Buzz
Have you encountered issues with your car or home speaker? If you're hearing unpleasant sounds like crackling, buzzing, or complete silence, it's possible your speaker is blown. Depending on the severity of the damage, you might be able to resolve it yourself. This guide will help you identify the problem and walk you through the steps to repair it at home.
Key Points to Remember
- A blown speaker can manifest as crackling noises or complete loss of sound.
- If the damage is extensive, you may need to acquire replacement parts.
- If you're unsure about DIY repairs, seek assistance from a professional.
Repair Procedure
Identifying the Most Common Areas of Damage in a Blown Speaker
The primary component of a speaker is its cone. This part actively converts vibrations from the speaker's voice coil into audible sounds.
- If the cone is damaged, it will result in sound distortion during vibration reproduction.
- Minor tears and punctures in the cone can often be fixed using a thin, white glue mixture.
- Extensive damage may necessitate re-coning, a process of complete cone replacement best handled by a professional.
The surround serves as the foam protection for the speaker. It connects the cone to the speaker's housing and is susceptible to early damage due to mechanical stress.
- If the surround is damaged, it will require replacement.
- Various sizes of surrounds are readily available.
- Before purchasing replacement parts, ensure you measure your speaker accurately.
The voice coil facilitates sound vibration against the cone. Without a properly functioning voice coil, the speaker cannot generate necessary sounds.
- Voice coils may experience overheating and melting. In such cases, complete replacement of the voice coil is necessary.
How to Diagnose Which Area is Faulty
Power up the speaker. Ensure all power sources are connected and all cables are securely attached.
- For car speakers, verify that your car stereo display is active. A flickering car display might indicate power issues, faulty wiring, or loose connectors.
- For portable speakers, ensure the device is fully charged and the indicator light is on.
Conduct a sound test. Play a song or video to assess the audio quality. Avoid using the radio as natural static may interfere with the test.
- Select a familiar song with a wide sound range to pinpoint any speaker issues.
- Listen at medium volume first, then increase the volume for further evaluation.
- Avoid testing in noisy environments as it may affect the accuracy of your assessment.
Check for unusual sounds. Listen for rattling, crackling, or muted sounds. Distortion at reasonable volume levels may indicate a torn speaker cone or damaged voice coil.
Assess frequency range. Listen for any limitations in your speaker's range. Partially blown speakers may struggle with specific frequencies.
- Play a well-known song to identify any discrepancies in high, mid, or low frequencies.
Feel for vibrations. Lack of vibrations when touching the speakers could signal internal wiring issues.
- Speakers produce sound through vibrations, so no vibrations mean no sound.
Inspect the speaker visually for any signs of damage. Ensure the power is completely turned off and all wires are unplugged. You'll need to remove the cover or plate to access the internal components.
- If you notice any holes or tears in the speaker cone, repair will be necessary.
- If the surround shows signs of deterioration or foam rot, it will need to be replaced with a new one.
Identify and diagnose the problem. Depending on the issue, you may attempt to resolve it on your own.
- If you've heard crackling or buzzing sounds, it could indicate a damaged voice coil or speaker cone.
- If you've observed damage to the surround, replacement is required.
- These repairs can be carried out either by a professional or at home.
Seek Professional Assistance
Professionals can handle extensive speaker repairs. If you lack the necessary tools or fear further damage, seeking professional assistance is advisable.
- Car stereos and systems undergo wear and tear over time. Consult a car audio specialist for assistance.
- For Bluetooth speakers, replacement parts may exceed the speaker's value. In such cases, it may be more cost-effective to purchase new speakers.
Repairing a Speaker Cone
Ensure the power is turned off. This step is crucial to avoid any risk of electric shock while handling internal speaker components.
Detach the speaker from its housing. Use a screwdriver or ratchet to remove the mounting screws securing it in place.
Disconnect all wires attached to the faulty speaker. Take care not to tug or pull on the wires excessively.
Inspect the speaker cone for any holes or tears. Minor damage may be present beneath the cover. Look for visual signs such as cracks or splits.
- Most damage occurs on the speaker cone.
- Repairing such damage can enhance sound quality, though it may not fully restore the original quality.
- If you desire pristine sound quality, consider professional repairs or replacing the speakers entirely.
Remove dust and dirt buildup. Use a cloth and rubbing alcohol for effective cleaning.
- Avoid using water or strong cleaning solutions, as they may cause further damage to the speaker.
- Compressed air can assist in removing trapped dust particles.
- Exercise caution while cleaning your speakers.
Apply adhesive to minor holes or tears. Choose a flexible adhesive suitable for speaker cones. Avoid excessive thickness to maintain flexibility.
