New front speakers and reducing vibration

bk1 · 16-03-2006, 08:47

Hi,
I am planning to get some pioneer speakers to replace the nasty nasty standard speakers in the front doors. (Octy MkI estate, early 2004)
I plan to get these component ones:
http://www.mcs-direct.co.uk/acatalog...fTS1785%2ehtml

At the moment I get nasty buzzy vibrations from the doors with the bass on +3 and the volume on anything higher than about 6 (!!). It's a pretty miserable overall sound, whatever music is being played.

I don't want to get new speakers and still have vibration problems, so could I just get some sound-deadening material (e.g. from Halfords) and stick that in over the current foam padding I have behind the normal speakers. Would that help reduce the vibration and let the new speakers work ok?

NOTE: I don't want to cut the door membrane, and I don't want to change the headunit at this time.

Many thanks,
Ben

Goochie · 16-03-2006, 09:19

I dont quite understand, you're looking to buy new speakers but say you dont want to get new speakers?

***ncarring*** · 16-03-2006, 09:21

He doesn't want to buy new speakers and then find that the vibration problem is still there ...

Goochie · 16-03-2006, 09:23

Ahhhh...... In that case I'd expect the vibration to go, its either caused by dead speakers or loose trim. Either of these will naturally fix itself when the new speakers are fitted.

bk1 · 16-03-2006, 09:29

I think that speakers with a cleaner sound can only help anyway, so think I'll give them a shot and see.
I think a lot of the vibration is from the plastic of the door card rattling against the metal frame itself (along card edges, etc), with the low booming of the water seal coming into play at higher volumes.

Thanks,
I'll let people know how much difference it makes when I get the speakers in, etc. Ben

Goochie · 16-03-2006, 09:33

I wonder if your car has had a window changed at some point? On my last car (Astra MK4) the trim wasnt fitted correctly after it was removed to change the side window.

bk1 · 16-03-2006, 09:46

Not that I know of, and it's not an old car - Feb04 registered and I have had it since Sep05.
Buzzing and rattling seems to be mentioned enough that I think it's a common problem and not something specific to my car. I suppose my rattling might be coming in at lower volumes and lower bass (than for other people) though - 7 is not loud, and +3 bass isn't saying much either.
If I turn bass to +6 and put on a track with any bass at all (and I'm not talking Prodigy here, just stuff like Pearl Jam, Supergrass) then I get a low-frequency buzz/booming sound from the speaker, probably where the speaker is shaking the door card, and probably the speaker cover. instead of sitting nice and firm in it's mounts like a good speaker.

I have tried listening to the speakers with the covers removed, and it helps a bit, but I still get booming at louder volumes. I think the overall problem is simply that some of the door components aren't fitted nice and tight, and have gaps around them that allow the speakers to transmit energy to the door parts instead of into the air. So as you are hinting, loose parts could definitely cause the problem, but I think the Octy problem begins with a "gappy" design.

Goochie · 16-03-2006, 09:51

My bass is set to +2 and even at volume +13 it has no vibration (not modified the speakers or housing at all).

My music isnt really drum 'n bass but it can handle Garbage fine.

bk1 · 16-03-2006, 10:00

Ok, will give that a go, although no Garbage to hand

Perhaps Goldfrapp will have to do.
Thanks,
Ben

Terry G · 16-03-2006, 16:05

Its the age old problem with the front speakers...
The cavity that the speakers fit into is tiny which not only limits your options for buying new speakers but gives a poor bass response.
Replacing the speakers does make a difference (you'll understand when you look at the factory fit units) but you will still suffer from poor bass performance to a degree. Your options are to either tolerate the current performance (which if you want Goldfrapp to sound any good, you are gonna struggle) or find a fitter that know what they are on about and put cuts into the membrane to allow a choice of speakers and better sound with the additional work of installing some sort of water channeling away from the speakers and not into the car.
The stickys above cover this off as well..
Me? I like my bass to rumble and not rattle!

By the way.. going to see Goldfrapp at the Isle of Wight festival, but thats for another forum!!

