Blown Speakers: What to Do?

[Jack Russell]

I have some JBL near-field monitors that are now blown. Here are some rather nitwit questions:

1) When a speaker is blown isn't the cone ripped? I can see no rip anywhere. So what would make them sound like crap when the volumn goes up?

2) Once blown, is there a way to repair them, or would that cost more than getting new ones?

That didn't hurt, did it?

[COOLCAT]

http://www.speakerdoctor.com/speaker_repair_faq.html

http://www.simplyspeakers.com/16reconing.htm

[giraffe]

Originally Posted by Jack Russell

I have some JBL near-field monitors that are now blown. Here are some rather nitwit questions:

1) When a speaker is blown isn't the cone ripped? I can see no rip anywhere. So what would make them sound like crap when the volumn goes up?

2) Once blown, is there a way to repair them, or would that cost more than getting new ones?

That didn't hurt, did it?

1) not ripped, blown. the wire coil heated up and melted (something like that, actually not exactly sure about that)
2) can be repaired, probably not worth it unless they were very expensive to begin with.

www.maddisound.com
they kick ass, and will match your speakers for you. (raw replacement speakers)
very helpful and knowledgeable.

[stevetat]

Originally Posted by Jack Russell

I have some JBL near-field monitors that are now blown. Here are some rather nitwit questions:

1) When a speaker is blown isn't the cone ripped? I can see no rip anywhere. So what would make them sound like crap when the volumn goes up?

2) Once blown, is there a way to repair them, or would that cost more than getting new ones?

If they're sounding OK at low volume but crappy at high volume, then something has probably happened to the alignment of the voice coil in the magnet's air gap. It could be any number of things but once a misalignment occurs, it's usually time for a recone or replacement speaker.

If you go the route of a recone, make sure that you're getting a recone kit from JBL and not some cheap-o aftermarket kit. Changing the weight of the cone, DCR of the voice coil, inductance of the voice coil, cone/surround material etc. can create drastic changes in the sonic signature of the driver.

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide if a recone, replacement or purchase of new monitors is most cost effective. Don't be intimidated by a re-cone...it's a simple process.

[Jack Russell]

Thanks guys!

I had no idea.