2. tech-talk
  3. 1064756218

Help I think I blew a tweeter.

A couple of days ago I noticed the solo folk singer was coming out of the left speaker instead of the TV. After turning off the "Pure Direct," I put all the signal to one speaker and then the next. Sure enough the right speaker sounded all muddled with no treble. I've been experimenting with bi-wiring, so I disconected everything and reconnected. I opened up the speaker to see if any wires were hanging, there were none. I also switched speakers. The same speaker stayed muddled. I'm afraid I've blown a tweeter. I've never had the amp (80 wpc) up even to a third of the volume. The B&W 601's should have handled that OK. However, I do have a 17 yr. old son who uses the stereo before I get home in the afternoon. He's a drummer in a rock band.

Can you tell from my description what is wrong? If it's a blown tweeter, is that something that can be fixed, and would it be cost effective? Fortunately, I bought this first system on the cheap so I could experiment. I can afford a lot better if I have to. What do you think?
baileyje
baileyje OP
45 posts
 
Sean,

It's a good thought about the car, tv, etc. The only problem is he's already done that. This is a smart kid, he probably did this to get the stereo.
baileyje OP
45 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses. I've ordered a new tweeter. However, I've got a couple more questions. Should I be able to see some kind of damage to the tweeter? I've taken the entire unit apart and I can't see any scratch or tear or even a dent. There are two very thin wires attached to the tweeter. They seem intact. Also, when I am playing music, I have gently touched the tweeter. It does not vibrate. I expected this, but the other speaker, which seems to work fine, does not vibrate either. I suspect I just don't know what I'm looking for. I thought I would feel a vibration on the good speaker. Any thoughts?
sean
6,231 posts
 
If you've got a multimeter or continuity tester, you can check to see if the tweeter is still conducting signal. Otherwise, you are not likely to see / feel a dome tweeter moving. You are talking about minimal excursion levels that are vibrating thousands of times per second. As such, the vibrations are SO fast and SO small, you aren't likely to detect them. Sean
>
More to discover