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How to Fix a Blown Subwoofer—Some Simple Tips

Speakers Fan — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:17:46 +0000

So you have finally gotten that fat and incredibly thumping bass system for your car that you have always dreamed about. Of course we all can not be geniuses, and from time to time, try as we might, some of us will just crank that bass knob one click too far to the right, and whoops, boom, there goes your subwoofer—blown from receiving more current than it was designed to handle. And in reality, while you can still pump your bass tracks through a blown subwoofer, all you will get back in the form of sound waves is a nasty buzzing and a rattle, as the broken woofer shakes in its cavity. Thankfully repairing that—once badass—subwoofer isn’t nearly as complicated nor as costly as you might think. So try on these simple subwoofer repair tips, and see what we mean!

Get the right subwoofer repair kit
Generally, when you blow a subwoofer, you will need to replace the entire speaker that you have just blown. This is because when you send far too much power through the speaker—more than it was designed to handle—the cone can burst, which typically knocks it loose from its encasing. This requires that you first remove the grill over the speaker housing, and then carefully pull the cone out of the speaker cavity and detach the speaker wiring.

Of course, for many this can read far easier than it actually is to do, but rest assured, there is not that much technical prowess required when you go about repairing a blow subwoofer. Essentially you are just removing the grill to access the speaker, pulling the speaker out of the cavity in which it sits, and then unwiring and rewiring the new speaker, and placing the grill on again. Your best bet at doing this successfully is by actually buying a subwoofer repair kit that can save you hours of time and money—and allow you fix your subwoofer in just mere minutes.

Check out these awesome subwoofer repair kits, well priced online!

20% off fall sale at The Speaker Company. Get their T300 – 300-watt dual 10″ Aluminum Driver Subwoofer for under $304 with free shipping. Use coupon code Most15 at checkout. BTW… everything else on the site gets 20% off with the same coupon.

Check out this quick fix video:
This guy had a really nice subwoofer setup in his car, and like many other street-cruising thumpers, there came a time when he just cranked too much power for it to handle through the speaker, resulting a blown subwoofer. But due to his prowess he was able to figure out a way to actually repair the subwoofer and get it working again. Check out the video below, we think that you will find it helpful in your plights on subwoofer repair.

Best Home Theatre Bass Subwoofer for the Bucks

Speakers Fan — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:54:02 +0000

The best known secret in the home audio business, which you will never hear any salesman at any store let you in on, is that spending more money does not necessarily equate to a better product. In fact, generally most people are spending money to own a brand name and nothing more. In many cases the speakers in many home theatre setups are standard fare speakers that quite often are made by other companies who sell them to the manufacturer that stamps them with the brand name that you shell out so many dollars to own. Case and point: don’t be a brand snob, brand names are only names. It’s what’s inside that truly counts.

Take the newest bass subwoofer series to make its debut by The Speaker Company, a leader in providing exceptional speakers at an amazing value, generally half the price of their competitors and more feature-laden. They plan on unveiling the ASW-8 powered subwoofer for home theatres this fall, and you would not be able to find a better deal on subs if you tried.

ASW-8 powered subwoofer
Featuring a flared bass reflex port that will really pound those all too sought after low frequencies around the room like you never have heard before. This 100-watt self powered unit is sure to get the job done on even the most demanding of action films without draining all of the power from your amplifier in the process. Using their signature BASH amplification technology, you will truly hear clear and audible 100-watts of sound that can easily shake the windows in your home. Utilizing internal dynamic compressors to eliminate distortion and thermal protection to prevent overheating, this subwoofer packs a serious punch for the bucks.

An 8” high excursion driver will thump even the lowest tones and 1.0” voice coil will assist. As their website states, “All of these high performance attributes combine to create the magic of a small drive unit operating in a piston like fashion with linear behavior.” This is exactly what you will get with this sleek sub which comes in a nice veneered wood box. Amazingly priced online for about $99.00 – and they are offering free shipping both ways. So even if you change your mind you can send it back within 30-days and they will refund all your dollars, no questions asked, and they will pay the return shipping as well. And you can’t beat that!

Features & Specs:
• BASH® amplifier technology
• 50w RMS/100w Peak power rating
• Vented (Bass Reflex) enclosure
• Rigid MDF construction
• Flared bass reflex port
• High density 5/8” (15mm) MDF construction
• 8” high excursion driver
• 1.0” voice coil
• 18oz. ferrite magnet
• 40-150Hz adjustable low pass crossover
• Independent level adjustment
• 0/180° phase switch
• Selectable “ON” or “AUTO” modes
• Operates on 110VAC
• Free shipping
• Free 30-day in-home trial
• Free return shipping
• 2 year warranty

How to Select the Right Home Audio System for Your Needs (Part One)

Speakers Fan — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:01:47 +0000

We have commonly heard people fretting over what the best home audio system is for their residence. Many times we see people run out to the store and purchase an illustrious system that costs thousands of dollars and they will never even get to enjoy half of the features or the true spectrum of sound that the system is capable of. Essentially, we feel, this is money that is wasted. So, instead, we decided to create this multi-part blog about how to select the right home audio system for your needs, and with a budget in mind. No more over-buying that tower of speakers that you will never use half the power of. Learn how to shop for and purchase the right home audio system for your needs, on your budget, and start enjoying true home cinema today.

