Speakers Care
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Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2013
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Speakers Care So, I have this 2002 TA that is garage kept. 8000 miles. I take it out maybe every 6-8 weeks to run it. I believe I have replaced the sail panel subs at least twice, each side. I thought they were blowing because when I take the car out, I do like my metal ,\m/ A friend said it's actually because the car sits. Is there anything I can do to condition or care for the speakers so I don't have to buy at least one a year?
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
It doesn't seem logical that more frequent use would induce less wear or stress on an item such as this, though storage conditions (heat, humidity, etc.) might be a variable in this equation.
FWIW, I use my '98 car similar to yours; it gets driven every 4-6 weeks during the on season and sits all winter in storage, usually driven less than 500 miles per year at this point. Only 18k miles on the car total. I have not experienced any recurrent issues comparable to yours with the stock speakers, even with moderate to somewhat aggressive usage when I do take the car out.
FWIW, I use my '98 car similar to yours; it gets driven every 4-6 weeks during the on season and sits all winter in storage, usually driven less than 500 miles per year at this point. Only 18k miles on the car total. I have not experienced any recurrent issues comparable to yours with the stock speakers, even with moderate to somewhat aggressive usage when I do take the car out.
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Another thing to consider is the usage may be the problem. The biggest enemy of speakers is audio signal clipping (a specific kind of distortion) that is caused when the volume is turned up to a level that the amp can't handle cleanly. Basically, it causes the audio signal wave to be cut off (clipped) at the peaks causing abrupt changes in signal which speakers aren't designed to handle. The free solution is to reduce the volume - that will save both your speakers and your ears. The other solution is to install a more powerful amp that can handle the output level without clipping. The factory head unit, if you still have it, is a distortion producing machine - especially at high volume. Many people don't want to replace the factory system in an effort to keep the vehicle as original as possible but that would certainly improve the sound and the longevity of components.
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From: Winter Haven FL
I've found speakers that were brittle from age, but it takes a decade for that to happen. If you're blowing them every couple years you're either overpowering them or they're being damaged by the install or their mounting location. If you turn the volume down 2 notches you should be good. And remember not to touch the membrane when unpacking/installing.
Basics first, what speaker are using? Some cheaper speakers still use a paper/pulp surround as opposed to rubber or other material. Did you use the same speaker twice? Or a different one after the first set blew? Under powering a speaker is just as bad if not worse in certain cases as over powering. Are you using factory amp if equipped or aftermarket? Or using the radio amplifier to power the speakers? If using a cross over set it so those speakers don't go below a certain hz. Sometimes basic questions like this have a little more involved.
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
When technicians refer to a system being "under powered", they are saying the same thing I mentioned before - the amp isn't capable of producing a clean signal at higher output levels so the signal is clipped (distorted). It's the distortion that kills the speaker, not the lack of power. You can run such a system for years without any damage as long as you don't turn up the volume to the point where the amp starts clipping.
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Long term clipping is a result of inadequate RMS or continuous power available for the volume setting. This condition may result due to an inadequate power match between the amplifier and the speakers and desired volume levels. ... Because of this problem, clipping may damage speakers due to overheating.
clipping damage is well documented and is not a myth. Its more relevant in an application that has components that are power hungry. Everyone will talk about about proper valve train setup, but setting a proper audio system is no different in that regards. Im not talking about what I've heard from people, doing car audio before i had my drivers license, I've seen it first hand. Not trying to argue or say a system won't function being unpowered for years, but there are cases where under powering certain applications will cause failure.
clipping damage is well documented and is not a myth. Its more relevant in an application that has components that are power hungry. Everyone will talk about about proper valve train setup, but setting a proper audio system is no different in that regards. Im not talking about what I've heard from people, doing car audio before i had my drivers license, I've seen it first hand. Not trying to argue or say a system won't function being unpowered for years, but there are cases where under powering certain applications will cause failure.
