I have an '05 Ford Mustang with a Shaker 500 audio system and an after market aux input. When I first bought the car, the system sounded great. Now it's started sounding what I call 'muddy'. Everything kind of runs together and the bass doesn't have the same sharpness it used to. Just wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions. If you need more diagnostic info let me know.
shaker 500 help
- Thread starter jordaniac89
- Start date
arcwcb
Member
Did you mess with the EQ on the radio? Odds are, if you cranked the bass or lowered the treble a lot, or just had the volume cranked in general, that you've clipped the weak factory speakers (read: CRAP factory speakers) that came with the 500, burned the coils, and are now in need of new speakers. However, due to the weak power handling of the stock paper speakers, combined with the incredible efficiency of a cone that light, anything you put in those stock spots, off the H/U power, will not be as loud and you will definitely lose most of your mid-bass and volume.
streethorse
15 Year Member
Speakers dont really slowly sound worse over time. They are either good
or bad, they die a quick death. The Shaker 500 is an above
average OEM system but has its limits. And yes the bass response is a bit
mushy at louder volumnes. But for a factory system I can live with it.
or bad, they die a quick death. The Shaker 500 is an above
average OEM system but has its limits. And yes the bass response is a bit
mushy at louder volumnes. But for a factory system I can live with it.
arcwcb
Member
15 watts RMS, yes they CAN die a slow death, assuming he had the bass cranked, it would start sending a clipped signal, but not enough of one to pop a coil instantly, but enough to slowly burn it and cause it to slowly lose power handling ability... So yes, they aren't either good or bad, they can go bad slowly over time assuming they were abused...
I haven't really had the bass cranked up a whole lot. It stays at about half way or a little more than half way. The treble stays all the way up most of the time. I thought I might have a ground wire loose or something but I don't know. Car electronics aren't really my thing. I may just end up having to overhaul the entire system.
streethorse
15 Year Member
A Partially blown speaker is bad to me, I can tell the difference between
an undamaged speaker and a slightly blown speaker. Also when an amp
starts to go it can show the same symptoms of a blown speaker, similar
to a torn cone at higher volumne.
arcwcb
Member
Yes, a partially blown speaker is bad, it's permanently damaged at that point. And he did say that it was affecting the sound, so that would explain him being able to tell the difference between when they were fine and when they became damaged...
I doubt it's the amp since he's talking about it being the sound in general, that would mean both the internal amp on the H/U for mids and highs and the amp for the mid-bass 8's in the door would have to be going bad at the same time. I mean, it could happen, but pretty unlikely. My guess is either burned coils, or like you said, maybe a torn cone or surround, they are pretty cheap paper...
