I get it if your car speakers’ making a muffled sound even if you didn’t do anything. Or even if you, in fact, did do something, I am not here to judge. It’s only normal (and … your secret is safe with us!).
But what could’ve caused such a problem, and what can you do to solve the muffled noise coming from your car speakers?
If this is what you want to know, then keep reading. In addition, I will tell you what I do to keep my speaker in the best possible condition, free from suppressed noises.
By the end of this article, you will not have any issues with your vehicle’s sound system at all. Hopefully.
Common Reasons Why Car Speaker Sound Muffled
Want to know why your car speaker ended up with a muffled noise? I can think of a few reasons. Knowing these reasons can help to solve the issue with efficiency. Let me tell you about the causes I discovered.
When my audio sounded dampened, I checked everything only to find out that the poor power supply was the culprit.
In fact, this is one of the biggest reasons why speakers generate suppressed noise. Adjusting the bass levels helped me to identify this issue. You can’t really determine that type of sound coming from the speaker unless the volume is up.
This is why I turn it up and listen closely to identify the problem in case of this type of situation.
Another significant thing I found that ruined my speaker is dirt and obstructions. Tiny physical particles are the enemy of speakers. If they get stuck in the speaker in any way, the sound output will be greatly hampered.
In the case of my speakers, there was a layer of dirt on the speaker’s cone. Not only did it look disgusting, but it also made the speaker sound horrible as well.
Physical objects such as seeds and papers can have a similar effect. A friend of mine had a car speaker with a cone in the back (this cone sucked in the air).
At one point, a tiny seed got stuck there (hence, the example), and it prevented airflow in and out of the sound system, making a dampened noise. Yes, any type of obstruction and dirt can be detrimental.
The most common reason why any car speaker makes muffled sounds is faulty wiring.
Don’t get me wrong, but this is something that doesn’t happen on its own. I mean, come on…! It is not possible for the negative and the positive wire to be in reverse unless your car is possessed.
I am not saying that you have done it. But someone else might have unintentionally switched the connections, and as a result of that, your speaker is making muted sounds.
Similar to the previous point, your car speakers’ AV receiver setting could’ve somehow gone wrong. I’ve noticed that this happens especially with new sound systems. But this is not a significant problem. Fixing it is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.
Apart from these, there aren’t many reasons (not that I know of) behind muffled car speakers’ sound. But no matter what those reasons maybe, I am pretty sure all are related to what I’ve discussed here.
Basically, you are not missing out on anything.
How To Fix Muffled Sound from Car Speakers In The Simplest Way?
Did you know replacing a car speaker can cost you anywhere between $500 to $1,000?!
This money can be easily saved with a few easy fixes. Even when it comes to the particular problem we are dealing with, you can get your speaker up and running as if it’s brand new.
Don’t worry, it’s not difficult to do at all. In fact, most of the speakers are simple to repair. At least, I found the repairing process to be smooth sailing. Let me tell you what I do.
Firstly, I take on the easiest and simplest step: basic checkups. I just grab a screwdriver and use it to open up my car sound system.
Once the internal organs of the speaker are exposed, I examine the wirings closely. If there are any loose or stripped connections, I confidently conclude that they are the culprit.
Another common problem with wiring I usually face is the grounding issue. What’s that? It’s the situation where the speaker is plugged in a different AC port other than its designated one. You got the point…. Right?
How do I make sure that this is the cause? (don’t tell anyone, but I use my magical power… Just kidding!) I take a digital multimeter to test and detect the unusual voltage flow.
Where the reading starts to show inadequate voltage flow, I work on that particular spot. In most cases, I just replace the wire. But if I don’t find any peculiarities here, I move on to another method.
For the next problem, I go a little bit deeper into the system and look for any physical obstructions. The flashlight is a great helping hand at this point.
It shows me everything I need to see. However, it’s not only obstructions I look for. Any kind of foreign body or dust buildup can impact the sound quality of a speaker. This is why I try to identify such elements in the inner part of the system.
