About Blown Speakers

Blown speakers are speakers that have been damaged by an excess of sound being blasted through the different speaker components. Although the component most often damaged is the woofer, the different wires as well as the speaker box itself can be blown. Blown speakers generally have to be replaced since damage from a blow can be very severe, and repairs are often more costly than replacement speakers.

Identification

Speakers are blown when one of the four components of the speaker (woofer, coil, tweeter and midrange) have an excess of sound transmitted through them and are damaged as a result. A speaker blow can be signaled by a small change in sound quality (usually indicative of a coil or midrange blow) or total destruction of the speaker box.

Types

There are several types of speaker blows, of varying similarities. The most minor speaker blows occur when the midrange or tweeter components are damaged. Because these two components emit midrange and vocal sounds, sometimes a blow cannot be immediately detected if the speaker is used mainly for high-bass audio. However, more dramatic blows, such as those that occur in the woofer, are a direct result of high-bass audio and are usually very noticeable. These types of blows often result in cracked or completely destroyed speaker boxes, and an odd smell may follow the blow.

Effects

After a speaker is blown, speakers may experience a wide variety of effects. If the blow is minor and occurs in one of the speaker's wires, the sound coming through the speakers may sound a little different than usual, and certain tones may not play altogether. If you experience a major blow, the speakers will probably cease to function, or will be completely destroyed.

Prevention/Solution

The best way to keep your speakers from blowing is to keep your volume reasonable. Most speakers come with an owner's manual that details suggested volume levels and hardware limits. Another good way to keep speakers from blowing is to keep your equalizers level. This prevents tonal abuse on specific components of your speaker.

Misconceptions

Although strong bass is a contributing factor to blown speakers, it is not the only cause of the issue. High treble, as well as heavily toned music, can also be responsible for blown speakers if played too loudly.

Resources

• Tech FAQ: How Are Speakers Blown?