Most car audio enthusiasts have encountered a blown subwoofer or speaker at some point over the years. Most often you will find blown or damaged factory speakers. You may also find a blown subwoofer in the trunk of your friend with a new car audio amplifier. Blown speakers and subwoofers are rarely associated with a fun event. A blown subwoofer or car speaker results in a replacement or upgrade.
Signal and Distortion
Subwoofers are most commonly blown by supplying too much signal to the car audio amplifier. Too much signal results in a "clipping" which is when audio signals voltages reach amplifier's power supply voltages. The result is a "clipped" signal and this can damage the amplifier and subwoofer.
A subwoofer can be heavily damaged by a sustained clipping. You'll know a clipping sub when it suddenly sounds very odd and loud. The sub will no longer play the bass notes of the music. Low quality amplifiers are known to clip very easily when bass boost is supplied. Higher quality amplifiers have built in protections to help prevent amplifier and speaker damage from situations that would otherwise clip.
Too much power
Too much power is a very easy way to damage a car sub or car speakers. Sending too much power to a subwoofer will force the subwoofer to operate in conditions beyond the original design conditions.Too much power can cause too great of pressure from the magnets, resulting in excessive stress on the woofer surrounds, spider, and even the woofer itself.
It's always best to match up with the RMS power of a subwoofer with the RMA power of an amplifier. Try to find an amp that has RMS power equal to the sub, or slightly more power than the sub's rating. It's equally unwise to under power a subwoofer, and to over power a subwoofer.
How to tell if a subwoofer is blown
A blown subwoofer can be identified by a number of ways. The most common way to tell if a speaker is blown is by pressing down on the woofer with two hands. You want to make sure and press down with two hands so the subwoofer does not get pressed off-axis.
Locked in place: Commonly you will notice that a blown subwoofer is locked in place and does not move. This condition is often called a “frozen subwoofer”, and not to be confused by a subwoofer that is very cold. You need a new sub at this point.
Scratchy movement: Subwoofers that are damaged will often have scratchy sounds when you press on the woofers. This type of blown sub may function at significantly less performance than in the original condition. Get a new sub as this scratchy sub could ruin your amp.
Flopping around woofer: You may have a worn out or blown subwoofer if you press down on the woofer and notice that it’s flopping around without any resistance. This condition often indicates that the spider and surround suspensions are worn out and the sub has reached the end of its useful life.
It's blown, now what?
Blown subwoofers and car speakers are bummer that can be solved. Getting a new subwoofer or speakers will complete your car audio requirements. The nice thing about new subwoofers are the better designs and qualities compared to speakers of the past. Your opportunity for a better sounding and more powerful sub is available when you stop down to Mobile Install in Brooklyn Park, MN.
Mobile Install carries a number of brands of car audio subwoofers and speakers. Many styles of sub boxes and amplifiers are also available in our showroom in the Minneapolis area. We offer high quality professional installation and fantastic customer support. Mobile Install is your go-to location for any car audio needs in Minneapolis and Brooklyn park.
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