Whether you’re dealing with vintage speakers, an old-school AP system, a super inexpensive Hi-Fi speaker set, or a pair of high-quality JBL professional studio monitors, there’s a good chance things are going to go bad at some point.
So if this happens to you, then don’t fear. We will show how to repair speakers to keep you spinning.
It’s during those times that you’ll have one of three options available. You can either throw the speakers away and get a new pair, pay someone to fix them for you, or fix it yourself.
Throwing a pair of speakers away really only makes sense if you’re getting them super cheap, and even then the costs can start to add up. Not only that but the speakers cheap enough to justify the cost would be so low quality, that any type of mixing or actual DJing would be entirely out of the question.
You could go through a repair service, unfortunately, you start to run into the same issues as if you were just throwing them out. Cheaper monitors will cost less than more expensive monitors.
That means, if you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on repair and labor costs, you’re going to need to buy cheaper speakers… and we already know where that leads us.
The last option is troubleshooting and repairing the speakers yourself. And, while this may seem daunting at first, most speaker repairs are surprisingly simple.
By following the guide below, you’ll gain a step-by-step understanding of how to take apart, repair, and put back together woofers, tweeters, and almost any damaged speaker setup you’re dealing with.Â
Within reason that is!
How Do Speakers Work & What Goes Wrong?
Regardless of the type of speakers you’re dealing with – home, audio, studio monitor, Electro-Voice, Cerwin Vega, KRK Systems, etc – the way that they work is by amplifying any sound generated from one part of the system to another.
This is simply done by moving the audio signals along a speaker’s cables. From there, the signal is divided into smaller parts and sent to several drivers. These drivers then convert the signal out, where they interact with the stereo cone and produce the established sounds for you to hear.
Did you get all that?
Imagine that a speaker takes the recorded signals from a CD, movie, or file, and plays it out loud. While it may seem complex, in reality, it’s just a few things happening over and over again.
The problem comes when there’s an issue. Issues cause obvious sound distortion and bad sound. If there is any improper use, damage, or faulty wiring, a speaker could stop working.
Some of these examples include a blown fuse, faulty voice coil, a blown speaker, faulty solder connection, and many others; and, though there are a lot of potential issues, the good news is that all of these issues are repairable and fairly simple to fix if you know what you’re doing.
How to Repair Speakers: Identifying The Issue
As mentioned above, there are a lot of potential issues that you could be dealing with when it comes to fixing speakers. The challenge is that, if you don’t know what you’re looking for, you could easily end up making the problem worse. Below is a way you can determine what the issue is before explaining how to fix it.
Blown Fuse
If your speaker is not making any noise, you’ll first check for a blown fuse (either electrical or thermal). To do this, you’ll first check the other components to make sure the connection is good. If everything is fine, disassemble the back enclosure and check the fuse. If it is damaged or blown, replacing it should fix the issue.
Faulty Receiver
If there is no sound coming from one speaker, check to see if there is a blown fuse. If there isn’t an issue there, the problem is most likely going to be the speaker’s receiver. This will need to be replaced to fix the problem.
Faulty Driver
If you’ve tested one of the drivers and no sound came from one of them, test the others. You can also lightly press on the cone with one of your fingers. You should notice that the voice coil moves in and out freely. If it doesn’t you know that the issue is with the driver and that it needs to be replaced.
Faulty Cable Wiring
If your sound comes out distorted or “mushy,” try to use your hand to flex the cable while the volume input is low. If, after flexing it, the sound changes or varies, simply clean the connections and replace the cables.
Faulty Cone
If the speaker’s polarity is off, use your fingers to press against the cone. If the action is anything but smooth, then you need to replace the speaker cone.
Damaged Cone
If your speakers are noisy or vibrate badly, there may be an issue with the cone, such as a small tear or a torn cone. Check it to see if there are any holes or damages. If so, simply take a repair kit to fix any damage you find.
Should I Replace My Drivers or Just Re-Cone Them?
This will largely depend on the cost of the process and what you’re willing to spend. Most common drivers, especially for cheaper systems, are relatively inexpensive to just replace. That means you can pretty much do whatever (fix yourself, hire someone, or replace outright) without it being too big of an issue.
On the other hand, larger drivers, often used in studio monitors and high-end speaker systems, are much more expensive. In these cases, I recommend finding out what you can do and what you are confident doing. If you don’t feel confident, you may need to seek a professional.
What Tools Do I Need?
You’re going to need:
- Speaker Repair Kit
- Replacement Speakers
- Wire
- Foam
- Rubber Cement
- Kraft Paper Patch
- Multimeter
These are the initial requirements. You’ll also want to get a screwdriver, pliers, a knife, and a small flashlight as well.
How To Repair Your SpeakerÂ
 Step 1: Disassemble Your Speaker Unit
- Make sure the speaker is entirely unplugged
- Remove the front grille from the speaker’s face to access the hidden drivers and crossover network. Keep in mind that grilles are secured in place via Velcro, snaps, or screws
- Unfasten the drivers. These are often screwed in from the front while others are sealed and may require a knife to cut. Keep in mind that, if it must be sealed, you’ll need to reseal it once you’re finished
- Lift the driver out from the enclosure to gain access to the wire connectors. Use pliers to carefully pull the wires out from the rear. Also keep in mind that the wires may be soldered in place rather than clipped, so you’ll need to use a knife.
- If needed, remove the crossover network as well. While the majority are accessed in the unit’s front area, others can be accessed only after the main driver is taken out
- Use the multimeter to test out the unit’s fuse to make sure it’s still working
- Use the multimeter to also test the resistance and continuity for your drivers, crossover network, as well as terminal block. Generally, each should have their resistance noted on their back (ex. 8 ohms).
- From there, simply replace all the components to their original place and fully reassemble
Step 2: Repair a Damaged Speaker Cone
- Inspect the cone and find any small holes or damage
- Once located, apply rubber cement to both the front and the back of the hole. If required, consider placing a thin piece of kraft paper over the first layer of rubber cement. This will ensure the cone doesn’t tear while it is drying
- If the cone has been torn, or if several holes are all large, you’ll need to have the driver re-conned or have the entire system replaced.
Step 3: Getting the Correct Speaker Polarity
- Ensure the speaker wires are correctly attached to the audio output device. (Red wires are positive while black wires are negative)
- Connect the wires to the speaker’s enclosure with positive meshing with positive and negative meshing with negative. This will create a richer bass.
Final Thoughts on How to Fix Speakers
We are big fans of repairing equipment first, rather than purchasing a replacement. In this article we have outlined some of the basics that you need to repair faulty speakers.
However, not all speakers will be fixable, the problem may be well out of your skillset and you may need to source some decent professional help. But saying that, we have found that many speaker repairs can be facilitated at home if you apply yourself and have a little bit of patience.
Good luck! Let us know how you get on
