Fixing a speaker

[crokett]

Is it worth trying to fix a speaker? I have a dead speaker on my stereo. No sound at all. It is a KLH, not too fancy just a small 2-way I use for the front channels. Whatever I do I'd have to remove the speaker and go in that way - there is not a way to take the case apart.

[cabinetman]

Is it worth trying to fix a speaker? I have a dead speaker on my stereo. No sound at all. It is a KLH, not too fancy just a small 2-way I use for the front channels. Whatever I do I'd have to remove the speaker and go in that way - there is not a way to take the case apart.

It could be something simple, like a connection, or break in one of the wires.
.

[eccentrictinkerer]

Servicing speakers through the main speaker opening is s.o.p. A quick check with a ohmmeter will tell you if the voice-coil is intact (a AA battery with a couple of test leads works, too) just listen for click or thump). Some speakers have fuses on the crossover board. Worth a look.

Re-building the speaker is usually very expensive. Try www.partsexpress.com for suitable drivers. If your enclosure is closed-box design most any speaker with the same diameter and magnet weight should work. It won't be optimum as designed, but usually they sound fine, unless you're a "Golden Ears" type.

Also, it's a good idea to replace speakers in both boxes at the same time to maintain balance.

[Knottscott]

An inexpensive speaker like that may not be worth replacing drivers, but it doesn't hurt to check the connections, circuit breakers, fuses, etc. for continuity.

[chopnhack]

As with all other consumer electronics, replace rather than repair ;( I know its wasteful, but they leave you with little choice when it comes to dollars and cents.

[LCHIEN]

Servicing speakers through the main speaker opening is s.o.p. A quick check with a ohmmeter will tell you if the voice-coil is intact (a AA battery with a couple of test leads works, too) just listen for click or thump). Some speakers have fuses on the crossover board. Worth a look.

Re-building the speaker is usually very expensive. Try www.partsexpress.com for suitable drivers. If your enclosure is closed-box design most any speaker with the same diameter and magnet weight should work. It won't be optimum as designed, but usually they sound fine, unless you're a "Golden Ears" type.

Also, it's a good idea to replace speakers in both boxes at the same time to maintain balance.

good advice here.

[Uncle Cracker]

Some speakers are manufactured with non-serviceable fuses (fusible links, they're called) wound into the voice coils. These are one-time-blow and then junk the speaker. The ohmmeter will tell you if the coil is open.

[eccentrictinkerer]

Addendum to my previous post.

I'm a fan of vintage name-brand speakers. KLH, Infinity, JBL. etc.

Many of these old brand names have sold to companies selling crappy speakers in molded cases. They usually aren't worth saving.

I have a pair of small KLH bookshelf speakers in my shop that never fail to impress visitors, and they're 20 years old! If anything happened to them, I'd rebuild them in a heartbeat.

[crokett]

My speakers aren't 20 years old, they are 8 years old. I will crack the speaker when I don't have anything else to do and take a look at it.

[BigguyZ]

Personally, I got into WWing from speaker building. So, if it's not a simple matter of repairing a connection or a capacitor or something like that- I'd take advantage and build your own! If you're interested, I can point you to some good resources...