Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Mains Distorting? (MI:3)

Hey all, just watching Mission Impossible 3 last night, The scene where they just captured davian from Rome and are on the plane, there is a scene when it shows the plane fly by with the jets on the screen.

I noticed what "sounded" like distortion on the plane engines...unfortunatly my wife was watching the movie with me, so that means "no rewinding rule in effect" (she got very strict with this after the speaker purchase).

20 mins later it was still on my mind...and she says "I am going to go into the kitchen and make some caramel popcorn, just keep watching, don't pause it or anything".

Bam, rewind it to the scene with the jets, try it at -25db, -30db, -35db, -45db all with the same result, its clear at first, then when the peak engine sound comes, there is a little bit of distortion (I should mention this is all with the M22s)

I am assuming it is the source thats the problem? I just had a hard time believing that a movie like Mission Impossible 3 has some distortion on the recording of the jets on the screen...

It would be awsome if someone could cue up the same scene and see if you notice it as well. I must add I was extreamly disapointed with MI:3....not alot of surround content, not alot of LFE...kind of a borning movie for sound effect and such, even my wife noticed it (we watched Bourne Identity two days ago in DTS) she said she could notice a dramatic decrease in effects from the Bourne Identity (I was suprised that she noticed that!).

As that is the only point you heard being distorted it's a safe guess that it is the source or possibly a frequency that the 22's can't handle and the sub isn't turning on as it isn't loud enough?

It was mid frequency, nothing below 80hz, I could clearly hear the distortion on the M22s.

hmmmmmm....In all honesty, this is the first time I have noticed anything like this, its probably just the source...I was just wondering if anyone else has noticed this with that movie...

If this is the first time you hear distortion from your M22s, it is most likely the source. You can also test other sources. You can also switch your M3s to main and M22s center and replay the movie. If it happens on M3s at any volume also, it is most likely the source.

FYI: I have a marantz receiver with volume ranges from -60 to +18. I watch movie usually at 0 volume setting. My M22s are driven by NAD C272 amp and they do not produce any distortion at that level so far. So I think it's the source.

I shall try to throw M3 in this weekend and let you know...no promises. I am up to Red Deer this weekend.

Thoughts:

Swap some of your speakers around.

If you hear it at lower volumes too, it's likely the source.

Bring the DVD to a friend's house.

Bad audio from people who should no better no longer surprises me. Hey, I think I'll make that one my tag line!

Bad grammar from people who should know better no longer surprises me.

Ken:
I just noticed that when I read my SIG line on another post. I was having a hard time whittling it below the required 100 characters and forgot that it should actually read correctly!

Hutzal:

I havent seen MI3 on DVD yet (actually I dont remember watching the movie at all, need to x-check with girlfriend). But I just recently (3 days ago) found an issue with one of my M22, and the issue was that the cabinet was loose, and when some mid/low frequencies played, the sound was distortioned and rattling, like a very bad subwoofer inside a car. I touched the speaker while playing and notice the cabinet shaking.

Reading your post, I really doubt that the problem is similar, as the reason for my speakers to be loose its suspected to be dropped while moving, but passing jet engines could have some bass not routed properly to the LFE (.1) channel as you mention the lack of, that is rattling your speakers. I just wanted to share this with you for future reference, and remark the extreme importance of proper bracing of the cabinets. Axiom does an excellent job with their speaker cabinets, but dropping them can screw them over. Check for loose components, although I doubt they are loose.

On the other hand, I will recommend playing a test DVD in a frequency sweep, to check if your speakers rattle or distort with sinewaves. There is no distortion on those patern test tones, therefore, any distortion will be by either your amp or speaker.-

Rgds

Thanks for the advise everyone, I will switch my mains to my M3s when I get the chance and see if it produces the same sound.

Good suggestions!