I think I have a bad rear speaker

[louiegz]

I got in my Q this afternoon and I started to get some buzzing from my right rear speaker. I'll see if this is just temporary, but I realize these speakers are old and anything could happen. It worked fine this morning. What speakers do you guys recommend replacing with if I have to replace?

[Q45tech]

The 10 electrolytic capacitors in the on speaker amplifier have a limited life depending on local temp extremes and power level stress...........10 years is about it between rebuilds.

Buying Junkyard replacements doesn't accomplish much as they are as old as your units.

Usually ~~~$100 per speaker new cone plus rebuilt electronics.......you take them out ship and reinstall the repaired units.

If you plan on keeping car for awile do both rears at the same time saving the hassle of pulling things apart., again.

[96Qowner]

And if you're gonna replace the speakers with non-Bose, you'll have to replace the head unit, too. The Bose are self-amped. I'll let others pipe up with whatever they like best. I'm fine with the Bose sound (albeit underpowered).

Q45tech: Can the average guy replace the capacitors himself?

Oh, and qsiguy is in the business and probably has some great ideas.

[Q45tech]

Average guy with electronics repair training [military, trade school, or experienced hobbist] and proper tools. Someone who has done a few hundred successful soldering jobs on tiny pads.

Soldering copper pipes in basement doesn't count here.

Ordering the proper 10 caps can cost $30 in such low quanities [no radio shack junk].............$80-100 by an experienced tech + a new speaker cone seems like a deal to me.

I wouldn't waste my time and I am a BSEE with 45 years of soldering experience.

One mistake and you trash the board and don't know it until you reinstall.

[maxnix]

And if you're gonna replace the speakers with non-Bose, you'll have to replace the head unit, too.

And the speaker wires.

http://carstereohelp.com/stere...o.htm

and

http://carstereohelp.com/bose.htm

[Jesda]

Infinity Kappas are a good choice for the Bose system.

[elwesso]

you can put together a good aftermarket sound system for the cost of rebuilding 2 amps and speakers for bose...

If the bose is working good, i say keep it, otherwise ditch it.

[Q45tech]

An interesting concept might be a mix and match non oem rear 6x9 [with tweeters] with a non oem rear stereo amp plus equalizer to match rear to front.

Few people use a test CD or cassette or oscillator driving a FM modulator and acoustic spectrum analyser to properly tune a system.

Every human has a different ear response to sound level and frequency so what sounds good to most is often very wrong. All it takes is a few concerts or a pair of loud headphones to ruin your hearing forever.

Bose was tuned for moderate semi classical music as appropriate to a middle aged rich guy [new car buyers in 90's] ............thus the need for equalizer.

[maxnix]

Bose was tuned for moderate semi classical music as appropriate to a middle aged rich guy [new car buyers in 90's] ............thus the need for equalizer.

Obtaining a flat, non-distorted frequency response in a car is very difficult because of the acoustical environment and even the difference in height of a potential listener's ear. Throw in another passenger and everything changes radically.

An idea of how bad most installation shops are is go go into their demonstration rooms and listen to thumpa thumpa bass at a full 10% or higher distortion. But so few of the younger generation have ever heard acoustical intruments without amplification, they have no idea how live music should sound.

Not that far removed from K&N and thier ilk who want to sell you a worse functioning air filter or CAI because it sounds and feels so cool.

Few want to see the real data.