Speaker blown?

[M37owner]

I noticed this weird noise - sort of like a vibration rattle (like a baseball card in the bicycle spokes sound) at low speeds. First I thought something was loose under the car, but everything is tight. After a few days I now think the noise was coming from the left rear door or LR speaker.

When I put the audio fade to "full-rear" and "full left speaker", it sounds pretty bad. Rattly and scratchy - but not the same noise I'm talking about above, and the original noise (vibration-rattle) also happens when the audio is Off. Also I don't blast the audio, so if it is blown it is not due to excessive volume.

I guess the first step is to pull the door panel off and see if there is any "physical damage" to the speaker. Maybe it is just loose.

Since the speaker sounds bad I think it will need to be replaced - but I'm wondering if the sound issue could be an electrical/wiring issue or an amp issue or something else wrong. I don't want to spend $50 for a new speaker if the problem is somewhere else.

Has anyone else had a problem like this?

Lastly, this is on a 2011 M37 with Bose audio. Thanks

[Ilya]

Do you have a video of the issue?

More than likely it's the trim in the door. These cars are notorious for having door and rear deck rattles.

[ivntng]

after buying my 13' M in november last year i thought i had the same issue, but when i pulled it apart, i found some paperclips stuck to the magnet lol

[DKASM37]

I had the same issue occur last year. First I had a tech from Infiniti take a ride with me so they could hear it for themselves. They said I needed insulation in the door and wanted to charge $150. The sound was coming from one of the rear speakers only with the audio on so I respectfully declined and took it to a reputable car audio shop instead to diagnose. Upon inspection there, they said it was a bad channel in the amplifier causing the issue so I simply had them unplug my rear speaker since I didn't feel like shelling out $600 on a new amp with installation. Problem solved and instead put that $600 toward my Stillen exhaust and Uprev tune.

[M37owner]

Very helpful. Thanks.
I post back once I figure out what is going on.

BTW- I tried to capture some sound on this but my iPhone just doesn't get it (maybe if I was in the back seat recording - or had a better app).

[Kprad12]

I noticed this weird noise - sort of like a vibration rattle (like a baseball card in the bicycle spokes sound) at low speeds. First I thought something was loose under the car, but everything is tight. After a few days I now think the noise was coming from the left rear door or LR speaker.

When I put the audio fade to "full-rear" and "full left speaker", it sounds pretty bad. Rattly and scratchy - but not the same noise I'm talking about above, and the original noise (vibration-rattle) also happens when the audio is Off. Also I don't blast the audio, so if it is blown it is not due to excessive volume.

I guess the first step is to pull the door panel off and see if there is any "physical damage" to the speaker. Maybe it is just loose.

Since the speaker sounds bad I think it will need to be replaced - but I'm wondering if the sound issue could be an electrical/wiring issue or an amp issue or something else wrong. I don't want to spend $50 for a new speaker if the problem is somewhere else.

Has anyone else had a problem like this?

Lastly, this is on a 2011 M37 with Bose audio. Thanks

My car just developed this issue in the front drivers side speaker and it is especially noticeable in heavy bass songs. Really disappointed as the car is only 3 years old hoping to take it to a dealership and might be under warranty

[M37owner]

I still have not had the time to pull the rear door panel to see what is going on - but the more I listen to this (from driver's seat) the more it sounds like the noise is coming form the speaker (with radio off) rather than a loose/rattling part.

I'm wondering if this could be the "noise control system". There is some troubleshooting steps in the manual - although not too easy read/follow. Hopefully this weekend I'll get some time to look into this.

