For some time now, I have been listening to my audio files with absolutely no bass! Today, I decided to open up the woofer and have a look inside. This is what I found.

Is it possible to get a speaker to replace the broken one, so I don't have to replace the whole speaker set. The sub produces cracking sounds when soldered, so that option is out of the question.

If it is possible, where can I get a new sub woofer speaker?

The speaker is about 5" with 30W max output power!

Please help!

[EDIT]
Changed "base" to "bass" on the first line
[/EDIT]

If the cone and the suspension are not damaged, fixing can restore full funcionality.
A well done "bridge" works 100%.

IMHO, no need to replace the speaker.
This kind of broken wire is very common, specially in subwoofers.
I recommend you to check both contacts, since other one must be almost broken too.
Find any "old" speaker(full range, woofer) and remove both wires.
Cut off 1 or 2 millimetres from all edges, to avoid using stressed portions.
Make a "bridge" between the terminal and the broken wire.
The bridge must be long enough to let the cone move freely, but it will never touch metalic parts or the cone itself.
(Many times the broken wires are results of bad assembling lines, when they solder the wire too tied)
Always use a small iron (around 20watts), and try not to heat up the wires over the necessary.
I hope it helps.

LIF

Edit: After typing and posting in a rush, I've found the text was little messed up. I made some cuts here and there, but this "final version" looks and spells better.

THere are parts dealers who can help.

One is: http://www.madisound.com/

Poke around the site, there is a link for replacing broken speakers.
You will need not just the exact size of the woofer, but also the size of the box
it is in and if it has a port (vent hole) the measurements of that.

edit: You mention a cracking sound when soldered. Is that a) after you soldered the wire back on,
or b) when you are actually touching the iron to the wire?

a) Could be something else broken in the speaker suspension which lead to the broken wire.

b) Probaby induced by voltage on the iron tip. Short the leads together with a clip lead while
soldering.

I don't think anything else is broken, but there could be a problem with the other side of the wire which is connected to the black cone!!!



When I tried the soldering before, I only soldered the broken wire. So i will try your method with both wires.



Thanks, I will have a look around here!



After I soldered the wire back on!

[EDIT]
The crackling was coming from the sub-woofer and not the satelite speakers?
[/EDIT]

Thanks for the useful link and tips LIF and DonP

FYI, low frequency speaker boxes (enclosures) are tuned for the electromechanical properties of the woofer driver (cones). Ideally you would need to find another 5" driver with the same Thiele-Small paramaters (electromechanical characteristics). This is why DonP pointed out that you need the box dimensions to try to find the best matching woofer. With a mismatch, if you're not too picky you may not notice a difference, but a poorly matched cone could sound very boomy or thin or much quieter depending on the mismatch with the box.

Always best to try to get the OEM replacement part first, next try to match the cone as closely as possible, then third (last option) is to just put the same size woofer in there and hope for the best.

I believe that Madisound may be able to help you match the cone.

Good opportunity to bite the bullet and upgrade to better boxes (speakers).

I want to try and repair it first. If I am unsuccessful, I will consider buying a new speaker for the box, or go all the way and get a new speaker system!

Anyway, What if the connection is weakening from here! That could be the reason why it was crackling the first time a soldered the broken wire!

I don't think it's possible to repair that part, or is it possible!!!

You are from the UK aren't you jenny?

If so, then maplin electronics, www.maplin.co.uk sell (or at least used to) replacment speaker cones, you can order online and they have a ton of stores. I made a bass guitar cab with a big 18" they sold!

Give them a try if ya like,

Cheers,

Kristian

/EDIT

Also, no, it would be very difficult to repair the fault if its on the cone, those wires are usually expoxied or glued on, and there's not much you can do at all.

I think I might try them out

Thanks for all the help

I went to maplin but they said "no" they no longer have replacement speakers!

I decided to buy a good quality soldering kit, and managed to solder the wires. It now works almost as new

[EDIT] The soldering looks disgusting! :x [/EDIT]