Hey all,

First..sorry to ask a question I'm sure has come up before..and I have done research before posting this but have yet to find the definitive steps to take to problem solve my issue...so...here goes what is probably obvious to many of you:

Had a JL 320 amp installed, front and rear speakers as well, nothing crazy but nothing junk, and all was well for about four months....then I started getting crackling and popping in the right rear speaker...

The shop that did the install just tried switching the RCA's from left to right for the rear channel on the amp..and the crackling is still in the right rear speaker.

ONCE..the crackling happening through all four speakers...and once or twice I got crackling in both rear speakers...but by and large it's just the right rear speaker..and lately...strictly the right rear speaker.

Now...my deck is an Alpine IDA-X305s with detachable faceplate...when the crackling happens I can just detach the face, reseat it, and that will change the amount and/or presence of the crackling...sometimes it clears the crackling, sometimes it then comes back before too long, sometimes it doesn't clear the crackling so I just detach it again and start over...

Lately it seems to be getting slightly more consistent in crackling versus quiet.

NOTE: I ALSO have an EQ hooked up below the deck, a very good one that gets rave reviews and truly enhanced the smoothness of the sound out of my Alpine deck, which was already good audio. Plus the controls add a very good quality of control to the sound.

Also in the car is a $50 Boss amp and a 10" Alpine $50 sub in a sealed box I built that sounds very very good. Would that have anything to do with the crackling? The shop is saying it CANNOT be the wiring since wires don't make crackling, but internet input seems to contradict this...

Your help greatly appreciated, as I really want to resolve this and put it to rest for a number of reasons.

Oh..I don't crank the audio, so I don't think my rear speaker is blown, but who knows...I know it can happen, but I haven't taken out all the panels to unseat the rear speaker and put in a different one...I will though if need be, but thought the collective expertise on this forum might be able to steer me better than my own wild guessing.

Thanks sincerely,

Saved

 

Some possible causes for popping/crackling from your speaker(s):

- The speaker wires are shorting together
- A speaker wire is shorting to chassis ground
- Voice coil is shot in the speaker
- A loose connection
- An internal fault in the head unit (HU)

The problem may also be a combination of the above.

I would seek help from a professional installer unless you are skilled using electronic diagnostic instruments. A reputable audio installer can determine if the problem is caused by wiring in just a few minutes.

--Spike

 

Spike...thank you....very much.

I'll take your advice and have a shop look at it, was hoping I could do some of the steps myself, like swapping out a rear speaker, so I don't have to pay for the labor of that step.

QUESTION: I used a reputable shop to install everything, and when I turn off the car I get a loud pop out of my speakers....could that have blown a voice coil in my rear speaker?

I asked the shop about it and they say no way can that pop hurt a speaker, that it's normal...there was a pause in the conversation and it was offered that "I guess we could put a delay on it, they're like $20"....but in my reading online it seems that the pop-sound-on-turnoff CAN hurt the speakers...

Any thoughts?

Saved

 

The “pop” noise is coming from the speaker’s voice coils. I’m not certain of the exact mechanics here, but it has something to do with a sudden loss of power from the amplifier. The amp should be wired so that it does not shut off instantly (which causes the “pop”). I think that is what you mention in your last message.

Also… Notice there is a delay when the amplifier turns on. That is deliberate to prevent the “pop” at startup.

I would have your installer wire a delay for the amplifier. They should have done that during the initial installation. It’s my understanding that a loud pop can damage the speaker’s voice coils.

--Spike