Can a "Blown" Midrange Still Have Output?

dako · Post by **dako** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:50 am

I noticed something kind of "off" the last few days with the front stage of my setup...Like hardly anything coming from the RH-side RSD65cs midrange, and no matter the amount of time correction, things were still sounding whacked out. I never crank my stereo beyond its capabilities, so it seems strange that this thing would go out. But hey, anything can happen right? Moisture maybe?

I tested it during lunch today, just turning off the sub and doing a L/R balance comparison. The left door definitely is there, full punchy midbass. After switching to the right door, you mostly hear the tweeter and what sounds like a very limited frequency coming from the midrange itself. Almost like you're listening to crappy AM radio.

Is it possible this thing is blown? When I get home, I'm going to switch the L/R wires coming from the amp, and I hope to crap it's not the 600.4 going out on me.

Any other suggestions? I won't be able to rip the inner door panel off until the weekend, and I've already ordered a new set of RSD65cs comps, but I can't help wonder what the heck caused this.

Post by **stipud** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:53 am

Could be as simple as a wire shorting out. Trying your other channel on the amp is also a good idea, but if it was broken your tweeter would sound like crap as well.

Post by **ttocs** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:57 am

as he said it could be a bunch of things but could also be a blown speaker.

dako · Post by **dako** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:58 am

Oh, I should've mentioned, I've got the comp set running active, and all channels with the exception of the RF (tweeter is running off of RR) sound absolutely fine. I think I'll also DMM the leads on the amp and see if they're outputting a close to equal voltage.

I'll definitely check the door wiring when I get a chance this weekend. I'm really hoping it's something that can be fixed and I'll keep the new comp set as a backup.

Post by **Eric D** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:13 am

You could try playing a 1Khz tone at low levels to see if the right sounds the same as the left.

dako · Post by **dako** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:29 am

Good idea. I didn't even think of running a test tone. I've got a list of about 10 things to check. Hopefully something pans out. Thanks for the ideas guys.

dako · Post by **dako** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:42 pm

Ran through a bunch of stuff, and finally took the door panel off this evening to find QTY. 1 fried midrange. Luckily, I've got a new set of comps arriving tomorrow, and I think for good measure I'm going to replace both L and R.

Post by **smgreen20** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:19 am

But yes even though one is fried, it'll still try to play. It might not move much at all which is why you hear higher freqs from it. It could move a lot and sound scratchy. I've seen both.

But it looks as if you've got everything under control.

dako · Post by **dako** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 8:29 am

the LH speaker was rubbing and making that scratchy noise, so i'm glad i swapped both out. the RH was completely seized up! everything sounds a LOT better now.

waynehead · Post by **waynehead** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 8:33 am

you sure you arent sending a clipped signal to them.

dako · Post by **dako** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 9:57 am

yep, I used a DMM a long time ago when I did the install and set the amp to the proper gain relating to the voltage calculations. They ran well for about a year and a half, so I can't get too bummed out. We had a LOT of heavy rain here in FL the last couple months, so I wonder if some got down there in the doors and caused havoc?

waynehead · Post by **waynehead** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 1:06 pm

That is probably a good possibility. Hope i get a year and a half out of mine. With the price I paid for them that would be awesome.

reallyxxxxxxloud · Post by **reallyxxxxxxloud** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:15 am

Matching your gains means jack shit these days other than to give you a reference point- due to the compression and recording levels of CDs. What maybe full volume on one CD (say 26 on stereo) is now at a lesser volume on another CD (say 20). And water would cause a speaker short and cause your amp to go into protection-hopefully it has this... The speaker windings are covered in a varnish so water can't cause a short unless its worn right through, I doubt it. I've ran a service department for a Australasian Brand Fusion. All blown drivers have always been the customers fault due to over powering or clipping- If not you would have Amp damage as well...

reallyxxxxxxloud · Post by **reallyxxxxxxloud** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:17 am

waynehead wrote:That is probably a good possibility. Hope i get a year and a half out of mine. With the price I paid for them that would be awesome.

If you never clip a speaker the V/C should last a life time. I've had my Diamonds for 12-15 years...