Is there any danger in just disconnecting the blown subwoofer on my LX470?

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68W65D

68W65D

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Newb question that I couldn't find an answer to.

I have a 2004 LX470 with the Mark Levinson system. The subwoofer sounds awful. Like it is rattling around and farting.

If I remove it and tape off the connectors, is there any danger to the amp or system?

I fully intend to repair the speaker... just not for another couple months.
 
re: home stereo systems conventional wisdom was never operate it with a speaker disconnected. Reason being doing so would burn out the "driver".

I'm just regurgitating what I heard.
 
You are likely better off with the connections off and electrically isolated than hooked up to a speaker that is failing. Not an electrical engineer, but I know if somehow the speaker produced a short it would 100% be bad for the amp.
 
The "driver" is the actual "speaker" inside the big plastic box. Well, "drivers" in your case, since there are two of them. Other than the missing sound, as long as you cover the ends of the wires so they can't short out on the metal inside the panel, you'll be fine. The plug itself is pretty well protected, so the tape isn't even really necessary, but IH8MUD is all about overkill, so tape away. Even better, to avoid a sticky mess when you go to finally fix the sub, find an insulating cover or use some heat shrink to cover over the exposed plug.
 
In the long ago training I had, the speaker "driver" was the part of the radio that provided power to the speaker.

Analogous to keying the mic on a two way without an antenna.
 
I was able to re-foam the sub-woofer in my 03 LX with Mark Levinson system- in about 2.5 hours - just an hour or so longer than it takes to remove the interior panel and disconnect the sub-woofer.

Just call the Folks at simply speakers and they can hook you up with the correct re-foam kit for your model. Simply Speakers - Official Speaker Repair Page - Speaker Parts and Repair Service

$20 bucks or so for the foam surround, glue and instructions. It ended up sounding as good as from the factory (it sounded like crap before)
 
FYI - if the sub-woofer foam is gone, then likely the door speakers are also have disintegrated foam as well - I did all of my speakers over several weekends using similar kits from simply speakers. Much easier and lower cost than buying new speakers.
 
Mark WV said:
I was able to re-foam the sub-woofer in my 03 LX with Mark Levinson system- in about 2.5 hours - just an hour or so longer than it takes to remove the interior panel and disconnect the sub-woofer.

Just call the Folks at simply speakers and they can hook you up with the correct re-foam kit for your model. Simply Speakers - Official Speaker Repair Page - Speaker Parts and Repair Service

$20 bucks or so for the foam surround, glue and instructions. It ended up sounding as good as from the factory (it sounded like crap before)
Click to expand...


Is there an easy way to tell whether the subwoofer in the 1 speaker variety or the two speaker variety?
 
Nope. The driver is the actual transducer that converts electrical energy into sound waves. "Speaker" usually refers to the whole box and drivers, but is used pretty interchangeably. The part of the radio that "drives" the electrical signal out to the speaker/driver is the amplifier.
 
Mark WV said:
FYI - if the sub-woofer foam is gone, then likely the door speakers are also have disintegrated foam as well - I did all of my speakers over several weekends using similar kits from simply speakers. Much easier and lower cost than buying new speakers.
Click to expand...

This is a cool option. Thanks!

Anyone know the most "modern" Toyota head unit that can fit in a 2000 LC?
 
I believe that the '03 - '07 LX and LC both have a single speaker Sub-woofer.

I can't comment on how many "Drivers" or "coils" they have, but the sub woofer only has two wires connected to the single speaker as I recall. The foam surround is definitely the weak point of the speakers in the 100's sound systems.
 
So I just refoamed my subwoofer and reinstalled it. Meanwhile I pulled my d/s speaker and took it in for same treatment. I was told not to play the stereo while speaker and/or sub woofer were out but of course, without thinking, I did. The remaining speakers have sound coming out of the but the reinstalled subwoofer makes no sound whatsoever.

Have I screwed something up or does the subwoofer need all speakers to be connected to complete the system?
 
Did your subwoofer work before you refoamed it? If it didn't before the refoam, the voice coil may be be separated. I don't know if there is a fix for that. If the subwoofer worked, you might need to check the fader on your stereo, the subwoofer uses the rear speakers for it's signal, if it's faded to the front only, that could be the reason you subwoofer makes no sound.
 
Amplifiers for cars have separate channels. While the input for the sub may be used for front or rear speakers as well - disconnecting the subwoofer won't cause a problem so long as wires aren't crossed, grounded, or touching. If, however, you were to disconnect the left rear but not the right, depending on the amp and how the circuitry works it could affect it - but doubtful on a specifically designed amp as these are.

You can install almost any headunit you want, just may need special adapters and or rewiring - neither of which are a big deal.

There's also a good chance you have other speakers blown.
 
trdcorolla said:
If the subwoofer worked, you might need to check the fader on your stereo, the subwoofer uses the rear speakers for it's signal, if it's faded to the front only, that could be the reason you subwoofer makes no sound.
Click to expand...

It was that simple. Thanks.

The refoam cost me about CAD$90. Pulled it and reinstalled it myself. Front speaker cost about $70 (though still waiting to get it back). In total worked out to about 1/3 I was quoted at one shop.
 
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