- Mixing white glue with water in a 1:1 ratio enhances pliability.
- Flex Seal is also effective for tear repairs.
- Use a paintbrush or steady hand to apply the adhesive over the damage.
- Ensure to apply adhesive on both sides of the tear.
- Consider using a reconing kit as an alternative.
Blot excess glue gently with a paper towel if necessary. Absorb any surplus glue on the speaker cone.
- This step is necessary when using the 1:1 white glue to water mixture.
Allow the adhesive to dry. Wait for a minimum of 24 hours for complete drying.
- Using the speaker before the glue dries completely may lead to further damage or negate the repair.
Reattach the internal speaker to the main unit. Once the glue is dry and all repairs are done, reconnect the speaker.
- Ensure all internal wires are properly connected.
Replace the speaker cover. Connect all wires to the mended speaker.
- Secure the speaker by tightening all mounting screws.
Reassess the speaker's audio quality. Play the same audio track or song used in the initial test to evaluate the repaired speakers.
- Begin the test with a low volume setting.
- Gradually increase the volume.
- If the speaker functions properly, it's successfully repaired!
Install a New Surround
Switch off the power.
Detach the internal speaker from its housing. This might require removing the mounting screws.
- Handle the internal speaker with care during removal.
- The speaker cone and surround will be connected.
Replace the damaged surround. Use a sharp tool like a knife or razor blade to carefully cut around the speaker cone.
- Ensure you're working on a stable, flat surface.
- Secure the speaker with one hand while cutting with the other.
- Remove and discard the old surround.
Detach the plastic ring encircling the speaker cone. Utilize a prying tool like a pry bar to carefully remove the ring.
- Proceed slowly to prevent damaging the ring.
- The ring is typically secured with adhesive.
Clean off any residual adhesive. Prepare the area for the new surround by scraping away old glue.
- Use rubbing alcohol and a lint-free cloth for efficient cleaning.
- Ensure the speaker cone's edge is also cleaned.
- This primes the area for the new surround.
Apply glue along the speaker cone's edge. Use enough adhesive to securely attach the new surround.
- Opt for vinyl or PVA glue, commonly known as white glue.
Spread glue on the new surround. Apply adhesive to the area where the surround will adhere to the cone, ensuring even distribution.
- Surrounds are typically cost-effective and readily available.
- Choose a surround that matches your speaker's size, such as an 8-inch surround for an 8-inch speaker.
Attach the new surround to the speaker cone with care. Press down on the surround to ensure proper adhesion of the glue.
- Ensure the speaker cone and surround are perfectly centered before pressing down.
- Avoid getting glue on the interior cone.
Allow the glue to dry for at least an hour. For best results, consider waiting overnight to ensure proper drying of the glue.
Apply glue to the foam edges that meet the outer frame. Lift along the outer edge while evenly spreading the glue.
- Ensure uniform glue distribution.
Wait for the glue to dry. Once again, wait for a few hours to ensure thorough drying.
Reinstall the plastic trim.
- Clean any excess dirt or residue using rubbing alcohol and a cloth.
- Your newly repaired surround is now complete!
Repair a Dislodged Voice Coil
Switch off the power.
Take off the speaker cover to reach the internal components. Disconnect all wires attached to the damaged speaker.
- Handle the wires carefully to avoid any tugging or pulling.
Remove the speaker cone and surrounding material.
- You can utilize sandpaper or a sharp tool to eliminate any stubborn glue residue.
Detach the cone from the voice coil. They are bonded with glue; cautiously use a sharp tool like a knife to separate the cone and the voice coil.
Extract the faulty voice coil. Keep all other parts separate and intact.
- You might have to cut some wires to completely extract the voice coil and its spider.
- The spider aids in keeping the voice coil centered in the magnetic gap.
Wipe off any extra dirt or glue residue. Use a cloth free of lint with rubbing alcohol for easy cleanup.
Install the fresh voice coil. It should fit snugly into the available space. Secure a new spider around the voice coil.
- Apply adhesive to the cone and attach it to the new voice coil, ensuring it stays centered.
Allow the adhesive to dry. Wait at least 24 hours to ensure the adhesive is completely dry.
Reassemble all speaker parts. Carefully slide the speakers back into position.
- Ensure the internal wires are properly connected.
- Attach the speaker cover to the body and tighten the mounting screws.
Power up the device. Confirm all wires are firmly connected and secure.
Test the speaker's sound again. Play a song with a wide range of sounds to check if your speakers are working properly.
- Start with a low volume.
- Gradually increase the volume.
- If the speaker functions well, it's repaired.
