Audio Speaker Repair - Basic Construction Is The Same, But Materials Vary Widely

Repairing an audio speaker may mean any number of things. For most of the common repairs a speaker can be repaired very inexpensively. The only non-repairable damage that a speaker may sustain is if the speaker is dropped onto a hard surface causing the speaker itself to bend or the magnet to break. Some speakers are so inexpensive, however, that it does not make sense to invest time and a small amount of money to repair the speaker.

In order to understand what damage is repairable by the average audio listener, a lesson in audio speaker anatomy is needed. With reasonably decent speakers which have a removable face grille, it is simple to identify most of the repairable materials without removing the speaker from the enclosure, or box. Whether the speaker is round or oval the anatomy will still be the same.

The majority of speakers on the market have the same basic anatomy. Although the materials may differ from plastic or cork to butyl rubber, the construction should follow this basic design. When inspecting the speaker itself, the audio listener will see a gasket material surrounding the edge of the speaker. Sandwiched between the gasket and the metal frame of the speaker, commonly referred to as the basket, the surround will be visible. The surround looks like a ridged ring along the outside edge of the speaker. The cone, which can be made of a variety of materials such as wood, rubber, paper and so on, is the funnel shaped piece which slopes down towards the center of the speaker. At the center of the speaker will be a dust cap, which can be any color. Silver or black are very common colors for the dust cap.

If the basket has received damage, such as being bent or cracked, stop the repair process immediately and do not waste your time. Find a replacement or buy a new speaker. There are several excellent companies on the internet which can provide new speakers, whole new assembled enclosures and speaker kits.

Assuming the basket is in perfect condition, replacing the surround is called re-foaming. There are different surround materials ranging from butyl rubber to compressed foam. Each material will have its own strengths. If there is any question which material should be used, it is better to keep to the original material in order to match the sister speaker.

With regards to the cone, the specific material used is crucially important. Each type of material, whether it is polypropylene, wood, carbon fiber, Kevlar, etc. has a different rigidity. The shape and depth of the cone, as well as the weight of the material will drastically affect the sound a speaker can make. If the individual is unsure, obtaining any model numbers of the unit or any numbers written on the speaker itself can aid in determining the type of materials used in construction.

Many professional repair companies or online speaker repair retailers will have access to much of the necessary information in order to affect a quality repair. Repair kits will usually have detailed instructions and the proper tools and adhesives included when purchasing a speaker repair kit. Many of the online retailers will also be quite willing to answer questions regarding the speaker in question. Use the online retailer for the resource that they are when purchasing a speaker kit or repair kit.

For more details on audio speaker repair and subwoofers, please call 651-645-7385 or visit at www.midwestspeaker.com today!

Article independently authored by Daniel Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Midwest Speaker.