Is Your Speaker Running Out of Power?

A blown speaker makes a hazy, distorted, crunchy sound that may or may not accurately reproduce the signal sent through it.

A speaker may fail in a few situations. The cone or even the voice coil of a speaker might be damaged. Sometimes the harm is clear. In other circumstances, the speaker may seem good, but the distortion may be so slight that you suspect your amplifier. In this post, we'll discuss how to tell whether your fix my speaker or amp is at fault.

The phrase “blown” is used to denote a malfunctioning speaker. It might be a scratchy signal at a low level or no sound at all. Try one or more of the tests below to see whether your speaker is blown.

How to tell if a speaker is blown

Substitute a renowned excellent speaker. This is a fast technique to check whether your amplifier is operating but your speaker isn't. Replace your old speaker with a known functional replacement. Your old speaker is the issue if you receive nice clear sound.

This is an excellent test to do when you hear strange noises from your amp but aren't sure whether it's your speaker. However, an amplifier problem may cause a speaker to explode. For example, in a solid-state amplifier with power transistors directly linked to the speaker, faulty transistors might blow the voice coil. (This may happen with a tube amp, but the output transformer would likely explode first.) If you suspect the amp is broken — especially if it smells like it's burning — you should examine before switching speakers. It's conceivable the replacement speaker will also fail.

So, before replacing a speaker, consider what happened to the amplifier before the speaker. In this case, don't replace the speaker before addressing the apparent faults with the amplifier.

Do I need to use a speaker with the same impedance? Yes, if you have one, use a speaker with the same impedance. A little impedance mismatch is acceptable for a quick test. More on speaker impedance here, and on Wurlitzer electronic piano speakers here.

To rule out a bad speaker, use a known good If you don't have another nice speaker (or your amp isn't operating well and you don't want to risk damaging it), you may use a functional amplifier. If this configuration produces the same bad speaker sound, the speaker has blown.

Examine the speaker. A blown speaker may have visible physical damage. Remove your speaker from the amplifier or instrument to check the cone. No holes or rips. Damage to the cone prevents it from correctly replicating your signal, resulting in unattractive distortion.

Examine the speaker. Damage to a blown speaker may be heard with mechanical movement. If you lightly touch the speaker's cone, it should sound like a drum. A rattling sound (like a loose snare drum) indicates a poor speaker. Also, lightly pressing on the speaker cone (without puncturing it or pushing it more than 5 millimeters) should produce practically little sound. Moving blown speakers makes scratching or crushing sound. This indicates a faulty voice coil that will need to be replaced.

What should I do if my speaker blows?

Luckily, most speakers are cheap, and blowing them is unusual. Replace the speaker. If you have an expensive speaker, like a JBL or a vintage Jensen, it may be worth repairing it, but remember that you will be paying for both the component and the technician's labor.

Replacement speakers must have the right impedance and be rated at or above the amplifier's power. Amplifier makers often specify speakers nearly double the amplifier's power. A 30-watt amplifier may come with a 50 watt or greater speaker to ensure that it can handle the amp's output.

You may keep your original till you decide whether to repair it or not. If you don't want the speaker, you may sell it on eBay for a fraction of its "functioning" price. Indicate the speaker is blown and price it appropriately.