Does your bass sound distorted and muddled? Is your music not playing properly? Sorry to inform you that your subwoofer has blown.
Is there a reasonable option besides replacing the subwoofer or sending it in for extensive repairs? Is it possible to repair a blown subwoofer? Subwoofer repair does not have to be as difficult as it formerly was. Fixing the subwoofer will not only make it as good as new, but it will also save you money.
Continue reading to learn if and how to repair your blown subwoofer in automobiles.
What is a Subwoofer, Exactly?
Before we get started, a brief refresher for any newcomers in the room! A subwoofer can be placed in your automobile or utilized as part of a home theater system to provide deep bass to your music.
Today, we’re concentrating only on those utilized in automobiles.
This subwoofer is ideal for individuals who want to listen to music from a speaker that does not generate high-frequency sound. It will have no effect on your eardrums.
Why was my subwoofer blown?
So, what might have gone wrong with your subwoofer? The fact that the subwoofer is damaged indicates that the power is either too high or too low. In most cases, the subwoofer is capable of handling what it is rated for. This is generally indicated on the subwoofer’s box or in the instruction manual when you buy it. Better construction, on the other hand, allows for more errors, allowing the speaker to survive longer.
If the subwoofer’s handling capability is exceeded, the cone, suspension material, and spider may rip, resulting in a damaged subwoofer.
Overpowering the subwoofer can harm the voice coil by detaching it from the spider and the cone, as well as damaging the coil itself. On the other hand, underpowering can cause the speaker to overheat, disrupting signals and damaging the voice coil.
To avoid this, the amplifier should be provided sufficient of power so that the signals are clear. Make sure the external amplifier is capable of supporting your subwoofer.
If there is a distorted signal, it is better to avoid causing more harm by not cranking the subwoofer up. When music is playing, a buzzing sound suggests that your subwoofer has blown.
Is Your Subwoofer Really Blown?
Before you can even consider repairing a subwoofer, you must first determine whether it has blown. But how did you get to that conclusion?
Subwoofers frequently blow, causing damage to the voice coil or rips in the speaker cone. These problems might be difficult to resolve, but we can diagnose them by following the procedures below.
Connect the terminals to a multimeter instrument to examine the voice coil. If no resistance is observed, the wire is likely damaged and must be replaced.
Whether your coil is in good shape, look to see if the speaker cone is damaged. In a subwoofer, the cone is readily broken and detectable.
Remove the subwoofer’s cover and press along the edges to see if there’s any movement. It’s possible that the voice coil is stuck or damaged if the cone is stiff. You’ll need to look for minor tears or holes, and a flashlight may come in handy.
In most cases, the damage is visible in the cone or foam suspension. Foam replacements might take a few hours to complete, depending on whether you use a kit or things from around the house.
What issues might arise when subwoofers blow
We’ll now look at how to resolve some of the most frequent issues that occur when subwoofers fail.
Stuck Coil
If the coil is stuck, gently press on the speaker cone to see if it moves. Moreover, if there is no movement, you can use a flashlight to check if the voice coil is out of position.
If the coil seems to be pulled up but the wires are still intact and attached, gently press it back into place.
Allowing the coil to correct itself may be accomplished by pushing the speaker up on both sides, taking care not to go too high.
Test the speaker before reinstalling it if you were able to do so and nothing else appears to be broken. If you’re still having problems, there might be harm that isn’t visible.
Tear Repair
The speaker’s cone may sometimes experience minor tears. With a paper towel and some Elmer’s glue, you can easily repair this. It won’t be ideal, but it will be a simple alternative.
Take one towel layer and adjust it to the size of the tear; make sure it just covers the ripped region. Spread the adhesive all over the paper towel and saturate it. Make sure the adhesive is not too runny.
Next, carefully push and smooth the paper towel into the speaker with an instrument that will not damage the speaker, such as a butter knife. Repeat the technique for the speaker’s back.
After the adhesive has dry, matt black spray paint can be applied if desired. With the adhesive and paper towel, this can help a torn speaker’s fibers bond together. A difference in sound quality should not be noticed.
How to fix a blown subwoofer
Let’s look at how to fix the subwoofer now that we’ve learned about it, what can cause it to blow, and how to tell if it’s blown. It’s preferable to work on your subwoofers in a clean, well-lit environment.
Replacement components are easily available and may be bought online if necessary. Below you’ll find a basic instruction on how the you can fix a subwoofer.
