How Can You Fix a Blown Subwoofer – Simple Tricks that Work
Subwoofers can get into several problems while you use them. These can be frustrating to deal with, especially when it comes to a blown subwoofer. Can you fix a blown subwoofer, though?
It is possible to fix a blown subwoofer as long as you have the skills to do so. This also depends on the extent of the problem itself.
You can go through the following guide to figure out how to repair a subwoofer after it gets blown. Apart from that, we will also cover some other associated issues so that you can figure out how to proceed in terms of fixing your unit.
Once you figure out the process, you can try it out on your own or call a professional who can help you out.
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What Kind of Subwoofer Do You Have?
Before you start fixing the subwoofer, you will need to figure out which kind of subwoofer you have so that you can proceed to fix it. Do you have a passive or active subwoofer? What is the difference?
A passive subwoofer is essentially one that depends on an external amplifier and receiver for its power. It does not have an amplifier within its unit. This can allow this kind of subwoofer to be able to withstand more power. It can be much easier for this kind of unit to face damage due to too much or too little power.
An active subwoofer has an amplifier built into its structure. Thus, you do not need to connect to an external one. You can also easily control the frequency response and compatibility levels with the receiver or car stereo.
Why Did the Subwoofer Get Blown?
The power supply that the subwoofer receives in the form of an electric current is the main reason behind a blown subwoofer. This can show itself in two ways:
- Your subwoofer might end up receiving an excessive amount of power that goes beyond its usual handling capacity. This can end up affecting the voice coil of the subwoofer, leading to a blown unit. The coil can also detach from the other components, leading to a tear.
- If your subwoofer receives too little power, then this could lead to a blown unit as well. This is because the current might not be enough for the subwoofer to deal with, so it might try to compensate without being able to convert the current properly, leading to overheating.
How to Tell That a Subwoofer Is Blown
How can you tell when your subwoofer is blown? Will it be visible or will you have to listen for it? Let’s figure it out below.
Voice Coil
The voice coil is responsible for creating a magnetic field and passing the current through it so that the coil, along with other components, can start vibrating to create sound waves.
In case your voice coil is damaged, you might be able to hear distorted audio. To make sure, however, you can use a multimeter by attaching the terminals of the coil to this device. If the meter does not show any movement, then there might be an issue with the coil.
However, if the meter shows resistance, then the issue is most likely not with the voice coil.
Speaker Cone
The speaker cone is the next component that you should check for damage. The speaker cone is part of the suspension system of the subwoofer, which will make it much simpler for you to reach the cone to assess the issue.
Carefully detach the cover of your subwoofer and then push it a bit to see how much it moves within the frame. Ideally, the cone should easily move in and bounce back up.
However, if it does not move, then there might be a problem with the cone in the form of breakage or tears. The voice coil could also be stuck in between.
How to Fix a Blown Subwoofer
Now that you know where the issue lies, you can go about fixing it by going through the following steps. First, however, make sure you gather all the relevant materials such as a knife, a screwdriver, glue, tape, soldering iron and other materials that you might think are necessary.
Remove Your Speakers
Firstly, you will need to use a screwdriver to remove your speakers by carefully detaching the screws that are keeping the subwoofer in its proper position. Make sure you also remove all the connecting wires and cables so that you only have the subwoofer unit to work with.
You will also need to remove the surround using a knife without damaging it.
Place these wires in a convenient place and label them if necessary. Make sure all the screws are kept together as well.
You should then take your speaker or subwoofer to a comfortable place with plenty of space for you to make the repairs.
Fix the Coil
If the issue is with the coil that you can solve without replacing it, you can fix it using the following steps.
- Locate the voice coil and check to see if it is in the right position. If not, you can simply place it back in the right place carefully. Make sure you wear gloves for your safety.
- You can also simply try pressing the speaker in case that allows the coil to automatically get back into place.
- Test it out to see if it is working again.
