Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega Electrical and Audio Help => Topic started by: duggs on 18 January 2010, 16:47:07

Title: Sound Advice ???
Post by: duggs on 18 January 2010, 16:47:07
Sometimes, especially when playing modern R&B, mp3's (via memory stick), I get sound distortion on the base in one speaker only, drivers side front which is really pi$$ing me off.

Apart from stop playing such music, which will bring my daughters estimation of me to an all time low) what if anything can I do.

Unfortunately my player (Sony Xplod) allows me to change db levels, NOT simple base/treble so to try to cut out the reverberation I'm getting should db levels be low or high...Don't laugh...I don't know !
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: Dave DND on 18 January 2010, 16:52:46
Quote
Sometimes, especially when playing modern R&B, mp3's (via memory stick), I get sound distortion on the base in one speaker only, drivers side front which is really pi$$ing me off.

Apart from stop playing such music, which will bring my daughters estimation of me to an all time low) what if anything can I do.

Unfortunately my player (Sony Xplod) allows me to change db levels, NOT simple base/treble so to try to cut out the reverberation I'm getting should db levels be low or high...Don't laugh...I don't know !

Thats a classic sign that your 8 Watt paper cone speakers in the Omega are giving up the ghost after repeated use with a 50 Watt head unit. Mess about with the dB and settings all you like, it will not cure the fault.

New speakers are needed of a wattage that is suitable for the head unit

 :y
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: duggs on 18 January 2010, 20:26:47
OOOOOOOOOOOO.....So despite the hype...the bose sound system that came with the Elite isn't really up to much then...Are you saying that the Sony Xplod is "killing" the speakers.

Perhaps I need to take a trip to a Car Audio establishment.

I have stopped the noise from the one thats causing the problem...not very scientifically though.

Stuck a piece of sticky foam on the edge of the cone, stopping it fibrating too much. Working so far BUT I'll love your advice as to what i should be looking at if the others are going to fail.
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: Dave DND on 18 January 2010, 21:05:14
Quote
OOOOOOOOOOOO.....So despite the hype...the bose sound system that came with the Elite isn't really up to much then...Are you saying that the Sony Xplod is "killing" the speakers.

Perhaps I need to take a trip to a Car Audio establishment.

I have stopped the noise from the one thats causing the problem...not very scientifically though.

Stuck a piece of sticky foam on the edge of the cone, stopping it fibrating too much. Working so far BUT I'll love your advice as to what i should be looking at if the others are going to fail.

You shouldn`t use a Sony with a BOSE amp, you will certainly be overdriving it.

Don`t ask my opinion on BOSE, you really don`t want to hear it -

but when you go to your Car Audio Dealer for a replacement set of speakers, make sure he understands that the BOSE ones need to be 2 Ohms to run with the BOSE amp, and that ordinary 4 Ohm speakers must not be used
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: duggs on 18 January 2010, 21:12:34
Hi Dave....No..the BOSE Amp has long since gone...nicked by a previous owner.

The speakers are still all in place, as installed by Vauxhall and SEEMED to be working ok with the Sony.
Your expertise would suggest only short term though..

I thought, perhaps wrongly, that the BOSE speakers would be ok with the Sony if there is no Bose amp in situ. If you suspect that they are not compatible and that all the Bose speakers will fail....what should i be looking for regarding re-newal.
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: KillerWatt on 18 January 2010, 21:16:35
Quote
Sometimes, especially when playing modern R&B, mp3's (via memory stick), I get sound distortion on the base in one speaker only, drivers side front which is really pi$$ing me off.

Apart from stop playing such music, which will bring my daughters estimation of me to an all time low) what if anything can I do.

Unfortunately my player (Sony Xplod) allows me to change db levels, NOT simple base/treble so to try to cut out the reverberation I'm getting should db levels be low or high...Don't laugh...I don't know !
Start by having the MP3 data at a very minimum of 320Kbps, along with ensuring whoever ripped it knew what they were doing with regards to levels.
However don't even think about trying to play R&B, Drum 'n' Bass, Hip Hop, House, Garage, Shed, or any other of that shit through the standard drive units - it doesn't work when you try to play it at the volume levels it was intended to be played at.
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: duggs on 18 January 2010, 22:01:04
Killerwatt !!!   Loved yer reply...thank you..especially regarding the 320Kbps.  MIGHT explain why a CD sounded ok..Radio wasn't brillient but certainly was better than the Mp3's.
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: KillerWatt on 18 January 2010, 22:11:07
Quote
Killerwatt !!!   Loved yer reply...thank you..especially regarding the 320Kbps.  MIGHT explain why a CD sounded ok..Radio wasn't brillient but certainly was better than the Mp3's.

128Kbps = AM Radio quality
225Kbps = Just about FM Radio quality
320Kbps = Still ain't CD quality, but you won't notice it in the car.
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: duggs on 18 January 2010, 22:16:11
Well that answer a lot...thx once again. Will keep an eye open for the 320's from now on.
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: Dave DND on 19 January 2010, 09:17:19
Quote
Hi Dave....No..the BOSE Amp has long since gone...nicked by a previous owner.

