What STEREO speakers to replace the ones that come with M-Audio LX4 2.1?

[Stanley]

Hi guys,

I really need some help here.

I have been using M-Audio LX4 2.1 speakers for home use for like 2 years now. Recently it started generating lots of hiss in the high frequencies, especially at a lower volume. I figured that this is because of the vibrating top 2 speakers. When I touch the 'membrane', the noise goes off but so does the high pitches.

The problem is not with the sound quality of my CDs. Its just the speaker. And, I live in a god forsaken country where I cannot find someone to repair it. So, I need to just replace the TWO speakers while keeping the subwoofer the same (I love it.)

Now, I think the amp is located in the sub. The connection goes like Mac --> Sound Card --> Sub --> 2 wires (each wire is split into two) --> 2 speakers.

Sorry for being too noobish, but what all should I look for in a new speaker to make sure they are compatible? I don't want to get an M-Audio again. I need to find a better brand. Budget is upto $500. Optimal is $300.

I am all confused because there are too many factors - powered? will same wires suit? volume levels (volume dial is in the sub)?

Can someone please guide me?

Thanks in advance!
Stanley.

 

[Minion]

If you just want to replace the speakers then you will need to find out the Speakers Impedance and sencitivity (and size of cource) and use that information to find a replacement...

Try contacting M-audio and ask them if they know the sencitivity of the speakers in your units and then look for a good set of replacements with the same Sencitivity and Impedance and size....

This is very important because you can just throw any matched set of speakers in the box and expect the same performance because for example a 90db speaker will only be half as loud as a 93db speaker, so if you choose the wong sencitivity you will have them to loud compared to the woofer or to quiet compared to the woofer.....

Cheers

 

[Stanley]

Thanks for the reply Guz.

Well, I am presently in India. There is one distributor in the country and almost no service centers close to where I live.

These are all the specs I found:
dynamic range (satellites and sub): 100dB (A-weighted)
frequency response (satellites and sub): 40Hz–20kHz; +1dB, -3dB
mid-range/ tweeter crossover frequency: 2.9kHz
RMS SPL @ 1 meter: 102.5dB (satellites); 105dB (sub)
signal-to-noise ratio: 82dB @ 1 watt (typical, A-weighted)
crossover frequency: 140Hz
low frequency -3 dB cutoff: 40Hz with 6th order alignment
satellite dimensions/weight: 22 x 15 x 16 cm - 2 kg each
subwoofer dimensions/weight: 40 x 27 x 30 cm - 14 kg

How do I find the resistance or sensitivity, etc? Will they reply if I just mail them asking for the specs of a discontinued model?

Thanks!
Stanley.

 

[Minion]

Well those specs aren"t going to help you much..... The impedance of the Speaker should actually be on the back of the speaker, it will probably say
8 Ohms or 4 Ohms.....if it doesn"t say then you can use a Multimeter set to resistance and measure the speaker your self

You could try contacting m-audio and asking them for the Speakers sencitivity, they would know it but they might not want to go through the trouble of finding out for you, but it is worth a Try.....

Good luck

 

[Stanley]

Thanks Minion.

I didn't realize it would this easy to find out. It was there on the back of the speakers.

Model: Studiophile LX4
Input Imp.: 20K ohms Bal./10K ohms Unbal.
Input Sens. (90dB/1M): Sat.100mV/Sub.50mV
Amp. Power: Sat.27W/Sub.60W
Freq.Resp.: Sat.140Hz-20KHz/Sub.40Hz-140Hz.

But, now I am worried that if I cannot find the spec for these online, how would I find that of others when searching for new ones?

For example, I really like the Tannoy Reveal 6. Is it possible that it would work fine? If not, any inputs on any close/compatible passive monitors?

Thanks!

 

[Minion]

Sorry but those aren"t the Right specs...those are the specs of the amp input not the speakers....This is a spec that usually isn"t listed unless you are buying bare speakers...

 

[Stanley]

How unfortunate for me.

So, Minion, I have to email M-Audio now and ask them:
1. Impedence of the satellites of LX4
2. Sensitivity of the satellites of LX4

And use these two values and search good matches (which means I can choose any power and any size)?

Thanks.

 

[Minion]

Yes those are the specs you need, the speakers them selves (after you have taken them out of there cabs) should have the Impedance written on the speakers them selves....

You should get speakers close to the power and the same size as the ones in your satalites for best results, It would be cheaper and probably easier to find raw speakers and put them inside the Speaker boxes that the satalites are allready in ,as the Boxes are designed for speakers that size , sensitivity and displacement....

Do you have a seperate Volume controll for the Satalites and the Subwoofer, If you do that might leave you open to to more speaker options because it lets you tune the Volume of the Sub and satalites seperately which will take care of some of the Sensitivity requirements which means you can use lower sensitity speakers (which would also limit your output Volume) ,Or you can use Higher sensitivity speakers which would give you a volume boost with the satalites....

You might also maybe see if reconeing the Satalite speakers would fix them ,this would save you from buying new speakers....

Good luck

 

[rivilee]

Hey Stanley, if I'm reading your post correctly the problem is not what you're thinking. When you say, "vibrating top 2 speakers. When I touch the 'membrane', the noise goes off but so does the high pitches.", I'm assuming you're touching the small tweeter (the high frequency speakers) in each satellite cabinet. If they're hissing and vibrating that means they're working. When a speaker component goes bad it just stops working with no sound at all. Is just one cabinet "hissing"? If so, the amplifier in the subwoofer cabinet is probably going bad. If both speakers are hissing it's probably your gain structure is set up incorrectly which is an easy fix.

 

[Minion]

Actually that is not allways true, I have had MANY speakers that went bad and still worked they just had a bad Buzzing sound when you used them but they still worked...even a speaker with a Blown surround will still put out sound (hey that rhymes..lol)...If the surrounds tention is uneven it can cause it rub against the Voice coil which can cause a buzzing sound...

I do suggest however that you maybe just try any old speaker as a test and see if the buzzing still occurs ....

 

[suprstar]

...you can use a Multimeter set to resistance and measure the speaker your self

Keep in mind, if you do this, resistance is always a little less than the impedance. A 4Ω speaker will measure betw. 3-3.5Ω with a typical multimeter.

If you haven't already, I'd hook the speakers up to a diff. source (with all diff. wires if possible) just to make sure it's definately the speaker.