Determining your needs
Before you run out to the store and spend all of your hard earned loot on the home audio system that you may not really need, the first step is determining exactly what your home audio needs truly are. What type of a home do you live in: apartment, condo, house, mansion and so on? Obviously, those with a smaller domicile are going to need a system that delivers less power and takes up far less space than those whose living room has thirty foot tall ceilings.

How to Determine What you Need

Deciding on the speakers
Take this into consideration. You want at least 50-watts of power per speaker and you want a subwoofer that has its own power supply so that it does not drain power from your amplifier. Generally smaller rooms will be louder than a war with 50-watts pumping out the speakers. But medium-sized and larger rooms and rooms that have vaulted ceilings are going to require a bit more amps to really sound good. For a medium-sized room considered a 100-watts per speaker and a 150-watt subwoofer and for those monster living rooms with vaulted ceilings consider 150-watts+ per speaker and a monstrous, booming 250-watt sub.

More Speaker Tips

The Bottom Line
You never want to spend more than you have to for more than you need, that is just wasting money. Buy assuring that you are buying the power outputs that you need, you will both maximize your listening experience and minimize the impact of your purchase on your budget. We will delve into how to find deals on speakers and equipment in ‘Part Two’ of this blog. For now, just keep in mind that more is not necessarily better. And that name-brands offer about the same quality as less-known brands that charge less and equally deliver.

Get More FREE Home Audio Advice Here

Video Advice and Tips on Shopping for a Home Audio Theatre System
This shopping professional demonstrates the ins and the outs, the dos and the don’ts when it comes to shopping for and finding the best deals on the best home audio and or home theatre systems for your needs. Don’t let yourself fall pretty to the high prices of the local retail juggernauts. Instead, take this guy’s advice and learn how to find the best deals that can ever be found, the highest quality home audio equipment to be found. And kick back, and enjoy the best home audio experience that you money can buy you.

How to Choose a Subwoofer for Your Home Theatre

Speakers Fan — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:18:25 +0000

Many people run out to the store and buy a mismatched home theatre system, not knowing what they may indeed be missing out on. When indeed there are vast differences between all home theatre systems and speakers. The best way to know that you are truly making a smart purchase when you are choosing the best speaker setup for your home theatre system, including the all important bass subwoofer, which can really bring a flare of life to your movie viewing experience, your best bet is to read reviews and know how to buy a good bass subwoofer.

Choosing the right subwoofer for your system

When choosing a subwoofer you want to make sure that the impedance and the ohms match the same rating on your receiver and or your home theatre power amplifier. Always read the instructions on the box and look for the required system settings and configurations so you can match those with the bass subwoofer that you are planning on adding to complete your home theatre setup. Improperly matched components can lead to reduced audio clarity, poor signal strength, and or the bass subwoofer not working properly. Always read the matching components and make sure that they meet the requirements set forth by the power amplifier or receiver that you are using.

Good bass subwoofers will usually meet these minimum requirements:

Included crossover that will send the lower frequencies to the woofer cone
A separate power source on the subwoofer that powers it solely with at least 100-watts and does not take away from the power of the amplifier or the other speakers
At least an 8” or larger driver in the subwoofer that can really hit those low notes and frequencies and bring your movies to life

How does adding a subwoofer increase your listening experience?

Adding a good bass subwoofer, like these ones, to your home theatre will really add a quality of sound to your setup that you have been missing out on. Imagine hearing action movies with deafening bass booms and real audio clarity? What about gunfire and buildings crumbling, explosions and all other things fantastic in movies? A bass subwoofer will really bring these sounds to life.

Check out this cool subwoofer test

This nifty video that we found on Youtube.com is a home video of a duo testing several popular home and car audio subwoofers. Some make the cut and others fail the test. But all in all, it gives you a really good idea of what the top audio nuts are currently lauding as the best subwoofers on the market today, for both home and car.

One Car Subwoofer Amp That Will Blow Your Trunk off the Hinges

Speakers Fan — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:58:06 +0000

Boy have we got some power in store for you today, friendly readers. After sifting through much clutter on the internet, trying to find the best car amplifiers available for the lowest price for your dollar, we are pleased to say that we have found another nifty model that easily makes the cut for our list. We are talking screaming amounts of power here, to the tune of 1600-watts. Yes that’s a lot of freaking power. And keep in mind that the more you know about amplifiers the better you will fare when whipping out your wallet to purchase one. So always remember to try and find product reviews before you buy, so you don’t have to return your purchase, or worse, deal with a shoddy amp and a sub par sound.