I found this tidbit in the manual:

• The active noise control system incorporates the BOSE Engine Harmonic Cancellation (EHC)
technology.
• The active noise control system outputs an antiphase sound from the speakers (front door speaker,
rear door speaker and rear woofer) against unpleasant engine booming noise (2nd and/or 3rd engine
rev at 700
- 5000 rpm) and reduces sound pressure level by the interference with engine booming noise.
(VQ37VHR models)
• The active noise control system outputs an antiphase sound from the speakers (front door speaker,
rear door speaker and rear woofer) against unpleasant engine booming noise (4th engine rev at Idle
speed - 2500 rpm) and reduces sound pressure level by the interference with engine booming noise.
(VK56VD mod- els)
• The BOSE amp. receives an engine speed signal from ECM and receives microphone signals from the
front and rear microphone.
• The BOSE amp. receives a door state signal. The active noise control system does not operate with
any door open.
• Based on signals detected by the front and rear microphones, the BOSE amp. generates an antiphase
sound (microphone signal) weakening interior engine booming noise in real time according to a
unique algo- rithm*1 by a DSP*2 built in the BOSE amp. Then, the BOSE amp. mixes the antiphase
sound with a sound signal received from the AV control unit to transmit the mixed sound signal to each speaker.

[M37owner]

I pulled the LR door panel and nothing was loose or vibrating. I replaced the speaker. The noise (sort of a "fluttering") has not returned. I think the speaker had a problem and the "active noise cancelling" was causing the noise. At least I have not been able to recreate the noise since replacing the speaker.

BTW, in case anyone cares, there is a diagnostic mode for the audio system that tests all the connections and sends sound samples to each speaker (with engine running and audio off, you hold the "settings" button and turn the audio volume knob 40 clicks counter-clockwise, then you hear a beep and release the settings button).

My Speaker did show some signs of rust - so maybe that is why it wasn't working. I have a photo but I can't find a "upload or attachment" means on the forum.

[Malbec 56 Beast]

I noticed that my car is doing this.
It's only the rear speakers mostly the left one.
I don't think the speaker is blown cuz it's playing audio formats without distortion.

Is there a setting that we can change that eliminates this buzzing sound?

Let me know
Thanks
Andy

[reggiebrown40]

Andy, if the speaker is buzzing it's not blown but most likely has a tear in the paper cone. There is no setting to change - the system is pretty much designed to protect itself from being overdriven. Either that or there is something loose in the door that is vibrating.

[Malbec 56 Beast]

Add it to the list for when spring time.

This car is driving me crazy

Thanks

[reggiebrown40]

Same @ Driving me crazy. I have the M56 and a Q60 and both driver's doors rattle like crazy. Infiniti needs to do a better job of isolating potential rattles. Why harnesses are not foam wrapped is beyond me.

[Malbec 56 Beast]

I'm very underwealmed at the bits and pieces of Infiniti.

For God sakes they don't give these cars away. My dealer told me my car was in the high $80k if not higher and there are issues like this crap. I really don't think it's blown cuz it sounds good for the majority of the time.

Come on Nissan/Infiniti you can do better than this.

Don't let Kia and Hyundai kick your a**.

[Malbec 56 Beast]

So can we just replace the rear speakers only, leave the rest of the stereo alone. Even with the system off it does that damn noise and I want it to go away.

In going that I can get a replacement and have it function without the rattle. Any help would be appreciated. If I missed the info regarding this sorry.

Does polk, alpine or anyone else make one for us.

Andy

[reggiebrown40]

So can we just replace the rear speakers only, leave the rest of the stereo alone. Even with the system off it does that damn noise and I want it to go away.

In going that I can get a replacement and have it function without the rattle. Any help would be appreciated. If I missed the info regarding this sorry.

Does polk, alpine or anyone else make one for us.

Andy

Unfortunately you can't replace one element and expect things to be normal. Bose speakers have a weird impedance at <2 Ohms but uses extremely efficient speakers that get loud with very little wattage (10 nominal - 40 peak, actual figures)

Not many aftermarket companies make 2 Ohm car speakers and the ones that do will not match the efficiency of the factory speaker. You may barely notice they're playing if at all. Also, one thing I've noticed is that Bose factory speaker mounts rarely fit other manufacturer's speaker mounts so you may be looking at custom brackets as well.

Not sure if you've taken the door panel off yet but I'd inspect first before making any decisions. It might be something simple that's causing the rattle.