What do I do if I see the inside swarming with dirt? I take a can of compressed air and a small vacuum cleaner.
Firstly, I use compressed air to clear all the clogged and unclogged dust and debris.
After that, I take the vacuum cleaner, set it to its lowest setting, and run it over every inch of the speaker.
One thing I never do is set the vacuum to a higher power. This can dislocate the sensitive components of the speaker while causing a short circuit. Basically, using a high-powered vacuum cleaner will take you in deep water.
As discussed earlier, a faulty AV setting can be the invisible reason your car speaker is generating muffled sounds. If it really is the reason, then play around a bit with your car sound system settings.
Adjusting the AV settings following the user manual can fix your speaker issue just like that.
Apart from all these, you may have to deal with a blown-out speaker to get a smooth, crisp sound. But how can you tell if your car speaker has blown?
Muffled rattling or fuzziness in sound bears the bad news (you may not know that such a problem exists if you never play loud music in your car).
Though taking expert help is the best solution, it will cost you a fortune. What I do instead is I take care of the blown speaker myself.
If you ask me how I do it, I would say I just replace the whole speaker. To be honest, installing a new speaker will cost you almost the same as repairing the old one (though you do save a little amount of money if you choose the latter).
But replacement will take all the saved settings along. As a result, you will lose the system you were comfortable with. This is why, though it is a bit of pain in the neck, I repair the speaker instead of replacing it.
So how do I do it! Firstly, I take apart all the internal components of the speaker (well, not all of it). Here’s a list of the parts I remove:
- Cone
- Spider
- Dust cap
- Gasket
- Voice coil
Once removed, I clean the interior with a brush. Then I collect a new copy of all these parts. They are all available on Amazon.
You probably have already guessed what I am going to do next! Yes, now I will be assembling all these parts one by one. Firstly, I place the voice coil in the middle of the magnet. And I attach the spider to it as I set the dust cap over the voice coil.
Lastly, I use a gasket to install the cone. What do I do next? Nothing. Replacing the car speaker is now done. It takes me around $60 for each repair. Cheap… Isn’t it?
Now what? Nothing really. So far, I have not dealt with any speaker with problems other than these, and I am pretty sure you won’t have to either.
Does Your Car Speaker Require Experts’ Attention? How To Tell?
The bitter truth is, fixing something as complicated as a car speaker is the task of an expert mechanic. So it is okay if you mess up the repairing process or fail at the method I have discussed above. In my experience, I have noticed that it is better to seek professional help under certain circumstances.
Yes, it will cost you money, but it will definitely be a worthy expenditure if you think about it.
So when do I recommend you hire someone to fix your device? In the case of blown speakers, unusual sound after repairing, and if the speaker doesn’t work at all.
Well, I have already shown you how to deal with blown car speakers. But let’s just agree that it’s not a piece of cake. Messing it up is easy. So if you think you won’t be able to fix the sound system on your own, get someone else’s help.
The same goes for speakers that make muffled sounds even after you’ve done everything you could. Maybe you didn’t get the modifications right, or probably you couldn’t quite identify the problem correctly.
Whatever the reason may be, once you have dealt with all within your command, call a mechanic to look into the matter.
Finally, consider taking your speaker to an audio specialist if your car’s sound system turns mute from muffled. It means you have done something unwillingly that broke the whole system (again, not your fault!).
Now let me give you a tip. Before getting your car speaker fixed by a professional, take your time to go through your nearest options. If you do a deep search, you are sure to find the perfect service at the cut-rate.
How Can You Prevent Speakers from Having Muffled Sound?
In my opinion, the worst thing about factory car speakers is the factory car speaker itself. Unfortunately, most default car speakers (not all) produce bad sound. Even if they sound great, the quality declines with time.
The same goes for good car speakers as well. No matter what brand of car speakers you use, they will get ruined bit by bit. Unless… you take care of the speakers in the proper way.
