Front center speaker needs replacement

[LCtoLX]

The sound quality in my wife’s 2017 GX took a big hit not long ago. The distorted sound (high frequencies, but even speech) can be heard from the front but not when listening to only the rear speakers. After some troubleshooting the dealer will be replacing the center front speaker. It’s an ML sound system if that matters.

I find it odd that the speaker would go bad after only 4 years or so. Perhaps the previous owner listened at very high sound volume? That shouldn’t matter IMO.

Isn’t it a bit early to be replacing speakers already?

 

[BigSwede]

Hard to say... under moderate use the speakers should last a long time, but if someone turned up the volume so high the amp was overdriven the speakers can be damaged in moments by the distortion.

And sometimes, things just go bad without explanation.

 

[r2m]

I agree with both posts above. Waaayyy to soon for any speaker to be going out, especially a LM system.
And yes, If you purchased your vehicle used, someone before you could have pumped up something with a very deep and loud base and blown it or pushed it enough that it didn't take much for you to perpetrate the damage into failing.
First time on this forum I've heard/read of any speakers going out. I think I've read of replacing the sub-woffers, and/or adding amps, but that's about it.
Just replacing with the factory should never cause any issues again. But again, which is the cheaper route, factory, or a really good aftermarket?

 

[LCtoLX]

Thanks for your responses, r2m and BigSwede. I‘ve had my subwoofer re-coned in our 2003 LC and an aftermarket amp and subwoofer installed in our 80 series. I agree that this failure current could be an outlier and hope that such an occurrence is rare.

I‘m going to ask the dealer to return to me (or at least let me see/inspect) the old unit. I’d like to see what the surround looks like.

 

[r2m]

BTY, aren't you still under warranty?? 5 year 60,000 miles or something like that??

 

[LCtoLX]

Yes, luckily, this was a CPO when we bought it in March of 2020. I think the standard one is 4 years/50k miles (drivetrain 6 years/70k miles) and that would have expired by now, based on the initial, new purchase date.

IIRC, the CPO warranty takes it 2 years past the original term or past the subsequent purchase date, whichever is later.

I can’t imagine that the speaker replacement labor will be simple. Maybe in the old days just removing the grill from the top (4 screws) would provide access. Now, I’m guessing that the whole center dash needs to be removed to access the speaker from below. I hope the replacement lasts