry too much information)? Johny: Are you saying 20W from the Marantz isn't enough to drive these speakers? I might have to disagree with that. Does anyone know what parts on these receivers commonly fail and change the sound? Also, can someone explain what the Loudness and Hi-Filter buttons actually do? It's also occurred to me that the SF-1's may have been too bright for me all along, as I've never actually sat in their "sweet spot". Before I'd have them positioned to the right and left of me, as opposed to an equilateral triangle setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Flynn Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 I would suspect the Sound Blaster X-Fi sound card before the Marantz or SF-1. My Sound Blaster X-Fi sound card had some type of failure starting and started to change the sound unpleasant. Marantz has a warm sounding signature sound so I doubt that would be coming from it. I have a Marantz that is almost 25 years old and it still sounds great. Good Luck problem solving, hope you get it resolved! The piper to be paid for the digital devil is listener fatigue. A computer case has so many EMI oppurtunities it would be the least desired for me. Other than 500 USD + CD players; an outboard DAC on the used market would be the best. http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1150333037 A top notch set up for less than 400 USD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiocvk Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 RMS Power Per Channel 20<--------<<<<< An old classic indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiocvk Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 The piper to be paid for the digital devil is listener fatigue. A computer case has so many EMI oppurtunities it would be the least desired for me. True! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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