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Verdad Gallardo And thd is important factor many don't look at. Just because you can by a boss amp rated at 1000 watts @2 ohms doesn't mean your actually getting close to 1000 watts, even cea compliant amps are tested outside and don't see it. But thd causes a big problem in alot causes.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2013
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Everything is factory. No mods or additions. I don't repair; I buy new. When I buy replacement speakers, I get OEM, not aftermarket. These are sail panel subs. When there is a song with heavy bass, like Comfortably Numb, for example, I can't listen. The bass is just pops. For other songs, I push the EQ down just enough to get by.
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From: Winter Haven FL
Long term clipping is a result of inadequate RMS or continuous power available for the volume setting. This condition may result due to an inadequate power match between the amplifier and the speakers and desired volume levels. ... Because of this problem, clipping may damage speakers due to overheating.
clipping damage is well documented and is not a myth. Its more relevant in an application that has components that are power hungry. Everyone will talk about about proper valve train setup, but setting a proper audio system is no different in that regards. Im not talking about what I've heard from people, doing car audio before i had my drivers license, I've seen it first hand. Not trying to argue or say a system won't function being unpowered for years, but there are cases where under powering certain applications will cause failure.
clipping damage is well documented and is not a myth. Its more relevant in an application that has components that are power hungry. Everyone will talk about about proper valve train setup, but setting a proper audio system is no different in that regards. Im not talking about what I've heard from people, doing car audio before i had my drivers license, I've seen it first hand. Not trying to argue or say a system won't function being unpowered for years, but there are cases where under powering certain applications will cause failure.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Winter Haven FL
Everything is factory. No mods or additions. I don't repair; I buy new. When I buy replacement speakers, I get OEM, not aftermarket. These are sail panel subs. When there is a song with heavy bass, like Comfortably Numb, for example, I can't listen. The bass is just pops. For other songs, I push the EQ down just enough to get by.
You just said exactly what whitebird said. The volume goes up and that sends a signal for more power which is beyond what the speaker can reach or maintain. That's exactly what overpowering the speaker means. Underpowering a speaker is sending a lower signal which is what happens when you turn down the volume. Turn it down low enough and the speaker doesn't even produce an audible sound anymore but it doesn't actually damage the speaker.
Set your eq levers to the midpoint and just use the volume ****. You're basically fine tuning the audio to a range that the factory speakers can't handle. Your other option is to get better speakers. Remember that GM didn't use those speakers because they're great, GM used them because they were cheap to buy in bulk.
As far as turning the volume in either direction will dictate whether it gets louder or softer is spitting out the obvious and sheds no insight whatsoever. Only thing i agree is to upgrade your speakers to avoid replacing them often and get better sound from them. Just get a nice midlevel speaker with a good rms operating range equivalent to that of what the amp is pushing out to those channels.
i won't post here anymore as it seems it gets turned into something else and google answers are better then people who actually know from experience. Good luck with your speakers.
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Im not the one who said its a myth. I was simply defending that its not a myth. Thd level plays a huge part obviously, but that doesn't mean if your running a 500 watt rms sub and pusing it with a 250 watt amp with a thd of less then <1% it wont cause issues even though the thd level really isn't a factor, pure underpowering is. You can't say its myth then say in a round about way it isnt.
Oh and by the way... I suspect I was installing stereo systems before you were born. It's not a question of "internet knowledge" although I'll be only to happy to point you to some references, if you like. But don't go away in a huff, there's plenty to learn from the experienced members on these forums.
Last edited by WhiteBird00; Jan 17, 2019 at 03:29 PM.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Everything is factory. No mods or additions. I don't repair; I buy new. When I buy replacement speakers, I get OEM, not aftermarket. These are sail panel subs. When there is a song with heavy bass, like Comfortably Numb, for example, I can't listen. The bass is just pops. For other songs, I push the EQ down just enough to get by.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Winter Haven FL
I always threaten to replace my speakers for a matched set of aftermarket and then I remember how many are in a Trans Am and I just don't want to spend the money. Of course if you keep blowing oem it makes those nice new speakers a much more financially sensible option. It's almost like you don't have any other choice 😉