Rebuild a tower speaker?

[cpropes2005]

Is it possible to rebuild a tower speaker? I have what I believe are a set of old wetsounds pro 60’s on my boat and one of them has started getting really bad static and popping noises so I was wondering if I could reuse the enclosure and just put a new speaker in it?

The only real function for the tower speakers for us is to get music outside of the boat loud enough to hear it while we are anchored without blasting everyone around us so the Pro60’s that came with the boat have worked well. Obviously I don’t need a huge system so I am just looking for the most economical option for repair or replacement if necessary. Any ideas?

[chpthril]

Replacement components are likely available from wet sounds. You can contact them directly, or if you have a local wet sounds dealer, they can work with you.

as for the noise, you have a mid-bass woofer, a compression tweeter and cross-over, just in the pod itself. Externally, you could have an amp or RCA cable issue.

Start by swapping the left and right RCA plugs to see if the problem moves or stays. Then swap the left and right + and - speaker leads to again see if the problem stays or moves. Finally, swap the actual pods left and right to eliminate a wiring problem and totally isolate the issue to the suspect pod. To me, static and popping sounds upstream of the pod.

[cpropes2005]

Ok, thanks for the advice. I will definitely go through the system and check all of the connections/wiring before replacing anything.

[cpropes2005]

So I finally got around to doing some testing on this. I swapped the two tower speakers and the problem stayed on the same side so that eliminated the speakers. Next I swapped the left/right speaker wire connections at the amp and the problem switched speakers so it is consistently on the right side speaker output.

I also put in all new RCA’s because I was installing an eq and needed longer cables but that didn’t change the problem.

After installing the eq I noticed another symptom. The tower speakers would play at very low volume even as I turned it up to what should be loud and eventually at some point once the volume was pretty high volume it would pop and jump to regular volume. I think this may have always been happening but since I didn’t have the eq I never tried playing only the tower speakers and the in boat speakers still got plenty loud so it covered up the problem. I think the only reason I noticed the static and popping was because it happens with no signal.

I also tested with the aux in on the eq to eliminate any type of signal issue from the head unit with no change.

Sounds like the amp is bad to me but do you guys have any other thoughts? The amp is a jl audio 300/2.

[chpthril]

Swapping pods left to right right to left = problem stayed eliminates pod
moving speaker wire on left chnl to right chnl and right chnl to left chnl = problem remained on suspect chnl eliminates wiring
3.5mm to RCA directly into amp with MP3 music source and problem was still there, eliminated upstream RCAs and head-unit.

Sounds like a bad amp

[IDBoating]

as I turned it up to what should be loud and eventually at some point once the volume was pretty high volume it would pop and jump to regular volume... I think the only reason I noticed the static and popping was because it happens with no signal.

My first impression based on these comments is a failing potentiometer ("volume control") on some component in the signal path. I presume when you say "turned it up" you are manipulating the volume on the head unit, right? Not one of the little trimpots on the amp itself. If the pot's wiper or element are dirty, you may be able to confirm this by cycling the wiper a few times. Humor me if you don't mind, and do the following:

* Note the position of the amp gain pot for the affected channel
* Turn that amp gain pot completely clockwise, then completely counterclockwise, and repeat this a few times
* Set it back to where it was when you started

...and then try your test again.

Another test is to gently turn that pot a tiny bit while the music is playing, to see if the volume jumps around as you were describing. That would also be a good indication that the pot is dirty. Either way, if you're lucky, this may resolve it for a while at no cost... this isn't a forever fix, but it can keep things working for quite a while with just a "cleaning turn" of the pot occasionally.

Hope this helps... report back!

[chpthril]

Just be sure the system is off before you turn the gain full max

[IDBoating]

Just be sure the system is off before you turn the gain full max

One would hope that is obvious, but good idea to say it out loud just in case!

[cpropes2005]

Yeah I was adjusting the volume on the hu at first and then the equalizer after I installed it. I haven't touched the gains but I will give that a try and report back. Thanks.

[talltigeguy]

Swapping pods left to right right to left = problem stayed eliminates pod
moving speaker wire on left chnl to right chnl and right chnl to left chnl = problem remained on suspect chnl eliminates wiring
3.5mm to RCA directly into amp with MP3 music source and problem was still there, eliminated upstream RCAs and head-unit.

Sounds like a bad amp

What he said...

My first impression based on these comments is a failing potentiometer ("volume control") on some component in the signal path. I presume when you say "turned it up" you are manipulating the volume on the head unit, right? Not one of the little trimpots on the amp itself. If the pot's wiper or element are dirty, you may be able to confirm this by cycling the wiper a few times. Humor me if you don't mind, and do the following:

* Note the position of the amp gain pot for the affected channel
* Turn that amp gain pot completely clockwise, then completely counterclockwise, and repeat this a few times
* Set it back to where it was when you started

...and then try your test again.

Another test is to gently turn that pot a tiny bit while the music is playing, to see if the volume jumps around as you were describing. That would also be a good indication that the pot is dirty. Either way, if you're lucky, this may resolve it for a while at no cost... this isn't a forever fix, but it can keep things working for quite a while with just a "cleaning turn" of the pot occasionally.

Hope this helps... report back!

I have been fortunate to not have had any amps fail on me. I just learned something, thanks! I would have just bought another amp right away. Sounds like when this happens, you might be able to limp along for quite a while.

[IDBoating]

I just learned something, thanks! I would have just bought another amp right away.

Those trimpots are fifty cent components stamped out in tens of thousands. Unless they specifically buy the ultra-high quality versions (likelihood: close to zero), those little mechanical nightmares have been the source of many problems for me, my clients, and my friends. The wipers and elements degrade over time, especially when they aren't exercised occasionally; they do have a sort of self-wiping action when cycled once in a while, which is why this "trick" works.

There's really no good substitute for using them in this application. But they might need a "maintenance wipe" once in a while.

[Timmy!]

But they might need a "maintenance wipe" once in a while.

So many funny things I could say about this one but I will just laugh to myself here for awhile and everyone can come up with their own.

[chpthril]

But they might need a "maintenance wipe" once in a while.

So many funny things I could say about this one but I will just laugh to myself here for awhile and everyone can come up with their own.

Fast food taco joint comes to mind

On a serious note, JL likely used a better than off the shelf component, although it still only cost them little. JL amps, along with many others, can be fixed. Without know exactly which model, its age and how long its been in use and the cost of a comparable replacement, it may be worth contacting JL about fixing it. And your "fixed" one, may just likely be one off the shelf from a previous repair. This can often speed up the turn around time.

[Timmy!]

Fast food taco joint comes to mind

ROFL!!!!

[IDBoating]

So many funny things I could say about this one but I will just laugh to myself here for awhile and everyone can come up with their own.

I thought of that when I wrote it but didn't know if anyone else would catch the humor potential....