Speaker magnet touches basket. Okay?
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From: Sheridan
My project yesterday was to install two Kenwood KFC xr600s in the doors. I am really happy with how the install went. The Kenwoods don't have quite as much bass as the OEM paper speakers, but they have a much cleaner midrange and high range. Vocal music sounds less muddy.
I got the phasing right, as far as my wife or I could tell judging by ear. Tweaking the bass control a tiny bit (about 20 deg to the right) brings the bass to where I like it.
Both speakers slipped right in, but the magnets are flush against the back of the basket. They do touch the baskets. I didn't hear any problem, but, I wonder if I should have used shims or cut the baskets.
I have no complaints about how the speakers sound, so I presume I've got nothing to worry about. Driving at 80 mph with the top down, I get much less distortion/clipping than I used to get. It used to be awful to listen to anything with much bass at 80 mph. Now it sounds fine.
Expert advice appreciated.
I got the phasing right, as far as my wife or I could tell judging by ear. Tweaking the bass control a tiny bit (about 20 deg to the right) brings the bass to where I like it.
Both speakers slipped right in, but the magnets are flush against the back of the basket. They do touch the baskets. I didn't hear any problem, but, I wonder if I should have used shims or cut the baskets.
I have no complaints about how the speakers sound, so I presume I've got nothing to worry about. Driving at 80 mph with the top down, I get much less distortion/clipping than I used to get. It used to be awful to listen to anything with much bass at 80 mph. Now it sounds fine.
Expert advice appreciated.
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From: Columbia, MD
Barry,
The magnet touching the basket isn't a problem. A problem would be the basket touching the cone
Oh, and as a side note to all those suggesting to just remove the basket altogether...bad idea! If you remove the basket, PLEASE provide some sort of protection against direct contact with the elements. I cut the back off of my basket, but glued a piece of plastic to the backside to cover the exposed magnet and coil. Don't seal the basket completely, but create a cover that will allow dripping water to roll off and away from the speaker. Leaving the back open to the air (at the bottom) allows a more free movement of the cone. I would hate to hear complaints a year or two from now about "my left speaker doesn't work anymore" because water (and minerals) got into the coil and shorted it out.
The magnet touching the basket isn't a problem. A problem would be the basket touching the cone
Oh, and as a side note to all those suggesting to just remove the basket altogether...bad idea! If you remove the basket, PLEASE provide some sort of protection against direct contact with the elements. I cut the back off of my basket, but glued a piece of plastic to the backside to cover the exposed magnet and coil. Don't seal the basket completely, but create a cover that will allow dripping water to roll off and away from the speaker. Leaving the back open to the air (at the bottom) allows a more free movement of the cone. I would hate to hear complaints a year or two from now about "my left speaker doesn't work anymore" because water (and minerals) got into the coil and shorted it out.
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From: Chapel Hill, NC
MacGyver good thoughts but...real world is that you wont hurt any speaker by cutting the basket out. Its only moisture and only very little at that. What would be a problem would be of a set of cross overs sitting in the BOTTOM of the doors where they could actually sit in water. Though if your really parinoid then go for it! Though if you look at the factory basket you got lots of slits in the basket allowing any moisture to get to the speaker.
Though taking the factory basket out would decrease your depth by about 1/2 inch. I will be making a plate for my car when I do my stereo system next week. Pictures will follow but will be scanned in.
Barry. Your ok! Its not a problem. If you hear some buzzing or something like that then you might want to investigate.
Though taking the factory basket out would decrease your depth by about 1/2 inch. I will be making a plate for my car when I do my stereo system next week. Pictures will follow but will be scanned in.
Barry. Your ok! Its not a problem. If you hear some buzzing or something like that then you might want to investigate.
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From: Columbia, MD
Jim,
Notice, however, that the slots point in the downward direction and won't (easily) allow water to get in there...gravity being what it is, and such. When I sliced up my basket, I put the plastic there to accomplish the same thing...let air in, but force water to drip along the back edge of the basket. I feel for the person who puts the basket in upside down and has suddenly created a rain-catcher
I completely agree that moisture itself isn't a problem, but standing water is. I'm always amazed at how much water actually collects inside our doors, even with the drainage holes. If you haven't done so yet, take your panels off after driving through a good rain storm for about 20 minutes and pop the basket out...I guarantee that puppy will be dripping...sad, but true. So, if you leave the basket backs open at their tops, you'll have standing water inside your SPEAKER. Definitely a no-no.
If you were REAL lucky and a few drops of water didn't collect on the coil, you'll have a nice little pool between the metal speaker frame bottom (which is open, just like the basket should be) and the cone...on the 1631's this amounts to about half an inch of water, probably similar on others. That will collect dust/grime, which will tear the you know what out of the rubber/poly cone surround from behind as you pump some good bass through it.
And you know me, I AM paranoid about Michelle, and proud of it
[Edited by MacGyver on 04-01-2001 at 12:48 PM]
Notice, however, that the slots point in the downward direction and won't (easily) allow water to get in there...gravity being what it is, and such. When I sliced up my basket, I put the plastic there to accomplish the same thing...let air in, but force water to drip along the back edge of the basket. I feel for the person who puts the basket in upside down and has suddenly created a rain-catcher
I completely agree that moisture itself isn't a problem, but standing water is. I'm always amazed at how much water actually collects inside our doors, even with the drainage holes. If you haven't done so yet, take your panels off after driving through a good rain storm for about 20 minutes and pop the basket out...I guarantee that puppy will be dripping...sad, but true. So, if you leave the basket backs open at their tops, you'll have standing water inside your SPEAKER. Definitely a no-no.
If you were REAL lucky and a few drops of water didn't collect on the coil, you'll have a nice little pool between the metal speaker frame bottom (which is open, just like the basket should be) and the cone...on the 1631's this amounts to about half an inch of water, probably similar on others. That will collect dust/grime, which will tear the you know what out of the rubber/poly cone surround from behind as you pump some good bass through it.
And you know me, I AM paranoid about Michelle, and proud of it [Edited by MacGyver on 04-01-2001 at 12:48 PM]
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