In May 2008, I replaced both of the OEM [vert-sidpanel] subwoofers on my 1997 XK8 Harmon Kardon system w/ JLAudio 6W04-JL 6.5" SVC subwoofers. Turned on the system yesterday and BOTH speakers sounded like they were torn. I can't believe both would become non-functional at the same time.

So before I go and rip out the backseat and side panels to get at these units; I like to know if there another likely culprit I can test without deconstructing the backseat? The headunit seems to work OK, the controllers, e.g., fade, bass, treble, etc. work OK. The front speakers all sound good. But the rears are that familar blat, blat, blat.

I read that Premium package has a separate amplifier in boot (trunk) with separate wires to a sub-woofer and a mid-range speaker in the same enclosures. Is this a common source of failure? How do it test it's output? Any other info is greatly appreciated. gordo

 

Well I love to answer my own questions. Both speakers were completely separated at the outside perimeter. Going to have either keep the sound down, get better speakers, or get a hearing test.

PS/ Thx Gus for your DIY How To Write UP. JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource

I see some replacement sets that include the tweeter (Harmon Kardon has an extra tweeter adjacent to the subwoofer). Has anyone experience with these sets?

 

So as a point of closure, I went to Crutchfield and got some expert advice.

Bought a pair of JL Audio C5-650cw for $320.

I mentioned the Kicker 40CWRT672 6-3/4" subwoofer and the adviser said they are 2 ohm (vs 4 ohm for JL) and each require 50 watts vs. the JLAudios 25 watts. She also said she thought the sound quality of the JL would far superior and wasn't sure the HK amp in the trunk was putting out enough power to drive the Kicker.

Not dissing anyone who is using a pair of Kickers... just saying if your speakers fail, the word from Crutchfield is JL Audio, not Kicker.

PS for those wondering why replace blown JL Audios with another JL Audio. The first ones cost $90 ea., the replacements are $160 each.

You don't always get what you pay for, but you you usually have to pay for what you get. gordo

 

If they separated at the foam surround that may be because some foam used in speaker surrounds does not hold up very well with time especially in a car environment. I'd prefer to use drivers with butyl rubber surrounds as they hold up longer.


Dave

 

I am very familiar with replacing the foam surrounds in audio speakers. My primary pair of home system audio speakers is the long-unavailable Altec Santiago Voice of the Theatre system. I purchased them new in August 1975 so they are now more than 40 years old. I love these massive speakers and will listen to them for the rest of my life. I have replaced the foam surrounds for both 18-inch woofers twice, once in 1995 and most recently in June 2011. By the way, this process is called "re-edging"....

There is a fantastic company in Florida that sells re-edging kits for many makes and models of speakers past and present:

Simply Speakers
Simply Speakers - Official Speaker Repair Page - Speaker Parts and Repair Service
(800) 511-3343

I paid about $27 for the foam re-edging kit for both of my Altecs in June 2011. This kit was created from the original Altec OEM specs by the good folks at Simply Speakers. The kit came with a new pair of flat-attach foam edges and a tube of the appropriate speaker edging glue, as well as a well-written set of step-by-step instructions. With about 90 minutes worth of work at my kitchen table on a Saturday morning, I had my Altecs sonic-booming and sounding brand-new again. Those of you whose speakers' foam edges have deteriorated would be wise to call this company with your make and model number before you go purchasing new speakers. If you can obtain the appropriate re-edging kit from them, I highly recommend that you try this first....

 

I've re-foamed many a speaker as audio has been my main hobby (and business at one time). I just ordered a kit for a pair of late 50's original AR2's.
I have been resurrecting my Dad's old mono system that got me started in audio. I have the original amp he designed and built, his Scott 331 mono tuner/preamp, his Garrard RC80 vinyl grinder and of course a single late 40's Altec VOT in the "home" refrigerator sized corner cabinet.






Dave

 

Very cool....

As you know, today's audio gear is far inferior compared to the gear designed and built in the 1960s and 1970s. Those of us who love hi-fi audio cherish our vintage gear for the rest of our lives (and must occasionally spend time on Google searching for long-since discontinued parts)....

While I love audio, I couldn't care less about video....

 

All my systems are a combination of vintage and homemade. I am still using the Empire 698 turntable I bought new around '77. I build my own tube stuff and also built my electrostat's from scratch that I use on my main system. One of my hobbies is rebuilding old studio and consumer reel to reel machines.


Dave

 

Another vintage tube and vinyl man. I thought I was the only one out there buying LPs, at flea markets, and antique stores. My 1974 Pioneer beast tuner, B.I.C. turntable, Kenwood cassette deck, Sony reel to reel, playing through KLH and Cerwin-Vega speakers, keeps my garage a true man cave, even though I don't need the music as loud since I got hearing aids in the last month. I only keep the heat and dehumidifier on in the garage, to save my old equipment, and Jaguars....Isn't life grand.....Be cool.....Mike

 

OK you old school, thread-jacking, audiophiles... I am on the other end of the technology stick. My whole house [including garage] sound system is a wireless Sonos local area network. Great sound, but a bit pricey.

 

I wasn't hijacking your thread, I was suggesting that you re-edge your existing speakers instead of replacing them....

 

I was kidding around w/ you. I like what you guys are doing w/ old audio equipment. :-)

 

Anybody remember " DCM Time Windows" which I still use along with my "DCM Time Bass" 1979 Yamaha 200 turntable and 1979 Yamaha 150 amp. Good to listen to vintage. Oh and DCM stood for "de criminalize marijuana". No time like the 70's.

 

I bought 2 pairs of DCM Time Windows in 1974 and ran them stacked. They sound way better running 2 stacked like the way Large Advents really came alive when you ran 2 pair stacked. The person that invented them and owned the company until he sold it decades ago still hangs around one of the audio forums I frequent. If you ask this guy what DCM stood for he always answers "Drug Capitol of Michigan" (The company was in Detroit).A friend of mine still uses the DCM's I sold him. The drivers were made by Philips and are no longer available even through DCM so don't burn them out especially the tweeters as there are no close replacements for them.


Dave

 

Ah, memories....

Think I'll crank up Deep Purple's "Who Do We Think We Are" on my big audio system right now and drift back to 1972 or so in my mind. I might cue up Spirit's "Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus" after that....

Rock on....

 

So many people do subs all wrong. A good design with big drivers, lots of power and either big boxes or proper baffling (at home I use infinite baffle, if interested check out "the cult of the infinite baffle) can give great results.

The right design gives you bass without the thump unless you are supposed to have thump. Many today want the base on the side of the music, not it. it.

 

You guys have forced me to remember just how old (but still great) most of my gear is. The mission-control box is a Carver 4000t.

A mad genius, Bob Carver. And great debunker of crapola audio claims and theories.

 

As I use homebrew electrostats for my main system the only subs I founf that mate well with them is "Ripole" type subs.

They work extremely well with no obvious seam between the fast electrostats and subs.

Dave

 

Spirit, Deep Purple, Allman Brothers, Bad Company and the rest of the 70's gang; best music ever as far as I'm concerned. Having all of your hearing at my age (74) is overrated.

 

Yep, the early 70s music certainly ranks up there at the top of the heap. But so do the 60s and the latter part of the 50s. I love the Beatles, the Who, Led Zep, Van Morrison, the Small Faces, Todd Rundgren, Joe Walsh, Warren Zevon, etc. as much as anyone, but I love Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, etc. just as much....

And let's face it - for phrasing, song styling, and pure sonic pleasure, it doesn't get any better than Sinatra or Mel Torme. They were in their primes when I was just a kid but man, even then I realized these guys could sing and swing like no one else....