Thread: speakers blown?

i've got a kenwood excelon 794 and alpine type s 5s and 6x9s. the speakers are probably 6 or 7 years old and the headunit less than one. no amp/crossovers/RCAs in use currently, everything is hooked up through the factory harness.

my problem - when i turn my volume up past 60% or so, i will get a blown speaker type of effect to all four and then they all get MUCH softer, nearly inaudible with a little fuzz. are my speakers blown? what else could be the cause?

the headunit:

RMS Power Output 22 watts
Peak Output 50 watts
RMS Power Bandwidth 20-20kHz
Preamp Outputs 6-channel
Sub Preamp Outputs Yes
Switchable Rear Preamp Outputs No
Preamp Voltage 4 volts

5s

Sensitivity 92 dB at 1 watt
Frequency Response 45 - 30k Hz
RMS Power Range (Watts) 2-35
Peak Power Handling (Watts) 175
Impedance (Ohms) 4

6x9s

Sensitivity 92 dB at 1 watt
Frequency Response 30 - 30k Hz
RMS Power Range (Watts) 2-50
Peak Power Handling (Watts) 250
Impedance (Ohms) 4

i am by no means educated in audio. i know how to hook stuff up, but that's about the extent of it. what do you think?

i swapped in the stock deck thinking that may be it, and same thing. sorry i forgot to mention that. i've messed with my EQ settings as well, reducing the lower bands and it increased the volume capacity before 'blowing' from 20 to 22. these are the only things i have tried thus far.

anyone think my speakers are blown/fubar?

logical guesses?

i can't believe noone has any input.

chaches.

hrmmm. You said no CROSSOVERS?!

What about the ones the Type S speakers came with? I wonder if they just have some inline filters glued to the basket? hrmm.

If you don't have any passive crossovers on the speakers, that's why they sound blown.

by no crossovers, i mean none of the little box-type crossovers AFAIK.

if i took pictures, how could i do so in order for you to tell? what should i look at?

Sounds like blown speakers. Just replace them. New ones will sound better.

Originally Posted by noreasonwhyy

by no crossovers, i mean none of the little box-type crossovers AFAIK.

if i took pictures, how could i do so in order for you to tell? what should i look at?

Well I found this image...

Alpine Type S SPS-600C 6 1/2 TYPE-S COMPONENT SET [SPS-600c] - $70.00 : Fresh-Fitted.com, Brand Fashions for Less

It looks like the filters are placed in-line on the speaker wire they provide. You MUST use this speaker wire if that's the case. Although some car companies use in-line speaker filters(cross over points), I doubt your vehicle did. So if you hooked up to stock wiring, this might be why your speakers blew.

You'll have to double check and be certain. Pretty much all mid-range speakers are going to blow with a 30hz signal. That's where your sub should come in. Try using those filters prior/speaker wire prior to buying new speakers. Trying to play those lower freq's can muddy up the sound in a big way. Maybe they aren't blown?

i've got a whole load of homework to get done in the next few days, but i will look into it.

thanks for the info! i will post any updates when i get there.

well i got some time to mess with it. my HU has a built in crossover. after tweaking the settings, i finally have loud sounds! this is the first time my car radio is fully functioning since i've owned the GP.

1800collect, you have any tips as to what frequencies I should put through the fronts/backs? i appreciate your help a lot!

I would suggest a High Pass around 120hz w/12db slope. You can probably get away with 100hz@24db or 80hz@24db even. If you can find a nice sub to compliment your mids then all the bass will "seem" to come from your mids up front.

i'm at 80hz in the front and 60 in the back, for now.

appreciate the help.