The speakers are still all in place, as installed by Vauxhall and SEEMED to be working ok with the Sony.
Your expertise would suggest only short term though..

I thought, perhaps wrongly, that the BOSE speakers would be ok with the Sony if there is no Bose amp in situ. If you suspect that they are not compatible and that all the Bose speakers will fail....what should i be looking for regarding re-newal.

I would check the speakers carefully, as BOSE speakers are 2 Ohm and can cause damage to an aftermarket head unit -

If your speakers are still BOSE or even the original replacement Vauxhall ones, then replacing them with a good quality set of aftermarket ones should prevent any further problems

Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: Kevin Wood on 19 January 2010, 11:47:54
Quote
Quote
Killerwatt !!!   Loved yer reply...thank you..especially regarding the 320Kbps.  MIGHT explain why a CD sounded ok..Radio wasn't brillient but certainly was better than the Mp3's.

128Kbps = AM Radio quality
225Kbps = Just about FM Radio quality
320Kbps = Still ain't CD quality, but you won't notice it in the car.

Agreed. In addition, make sure you are ripping the CDs with something decent that will also make an attempt to ensure the data is accurate. I have found EAC to be pretty good.

Some MP3 players are pretty poor though, especially when they are implemented in a head unit as an afterthought.

I do wonder if the 2 ohm Bose speakers are causing the amps in the head unit to current limit though. They certainly belong in the bin.

Kevin
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: Dave DND on 19 January 2010, 12:02:57
Quote
Agreed. In addition, make sure you are ripping the CDs with something decent that will also make an attempt to ensure the data is accurate. I have found EAC to be pretty good.

Some MP3 players are pretty poor though, especially when they are implemented in a head unit as an afterthought.

I do wonder if the 2 ohm Bose speakers are causing the amps in the head unit to current limit though. They certainly belong in the bin.

Kevin

Sorry,  Couldn`t resist   ;D
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: Dave DND on 19 January 2010, 12:08:08
Quote
I do wonder if the 2 ohm Bose speakers are causing the amps in the head unit to current limit though. They certainly belong in the bin.

Most head units will immediately go into protection mode if connected to a 2 Ohm load, and if not, would go bang way before any current limit issues were detected. Thats not to say that the head unit would be complaining and running exceptionally hot, but it would be very unlikely to consistantly point to a single speaker fault, as 99% of internal amps run the speakers in pairs, either front/rear or left/right, so if the head had failed/failing you would usually have the same fault on two speakers.

I`m still sticking with a dud / faulty speaker as my diagnosis.

Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: duggs on 19 January 2010, 20:12:45
Thank you guys....Certainly at the moment, the "sticky tape stuck on over one side of the cone" technique appears to be working. Today i've had no sound problems whatsoever....Whether it comes back with a vengence is yet to be seen.

I'll pop in to a car audio place to find out the cost of upgrading the BOSE speakers in any event.
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: Dave DND on 19 January 2010, 20:40:38
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Thank you guys....Certainly at the moment, the "sticky tape stuck on over one side of the cone" technique appears to be working. Today i've had no sound problems whatsoever....Whether it comes back with a vengence is yet to be seen.

I'll pop in to a car audio place to find out the cost of upgrading the BOSE speakers in any event.

That is a seriously bad idea and can blow the head unit very quickly.  If budget and time will not allow for an immediate replacement, then suggest to unplug the offending speaker for the time being.


Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: duggs on 19 January 2010, 22:41:34
OOOOOO..Infairness its hardly touching the cone..just a tad, taking the full movement out of the cone.

I noticed that by just resting a finger on the cone, the noise stopped. It doesn't stop the cone moving really just dulling the movement very slightly. It didn't need much for the noise to stop...Its just a bit difficult to drive with a finger stuck inside the door card.
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: Dave DND on 19 January 2010, 22:49:45
Quote
OOOOOO..Infairness its hardly touching the cone..just a tad, taking the full movement out of the cone.

I noticed that by just resting a finger on the cone, the noise stopped. It doesn't stop the cone moving really just dulling the movement very slightly. It didn't need much for the noise to stop...Its just a bit difficult to drive with a finger stuck inside the door card.

ANY RESISTANCE whatsoever can cause the head unit to fail in spectacularly expensive fasion

 :(
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: Andy H on 20 January 2010, 14:30:06
Quote
Quote
OOOOOO..Infairness its hardly touching the cone..just a tad, taking the full movement out of the cone.

I noticed that by just resting a finger on the cone, the noise stopped. It doesn't stop the cone moving really just dulling the movement very slightly. It didn't need much for the noise to stop...Its just a bit difficult to drive with a finger stuck inside the door card.

ANY RESISTANCE whatsoever can cause the head unit to fail in spectacularly expensive fasion

 :(
If the cone is pushed off centre the voice coil in the loudspeaker can rub against the permanent magnet.

When the insulation wears through the voice coil will short to the permanent magnet (and hence to ground).

POP :(
Title: Re: Sound Advice ???
Post by: duggs on 20 January 2010, 16:05:16
Here's a funny thing...I've just removed said sticky tape !!!!!   He he he he