Repair the Tear
If there is a tear in the cone, then this can lead to a blown subwoofer as well. A simple but temporary solution for the tears on your cone can be to make use of some paper towels and a strong adhesive.
Run the adhesive all over the paper towel to make it moist enough (but not too much that it drips). Now that this is done, you can simply place the paper towels over the tear such that it covers up the tear completely. Use a spatula to make this easier.
You will then have to repeat this for the other side. Allow the glue to fully dry and then add a bit of paint over it to make it sturdier.
Replace the Cone and Coil
In case the aforementioned simple fixes do not work, you will need to replace the cone and the coil of the blown subwoofer. Remove them carefully using a knife and soldering iron and then go through the following steps.
- Clean up the subwoofer in the parts where the cone and coil were so that you can get rid of any dust. You can use an air compressor to make this process easier.
- Take a new and compatible piece of the voice coil and install it where the older coil was. You will also need to install a new spider.
- Take a new cone and spread some glue on it. Place this cone in its place where the older cone sat.
- You will then need to wait for a day (or even more) to allow the glue to dry up fully.
Replace the Surround
You can now replace the foam surround using some glue that you should spread around the frame of the new surround. Place it carefully on the frame of the speaker so that it covers the ends of the cone properly.
Reconnect the Speaker
Now that you have replaced all the required parts, you can now reconnect the speaker or subwoofer to the rest of the sound system. Make sure you attach the wires and cables to the right spots.
Use the screwdriver to screw the subwoofer back into its place. You can now test the subwoofer out to see if the sound is fixed. If not, you might need to consult a professional or replace the subwoofer.
Concluding Remarks on how to fix a blown subwoofer
Through this guide, you know know how to fix a blown subwoofer coil as well as the cone. You can now go ahead and carefully try out the process on your own or simply call a professional to solve the issue for you.
If you have any questions related on how to fix a blown subwoofer let me know.
Frequently Asked Questions on How Can You Fix a Blown Subwoofer:
What Happens When a Subwoofer Is Blown?
If a subwoofer is blown, this will basically affect the entire quality of the sound that you are playing. The audio will sound like it is cracking, breaking, tearing or making a static-like sound.
Does a Blown Subwoofer Still Work?
Technically, a blown subwoofer will still be able to produce some sound if the issue is not too big. However, this is not too safe as it could lead to further damage or even a fire in an extreme case. You can still try to fix the blown sub instead of buying a new subwoofer.
Is It Worth Repairing a Blown Subwoofer?
If you are on a limited budget and have the skills or can call a professional, it might be worth repairing the blown subwoofer. Consult the professional and see what they say about this.
It is quite possible that repairing it could only be a temporary solution, so if you have the budget to spare, then you can buy a new one in case the damage is quite big.
Can you fix blown subwoofers with a new coil (new voice coil), speaker cone speaker frame?
Fixing partially blown subwoofers and blown speakers with a new coil (new voice coil), speaker cone speaker frame is possible depending on the issue. If you have a stuck coil you won’t need a new voice coil. If you fix the voice coil gap then it should be running smoothly. Either way the first step is diagnosing the attached wires and terminal wires inspect all the attached wires.
What are the typical issues with passive subwoofers?
These are the typical issues: amplifier clipping, missing mounting screws, terminal wires, damaged speaker cone frame edges (speaker frame); damanged speaker frame; damaged subwoofer cone (speaker frame). The tools you need to fix these is mainly a tester edge, soldering iron, stereo receiver, air compressor, glue and paper towel. When working remove the speaker cone gently from the foam suspension. Before you’re doing any repair work remove the mounting screws and have the tester edge handy and then remove the terminal wires. The you need to remove the speaker surround from the speaker frame. Onve the speaker surround is removed from the speaker frame you can easily diagnose the problem.
Do I really need a new coil (voice coil)?
The new coil (voice coil) will fix the problem if the voice coil is faulty if not it won’t do a thing. To get access to the voice coils you need to remove the mounting screws first.
Last Updated on October 23, 2023 by Brian Beasley