16-03-2006, 08:47	#1
bk1 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK - SouthEast Posts: 251 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	New front speakers and reducing vibration Hi, I am planning to get some pioneer speakers to replace the nasty nasty standard speakers in the front doors. (Octy MkI estate, early 2004) I plan to get these component ones: http://www.mcs-direct.co.uk/acatalog...fTS1785%2ehtml At the moment I get nasty buzzy vibrations from the doors with the bass on +3 and the volume on anything higher than about 6 (!!). It's a pretty miserable overall sound, whatever music is being played. I don't want to get new speakers and still have vibration problems, so could I just get some sound-deadening material (e.g. from Halfords) and stick that in over the current foam padding I have behind the normal speakers. Would that help reduce the vibration and let the new speakers work ok? NOTE: I don't want to cut the door membrane, and I don't want to change the headunit at this time. Many thanks, Ben

16-03-2006, 09:19	#2
Goochie Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Up a tree. Posts: 12,384 Thanks: 7 Thanked 27 Times in 25 Posts	Re: New front speakers and reducing vibration I dont quite understand, you're looking to buy new speakers but say you dont want to get new speakers?

16-03-2006, 09:21	#3
*ncarring* Don't talk, drive! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The B roads of Britain Posts: 12,834 Thanks: 15 Thanked 80 Times in 69 Posts	Re: New front speakers and reducing vibration He doesn't want to buy new speakers and then find that the vibration problem is still there ... __________________ Nick

16-03-2006, 09:23	#4
Goochie Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Up a tree. Posts: 12,384 Thanks: 7 Thanked 27 Times in 25 Posts	Re: New front speakers and reducing vibration Ahhhh...... In that case I'd expect the vibration to go, its either caused by dead speakers or loose trim. Either of these will naturally fix itself when the new speakers are fitted.

16-03-2006, 09:29	#5
bk1 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK - SouthEast Posts: 251 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New front speakers and reducing vibration I think that speakers with a cleaner sound can only help anyway, so think I'll give them a shot and see. I think a lot of the vibration is from the plastic of the door card rattling against the metal frame itself (along card edges, etc), with the low booming of the water seal coming into play at higher volumes. Thanks, I'll let people know how much difference it makes when I get the speakers in, etc. Ben

16-03-2006, 09:33	#6
Goochie Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Up a tree. Posts: 12,384 Thanks: 7 Thanked 27 Times in 25 Posts	Re: New front speakers and reducing vibration I wonder if your car has had a window changed at some point? On my last car (Astra MK4) the trim wasnt fitted correctly after it was removed to change the side window.

16-03-2006, 09:46	#7
bk1 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK - SouthEast Posts: 251 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New front speakers and reducing vibration Not that I know of, and it's not an old car - Feb04 registered and I have had it since Sep05. Buzzing and rattling seems to be mentioned enough that I think it's a common problem and not something specific to my car. I suppose my rattling might be coming in at lower volumes and lower bass (than for other people) though - 7 is not loud, and +3 bass isn't saying much either. If I turn bass to +6 and put on a track with any bass at all (and I'm not talking Prodigy here, just stuff like Pearl Jam, Supergrass) then I get a low-frequency buzz/booming sound from the speaker, probably where the speaker is shaking the door card, and probably the speaker cover. instead of sitting nice and firm in it's mounts like a good speaker. I have tried listening to the speakers with the covers removed, and it helps a bit, but I still get booming at louder volumes. I think the overall problem is simply that some of the door components aren't fitted nice and tight, and have gaps around them that allow the speakers to transmit energy to the door parts instead of into the air. So as you are hinting, loose parts could definitely cause the problem, but I think the Octy problem begins with a "gappy" design.

16-03-2006, 09:51	#8
Goochie Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Up a tree. Posts: 12,384 Thanks: 7 Thanked 27 Times in 25 Posts	Re: New front speakers and reducing vibration My bass is set to +2 and even at volume +13 it has no vibration (not modified the speakers or housing at all). My music isnt really drum 'n bass but it can handle Garbage fine.

16-03-2006, 10:00	#9
bk1 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK - SouthEast Posts: 251 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New front speakers and reducing vibration Ok, will give that a go, although no Garbage to hand Perhaps Goldfrapp will have to do. Thanks, Ben

16-03-2006, 16:05	#10
Terry G Tired Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Fareham Posts: 367 Thanks: 5 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: New front speakers and reducing vibration Its the age old problem with the front speakers... The cavity that the speakers fit into is tiny which not only limits your options for buying new speakers but gives a poor bass response. Replacing the speakers does make a difference (you'll understand when you look at the factory fit units) but you will still suffer from poor bass performance to a degree. Your options are to either tolerate the current performance (which if you want Goldfrapp to sound any good, you are gonna struggle) or find a fitter that know what they are on about and put cuts into the membrane to allow a choice of speakers and better sound with the additional work of installing some sort of water channeling away from the speakers and not into the car. The stickys above cover this off as well.. Me? I like my bass to rumble and not rattle! By the way.. going to see Goldfrapp at the Isle of Wight festival, but thats for another forum!!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode