3 Things that Can Destroy a Car Speaker - Soundiego - San Diego Car Stereo and Video Sales and Installation (2024)

FAQs

What can damage a car speaker? ›

Heat damage – This can occur either because it simply gets too hot in the vehicle or because too much power is being pushed into the speaker. Thermal failure is going to destroy your sound quality just as fast as any mechanical failure would.

This issue often happens in cars that have a dedicated amplifier within their car audio systems. The issue refers to the overdriven amp which cuts off – or clips – the top and bottom of the sound waveform. The damage to your speakers is a result of the clipped sound delivering too much power.

As the volume increases, the amplifier produces more power, creating heat. This heat can cause damage inside the speaker system, increasing the damage as the volume goes higher. An easy solution to these problems is to make sure to get high-quality speakers and to get the right amplifier for your speaker system.

The Average Life Of A Car Speaker

Most car speakers will last between 4-8 years. The first parts to go are often the tweeters. These speakers, which reproduce higher-frequency sounds, can start to become distorted after four years of regular use.

Constant exposure to impacts, drops and elements like water, dirt and dust can damage your speakers and lead to complete breakdowns. But does that mean you should keep your speakers locked indoors? Of course not. We bring you a list of tips to help avoid damage to your speakers.

Poor speaker placement. It's important to place your speakers correctly if you want the best sound quality. If your speakers are too close to a wall or in a corner, the sound will be muffled and won't carry as well. Instead, try to place them at least a few feet away from any walls and in an open space.

What Blows a Speaker? Blasting it with too much power for too long. It's worth noting here that in properly matched combinations, speakers are designed to handle whatever their amps can dish out at extremely high levels and for far longer periods than would ever likely be encountered in everyday use.

Common causes include faulty wiring, blown fuses, loose connections, and worn-out speaker drivers. In some cases, these issues can be caused by prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures or moisture. If any of these problems are present, they need to be addressed before attempting to fix the car speakers.

A blown speaker is one that has become defective due to improper use. The term blown specifically relates to damage that's been caused by electrical damage which has then caused physical damage during use. Depending on the severity, this damage may or may not be visible, but will always be audible.

It does depend on the amp, and the speakers, but that is the general position. Essentially if the amp is driven to overload trying to play loud enough, the resultant clipping which produces higher amplitude high frequencies which can readily overload tweeters and overheat their voice coils, deforming or burning out.

Can high bass damage car speakers? ›

Check Your Equalizer's Treble Or Bass Settings

Wean yourself off the high treble, and bass settings, as messing with your equalizer in this way may harm your speakers and make it difficult for you to detect distortions in the sound you're listening to.

There is one other thing that can damage a passive loudspeaker, and that is too much input power over a long period of time. If you drive a speaker very loudly over a long period of time, it will inevitably get hot.

Car speakers usually fail due to mechanical and thermal problems, but anything that damages a speaker to the point where it no longer works correctly will essentially blow it out.

Aftermarket Speakers and Subwoofers Offer Better Power Handling. Factory speakers cannot handle power well, and the result is often low sound quality. Factory speakers do not work well with amplifiers and do not perform well at high sound volumes.

What Blows a Speaker? Blasting it with too much power for too long. It's worth noting here that in properly matched combinations, speakers are designed to handle whatever their amps can dish out at extremely high levels and for far longer periods than would ever likely be encountered in everyday use.

Physical damage to speakers, like ripped cones, damaged voice coils, or other structural problems, can cause a significant drop in sound quality. The damages may occur due to a variety of factors including wrong handling, factory flaws, extreme temperatures, and regular use/wear over time.