Vibe Channel 1600 Watts High Power MOSFET Amplifier
This nifty, affordable and easy to install amplifier by Vibe comes with all of the bells and whistles, no joke. Featuring a four channel system delivering 4×100 watts at 4 ohms, or 2×400, or even 4×175, the possibilities are quite literally endless when you choose to vibe your trunk with this affordable beauty. You don’t have to worry about a costly wire fire either, as the MOSFET monitors the surges from the battery and will automatically switch in between the different power modes to best deliver sound and power that you want, without becoming a smoking gun in your trunk. Gold plated inputs and a tri-mode are other added pluses, not to mention this puppy comes with a bass subwoofer remote control. So no more turning knobs and guessing in the back of your trunk, adjust your bass levels as you cruise in style! Well priced online from about: $200.00

Specs:
• 4×100 Watts + 1×200 Watts RMS at 4 Ohms
• 4×200 Watts+1×400 Watts Max at 4 Ohms
• 2 x 400 Watts + 1×800 Watts Max at 4 Ohms Bridged
• 4 x 175 Watts + 1×375 Watts at 2 Ohms
• MOSFET Automatically Switches to Maintain Rated Power Over a Wide Range of Battery Voltages
• Stiffly Regulated PWM-Type Power Supplies
• Variable Input Level Controls for Each Pair of Cannels
• Variable High & Low Pass Crossover Controls
• High-Efficiency, Heavy Aluminum Heatsink
• Remote Subwoofer Bass Control
• Electronic Crossover Network
• Bass Boost Circuit
• Bridgeable at 4 Ohms
• 2 Ohm Stereo Stable
• Tri-Mode Capable
• Gold RCA Inputs
• Power & Protection LED Indicators
• Advanced Protection Circuitry
• Soft Turn On/Off
• Frequency Response: 15 Hz-35 kHz
• S/N Ratio: 90 dB
• Dimensions: 10.25″W x 2″H x 24″L

But wait…before you run out to the local car audio superstore, or log into your net shopping account, make sure that you are armed with the proper knowledge of what to look for in qualify car amplifiers. The last thing you want to do is buy the wrong power amplifier and blow your bass subwoofer out of the box. Make sure to always try and find car amplifier reviews online so you can make the best educated purchase.

Resources on How to Build Your Own Subwoofer Box

Speakers Fan — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:22:10 +0000

Have you ever seen a car that had en entirely customized bass subwoofer box inside of it? You know one that was flush and carpeted, ported and glass covered, fitting ever so snugly into the bed of the trunk, the backseat, or wherever. Unfortunately for many avid bass fans, these types of boxes are not typically available for purchase as most of them tend to be custom creations. However, this does not mean that with a little bit of mechanical know-how that you can not create your own street thumper, and for not nearly as much money as you may think. Use these free resources to learn how to build your own custom speaker box and wow your friends tomorrow.

How much will it cost you?
Building your own bass subwoofer box can be costlier depending upon where you purchase the supplies that you need. Generally, the local hardware store will offer decent deals and values on the necessary supplies. However, it is always recommended that you shop around for them to make sure that you are getting the best deal. Keep in mind that you need not spend a small fortune acquiring the supplies that will yield to you an entirely custom bass box.

What materials are ideal?
There is a rather lengthy list of materials that you will need in order to effectively construct that thumping bass subwoofer box that you so desire. Your best bet is to create a list and try your hand at the local hardware store, and shop around for the best deals on the supplies that you will need. To get you started, here is a basic supplies list that you will require to construct that box:

• Disposable gloves
• Respirator
• Cardboard
• Resin
• Several Yards of Mat
• Putty knife
• Brushes
• Mixing containers
• Plastic protection
• Chopped glass
• Band Saw
• Belt Sander
• Air Board
• Sander/DA sander
• Body Filler
• Quart containers
• Mixing Sticks
• Catalyst dispenser
• MM syringes
• Butcher Paper

Step-by-step: how to build bass subwoofer boxes (Uses Above Supplies List)
Detailed instructions on how to build your own bass subwoofer box from start to finish, and for not nearly as much money as you may think that it is going to cost you.

Books on how to build bass subwoofer boxes
$6 ‘How To’ manual that guides you step by step on how to build your own bass subwoofer box, this manual is a bestseller and is written for people who have no idea how to build anything.

Forums on how to build bass subwoofer boxes
These awesome forums are constantly being updated with tons of useful information that will allow anybody who is willing the ability to learn exactly how to build their own bass subwoofer box from scratch.

Helpful videos on how to build a subwoofer box

This awesome video demonstrates step-by-step how to properly construct an excellent sounding bass subwoofer box and car audio speaker box.

An expert demonstrates exactly what you will need and precisely how it is done when it comes to properly constructing that bass subwoofer box of your dreams.