Distorted audio When I first turn on my M-Audio DX-4 speakers, the bass is distorted similar to the sound of a speaker cone rubbing, After about 10 minutes, however, the distortion clears up (almost). I have had the speakers for about two years and this trouble just started happening. I wonder if one of the electrolylics could be going bad? When I first turn on the speakers, there is a slight hum that wasn't there before. This hum dissappears after about 5 seconds. Both speakers are affected and the cones are definately not rubbing. I am using a Soundblaster Audigy card coming from my computer to drive the speakers.

the distorted sound coming out of your sub-w is actually originating from your audio unit, Have your audio unit check for possible repair

Guitar amps have preamp sections (think unpowered audio mixer) and power amp sections (Crown rack-mount amp). An excellent way to isolate audio problems if amp is still producing audio is to check the preamp out (line out). Preamp output distorted = preamp failure. Connect MP3 player to "Power Amp In"...sound distorted = power amp failure. In your case the latter is the case as your "line out" is clean. Also test each speaker for clear sound as speaker cone damage from being overpowered is fairly common. At 300w. I'll assume the failure was not from cranking the volume to loud but a shorted speaker or speaker wiring could zap the power amp in an instant.

Dear Rob,
Really Thankful for the detailed description for the Speaker Repair.
It really helped me a lot. I have a unusual situation here with me. I have dissected the whole console and found the outer band of the speaker has just come off....have attached photos to make it clear. does the outer speaker cone will make a difference or i will have to replace the speakers itself.....when i checked pressing the speaker down and played the distortion had gone....but while playing without holding the distortion would come back....Hope you can help me in this situation....Thanks in Advance.....

a sbwoofer is ment for producing bass by playing low frequency notes at an amplified power. subs move air vibrating off of your trunk and creating bass. a speakeris ment to produse high and midbass frequencies. thus having a tewwter and a small woffer cone. trying to get bss out of a door speaker usually results in very bad distortion which will actually blow a speaker very easy

Blown fuses are SOLID dead circuits, not bad sound.

Try different speakers first. If the electronics was cooked it would probably be silent.

Bad news! It sounds like the coil is rubbing inside the magnet of the speaker! There's no cure, when the cone is warped it it knackers it up. Had the same problem some years ago with a Wharfedale speaker. Someone told me you can hit it on the part where the cone joins the magnet -with a hammer!
Anyway it didn't make a bit of difference! And the speaker was chucked.

If the speaker has been overdriven, it may have damaged the cone surround or damaged the speaker coil, causing it to 'rub' inside the magnet. To check for rubbing, you need to move the speaker cone backwards and forwards by hand and listen where the speaker coil/cone goes into the magnet. It should be silent if ok. If you can heara rubbing or grating noise, then the speaker is damaged. If the output driver on the amp is damaged it can give a distorted sound, which could easily happen if it tries to provide too much current.

Hello gecpimp,

It certainly sounds like the speaker has failed. Most OEM speakers have paper cones and cloth surrounds and it is not uncommon for the adhesive to give out in the vehicle environment.

The Avalon uses the "workhorse" of car audio speakers. Both front and rear are 5-1/4" and you can get great aftermarket speakers in that size. Unfortunately, no 5-1/4 speaker is really good at reproducing bass. A really good set of Focal full-range speakers, the Polyglass 130 CVX runs $300 at www.crutchfield.com. Somewhat less expensive are the JL Audio C2-525X at $180. Speakers such as these will give you the best sound. Somewhat less expensive are Alpine and Infinity, but they're still good. It would probably be a good idea while you have the door panels off, to go ahead and replace the fronts at the same time.

Hope this helps.

Check the specs on the required ohms for the speakers. If it calls for 8 ohms and your speaker is 4, then you are pulling twice the normal current and this has blown an output transistor.

No No please dont change your circuit board its in the problem of your increasing or decreasing volume button of your woffer box please try to change the button as quickly as possible because it has been got damaged....
Thank you...