Assess the Voice Coil
To assess the voice coil, you can use a very simple method which involves a multimeter. Just connect the speaker terminals to the multimeter and see what happens. If the meter shows any resistance, it means the voice coil is still functioning; however, if there is no movement on the meter, then your coil is probably damaged.
Check speaker suspension
The speaker cone is composed of a soft, flexible material and rests on top of a suspended base to provide adequate suspension while producing sound. It won’t be able to vibrate effectively if it’s not in good form, and the sound will be wet and crusty.
Check it by carefully inserting the cone inside and releasing it. If it returns to its original shape without difficulty, the flex has not been harmed. Now look for any tears in the fabric. A speaker cone that has been torn is useless.
If it passes both the tear and stiffness tests, you may proceed to the next stage, indicating that neither the voice coil nor the speaker cone are likely to be damaged and that the issue is elsewhere.
Separate the Speaker from the Speaker’s Frame
You should now have a decent notion of where the problem is based on the results of the voice coil and speaker cone tests. It will be much easier to begin the repair procedure from here. The first step is to remove the speaker from its housing.
You’ll need the screwdriver from your repair kit for this. The mounting screws that keep the speaker in place should be unscrewed. Remove all associated wires at the same time, but make a note of where each one goes so you can easily re-fit the speaker once it’s been fixed.
It’s worth noting that if the cables aren’t connected correctly, the speaker may create a scratchy sound. Also, make sure you keep all of the mounting screws in one location so you don’t lose any.
Remove the Surround Sound Speakers
You’ll need to consider removing the surround from the speaker enclosure once the speaker has been entirely removed from the frame and its wires have been disconnected. Look for a sharp blade, such as a putty knife or a tester edge, to cut through the glue that holds the surround to the speaker frame to do this.
Remove the surround, as well as all of the adhesive from the frame, using care. When doing this, be extremely cautious to prevent puncturing the frame’s edges, which are rather delicate. You don’t want to harm the speaker before attempting to repair it.
Detach the Voice Coil and Speaker Cone
The next order of business is to remove both the speaker cone and voice coil. For this, you will need a sharp object just like the putty knife or tester edge you used in the previous step. Remove the voice coil, as well as the speaker cone, slowly from the subwoofer.
Attach the new Voice Coil
This is the most important step. This is a technique that requires extreme caution.
The voice coil is a very thin wire that acts as a magnetic field and amplifies sound. This is why your subwoofer has such a strong boost sound.
Because this is a sensitive object, you should go slowly and thoroughly clean the subwoofer first. You can clean with a mop, but a pressure air cleaner is helpful to reach the gaps deep within the coil hole of the voice for better use.
Get a new coil and place it in the gap now. Purchase a new spider as well as a speaker cone. Allow a few hours for the adhesive to cure before attaching them to the speaker.
Set the frame of the speaker
The next thing that you have to do now, when the new spindle is in position, is put the speaker inside. To do that use a glue that is in touch with the speaker frame around the borders of the surrounding surround. Assemble the cone edges and the speaker frame on the surround.
Again, you must allow the adhesive to cure completely for another 24 hours!
Fix other parts and assemble
The final step is to assemble all of the remaining components so that the speaker is ready to use! Remember that the wires you removed in step 3 must now be reattached.
- Simply connect the terminal wires on the new voice coil to the terminals on the old voice coil. Make sure they’re kept in place using the soldering iron.
- Try gently moving the cone around the sides and across the speaker’s perimeter. The cone is meant to sink in and return to its original position. If it remains stiff, though, your speaker cone is most likely destroyed.
- Finally, reconnect all of the previously separated components to their original positions. Place your subwoofer in its container and tighten it firmly together with the mounting screws.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, you can repair your blown subwoofer! It’s worthwhile to take the time to discover and diagnose the problem so that you can repair it properly. Some issues may be handled fast and easily with a little patience on your part.
Always consider whether buying a new subwoofer is more cost-effective than fixing an old one. Older subwoofers should usually be replaced with newer models that will last longer and save you time in the long run.
FAQs
This FAQ section is here to enhance your knowledge and idea about How to Fix a Blown Subwoofer.
When a subwoofer blows, what happens?
When a subwoofer fails, two things can happen. You may either play with no sound or with a little distorted sound. The former indicates a totally blown submarine, whereas the latter indicates a partially damaged submarine.
Is it true that when subwoofers break in, they become louder?
Subwoofers should not become louder as they get used to one other. Instead, they will adapt to the various frequencies offered and play the sounds that are coming through as effectively as possible.
Freelance tech journalist & author of soundboxlab.com …Read More