Doing simple things can keep your speaker in a sound condition (get it what I did there!?) for decades. I am not kidding. My own car speakers will be 8 years old next month.
The first thing you should look into is the quality of the speaker itself. Test it, try it out. Or just have an expert opinion. Good speakers have all the settings synchronized without being mixed.
No, this is not something exclusive. You can get such speakers in any regular car audio shop. Just so you know…this can cost you a bit extra. But it’s totally worth it. You have my words!
When I had purchased my first car speaker, I realized that weather conditions were affecting the device. A bit of research revealed that extreme environments can result in deterioration of the internal components.
The biggest enemy of a sound unit is water. I don’t need to emphasize the matter of physical obstruction again, do I? Overall, everything out there has the potentiality of harming the speaker of your four-wheeler. Sigh!
Fortunately, I know how to protect the sound system from these factors. And it’s as straightforward as it gets. What I do is I take a few baffles and use them to cover my speakers. I won’t be surprised if you already know about this trick. But if you didn’t, then here you go!
When it comes to saving speakers from water, I take a different approach. Water can invade your speakers in two ways. Either from outside and/or from the inside of the vehicle (so obvious!).
Wait! By inside, I don’t mean spilling over your water bottle. While you need to be careful about handling that, you should take a peek at the car’s AC system as well.
If the AC filter is dirty, it will not work properly and dry the air in the car. At the same time, it can drive excessive humidity in the sound system. So yes, get your AC fixed if it’s broken or clogged.
Rain and regular car wash can damage your car speaker as well. This can only happen if the doors are not properly closed. Just slamming the door shut isn’t going to do it. Whether your cars’ interior is or isn’t safe from water vastly depends on the seal on car doors.
I make sure that my door seals are not dry yet and have enough strength to hold the door. But with time, this seal starts to crack.
When it does, I clean the seals and use lubricant on them. Lubricant adds a protective layer to the rubber and increases its durability.
This is all I do. Practicing all these points has kept my car speaker alive for more than 5 years. And now that you know all about it, your four-wheeler’s sound system will stay alive longer as well.
FAQs
While writing this article, I realized that answering every question in a single composition is impossible. But, at the same time, I understand how important it is to talk about these queries.
This is why (as I couldn’t include certain information in the main body) I have created this section where I will be tackling some common queries that I usually receive from my readers.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Blown Speaker Fixed by A Professional?
It can take around $70 to $80 to get a blown speaker fixed. Depending on the problem, the amount can increase. In most cases, blown speakers can be fixed at a cheaper price than this. All you have to do is find the perfect workshop.
What Can Be a Good Upgrade for A Car Speaker?
Any car speaker will work just fine if you take care of it. However, if you are really into music and want the best sound quality, I would recommend you get an amplifier as an upgrade.
Is it Worth It to Fix Car Speakers?
The answer is yes and no. If there are only certain issues like muffled sound of fuzzy noise, you can just get some particular components fixed and have the speaker working again. No need for a replacement here.
However, if multiple elements of the speaker are damaged or are not working well, replacing the whole speaker will be a cheaper and much better option.
When Should You Replace Your Car Speakers?
In general, car speakers go through heavy damages within 3 to 4 years. With proper care and maintenance, it is possible to extend its life to 4 more years.
Your speaker will tell you whether it is time for a replacement. The sound will get cracked, your speaker will stop mid-way, and fuzzy sound will grow day by day.
There are many insignificant signs that you live without knowing about.
My Final Take on The Issue
A car speaker can irritate you with muffled sounds due to many reasons. From a loose wire connection to a blown component, anything can happen. And now you know all about them.
The only good thing here is that you can fix these issues now and get your speaker back to work. There are both common and uncommon reasons behind the problems.
Some solution involves financial investment while others can be done with your bare hand. Whatever the case may be, have confidence, grab your tools, and just get to it.