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Speaker Screech/Hiss?

galactech

galactech

New Member
So i picked up some vintage B&O speakers off of the Facebook marketplace from the 60s. Im in love with their colorful sound and the sonic clarity they give me. Ever since i got them ive been using them over my KLH-17's (mostly for harmonic testing but also because i love them), and ive noticed a minor problem with them during my listening sessions.

Sometimes when I listen to my records, at certain highs my tweeters sort of screech. It depends on the music, the vast majority of the time it doesn’t do that. Folk music or soft pop is not affected at all by this problem. Maybe once On a certain song for a few seconds and always at the same parts (as in - this hiss is consistent at the same sections of certain songs, and only during those sections). I still enjoy the speakers as well as listening to music on them, I’m just wondering if their is anything I should be worried about with these. I believe this hiss is coming from my tweeters.

Speakers are Beovox B&O Type M

[Here’s an audio sample. It doesn’t overpower the music per se but it’s noticible.](
)

as ive said before, when I play some music that has less high like Sufjan Stevens, Ambient music or other Electronic albums this problem is nonexistent. It occasionally happens when playing Jazz albums like Getz/Gilberto. Havent tested any Miles or Coltrane on it yet.

Apparently B&O equipment works best with the receivers they sold in the 60s. I’m assuming this isn’t why people say so. Either way I’m definitely committed to retaining these speakers.

i just want to know if anyone has had a similar problem with any speakers in general, what the culprit could be - as well as what route to take in its repair.

My reciever seems to have a corroded volume/balance control as my left KLH speaker would become fuzzy. Bur i believe the problem i have is across both speakers and not just isolated to one.

If anyone cares the album being played is the *Akira Symphonic Suite* by *Geinoh Yamashirogumi*

Just in Case my equipment isnt causing this - i will list it here incase any of these components are infamous for interference

TT: Project Debut Carbon
EQ; Technics SH-8055
REC: Pioneer Sound Project 300
SPKR: B&O Type M/KLH-17
 
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If it only occurs with vinyl, then that helps isolate the problem to the cart, tt (set-up, maybe), or phono preamp (or section) and the cables/wires that connect all those together.
 
If it happens with both LPs and your other source(s), then the problem is in your amp or your speakers. If it happens only with LPs, I would ask you to be sure that is not happening with the KLH 17s.

If not with the KLHs, but only with the B&Os, then I suspect a damaged tweeter or tweeters. If with both the KLH and the B&O (and only on LPs), then you have a stylus or cartridge alignment issue. Sibilance is often associated with stylus issues.
 
spark1 said:
If it happens with both LPs and your other source(s), then the problem is in your amp or your speakers. If it happens only with LPs, I would ask you to be sure that is not happening with the KLH 17s.

If not with the KLHs, but only with the B&Os, then I suspect a damaged tweeter or tweeters. If with both the KLH and the B&O (and only on LPs), then you have a stylus or cartridge alignment issue. Sibilance is often associated with stylus issues.
Click to expand...
Im guessing that itll only happen when what theyre playing is of a certain pitch. Any ideas?
 
My 17's are very sensitive to input "stuff". If it doesn't show on the 17's but does on the B's I too would suspect a fault in the B's
 
Old crossover caps leaking "unwanted" frequencies to the tweeters, taking them out of their intended frequency response range? If not already re-built, you've got some ~50 year old electrolytics in there.
 
galactech said:
Im guessing that itll only happen when what theyre playing is of a certain pitch. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Yes. Do the isolation steps that I suggested.

BTW...while replacing crossover caps may be a good idea, especially in the KLHs, the first step is determining where in the chain the problem lies. Failing capacitors are not likely to be causing your issue.
 
If the cartridge isn't set up correctly it can cause sibilance, an over emphasis on the "S" or "SH" sounds and harsh or grainy sounding treble. Also, the closer you get to the end of an LP, the more likely you are to notice inner groove distortion, which can also cause harsh sounding treble. Do you notice this sound at any time, or just towards the end of a record?
 
Post a pic of the speaker showing the drivers and a closeup of the tweeter so we can see what kind of tweeters you have.

I agree these need a recap in any case but that may not be causing the screech.
 
Although other possibilities have been suggested, most of your post read to me as fairly typical issues with phonograph playback. I'd bet that your new speakers simply allow you to hear the flaws more easily. If this is the case, look at cartridge alignment, stylus wear, stylus cleanliness, and tonearm issues (bearing play especially). It would be nice to have your volume/balance control all cleaned up, to avoid confounding variables. Choice (or lack of it ;)) in cartridge selection may also be a factor - some are hissy-er and spitty-er than others...
 
sqlsavior said:
Although other possibilities have been suggested, most of your post read to me as fairly typical issues with phonograph playback. I'd bet that your new speakers simply allow you to hear the flaws more easily. If this is the case, look at cartridge alignment, stylus wear, stylus cleanliness, and tonearm issues (bearing play especially). It would be nice to have your volume/balance control all cleaned up, to avoid confounding variables. Choice (or lack of it ;)) in cartridge selection may also be a factor - some are hissy-er and spitty-er than others...
Click to expand...
The Project Debut Carbon is preinstalled with an Ortofon Red Cartridge.
 
crazy-in-az said:
If the cartridge isn't set up correctly it can cause sibilance, an over emphasis on the "S" or "SH" sounds and harsh or grainy sounding treble. Also, the closer you get to the end of an LP, the more likely you are to notice inner groove distortion, which can also cause harsh sounding treble. Do you notice this sound at any time, or just towards the end of a record?
Click to expand...
Any time. It doesn’t happen towards the end of the record - just during sections that have highs in a certain range. Other than that these speakers work flawlessly. If I turn down Treble on my reciever that screech goes down.
 
spark1 said:
If it happens with both LPs and your other source(s), then the problem is in your amp or your speakers. If it happens only with LPs, I would ask you to be sure that is not happening with the KLH 17s.

If not with the KLHs, but only with the B&Os, then I suspect a damaged tweeter or tweeters. If with both the KLH and the B&O (and only on LPs), then you have a stylus or cartridge alignment issue. Sibilance is often associated with stylus issues.
Click to expand...

So I did the radio, it doesn’t seem to do it but I think that’s because the songs they were playing didn’t have many highs.
 
From sql's post: "look at cartridge alignment, stylus wear, stylus cleanliness, and tonearm issues (bearing play especially)." How old is the TT, did you buy it new, any idea how many hours on the stylus? Do you clean the stylus now and then? Etc.
 
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