Yeah, I've had fewer issues since I've adjusted the output level. The thread you cited seemed to indicate that it's a build quality issue, which may be, but I don't think that the signal breaks up due to faulty internal wiring. I've had plenty of bad solders with audio equipment in my time, so I'd definitely recognize that sort of noise.
In this case, the speakers more-or-less cleanly stop responding for both drivers. Once the signal reaches a certain threshold, the sound comes back, again fairly cleanly.
I'm reminded of my Nashville recording studio tour with Ohio University's chapter of the Audio Engineering Society ~1996: one of the engineers had a pair of KRKs (they have distinctively yellow woofer cones) that he demonstrated by blasting his latest studio session. Maybe the manufacturer assumes that the average user will crank the volume, so they don't normally test the speakers at low signal levels? I've managed to preserve my hearing thus far, so I prefer to keep things quiet.
It's a weird problem, but no more than a minor annoyance. They still produce fantastically detailed sound, so it's hard to complain.
Thanks,
-Chris Mayes
On Tue, Dec 22, 2020 at 7:34 PM Arun Raghavan <arun@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Tue, 22 Dec 2020, at 1:45 PM, Chris Mayes wrote:
> Speaking of Spotify, I remembered that I'd selected "quiet" for the
> volume level under Music Quality:
>
> spotify_levels.png
>
> I've switched it to "normal". This ought to help with the signal
> level, though I'd still like to find where this minimum signal
> threshold is being enforced. It may be in the speakers themselves,
> especially since the left channel tends to mute before the right. I've
> written to the manufacturers, but I've yet to receive a response.
>
> I'll see how well the "normal" volume level does at keeping the cutoff
> at bay. If I ever do hear from the manufacturer, I'll send an update.
[...]
This does indeed seem to be an issue with the speakers, given that output and the fact that the volume things fixes it. I found this random thread that suggests that you're not alone: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/646410-krk-rp5-sound-breaks-up-cuts-out-occasionally.html
-- Arun
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