Amp dying, or just the speaker frying

[stepchyld]

First, my system:
Kenwood Excelon head unit with USB, KDC-X491
Rockford Fosgate amp pushing 2 Infinity 12's
Xtant 302a pushing front speakers, Kenwood 3-ways (will add model# later)
Rear Speakers, pretty much shot, irrelevant...

This morning, I start up the car, and hear a scratching-like noise from the front passenger side speaker. I tapped the driver side speaker panel (you ok in there?), then turn off the stereo.
Turn it back on, same noise from both speakers. Didn't have time to deal with it, so took off for an interview with no tunes ( )
Later in the day, I turn radio on, and seems fine, no scratchy noise, just music.
A while later, after 2 stops, it starts again, kill radio, drive home in silence

I checked all connections on the stereo, RCA cables, tight and secure.
Check amp, smell a slight burn odor. Not pungent, but there. I've had the amp 10+ years, used it for 7-8, so wouldn't surprise me if it is dying. I remove the cover to see if there's anything obvious. I see a little corrosion, but nothing jumps out 'Here's the problem, ME!'
Turn the stereo on, only driver side is scratchy. Pull speaker, woofer isn't barking.
Found I had RCA's backward, L was R, R was L, D'oh! swapped them back (must've goofed up when I removed my stereo to test my brother's new stereo before installing) no big deal, speaker acts the same. No scratchiness now.

I've had amps die, just quit working. I've had speakers go out, sounding crappy then crappier, then finally yanking them out...

Repeat testing has so far yielded no further scratchiness, and I'm quite sure when speakers were working earlier in the day that woofers seemed fine. I'm sure they were yesterday, as I sat jamming for a short while and really should've noticed.

Could the speaker woofer's voice coil frying cause a scratchy sort of feedback that could effect both speakers?

[stepchyld]

To continue, and maybe conclude, no further scratchiness/distortion from the speakers since the midrange woofer fried.
Still hoping it was just the speaker causing the trouble and not the amp itself. If this is true, I'll not buy another set of Kenwood coaxials. This will be the second set I've had that couldn't stand the test of time. These lasted longer than the first set, but still, I'd like speakers that will last longer than 1 year, can ya blame me?
Luckily, my latest fc acquisition had 2 sets of Polk 4" coaxials, so I'll be making adapter plates and installing all 4 into my gs I already tested one, sounds great, for a 4" speaker. Not as robust as a larger speaker, but good sound anyway. Then time will tell...

So, in my experience:
Kenwood head units: good
Kenwood coaxials: bad

[Redline322]

I've had the same experience with Kenwood. About 10 yrs ago, they were right at the top of quality, then the last 5-6 yrs the quality of their subs and speakers really dropped off. I've found Clarion alot tougher for a better price than anything Kenwood.

[SuperK]

Choosy ricers choose kenwood. Just sayin'!
I ran Polk Momo's 6.5" in my deceased car and it sounded amazing. Only driver was so freaking huge I couldn't use the speaker grill to hide it and that looked kinda ugly. That or never roll down the window.

I have been considering a 3-way system instead of a 2 way. I wonder how different they sound?

[Redline322]

3 ways will sound a little cleaner than 2 ways since there is a dedicated tweet, mid and woofer, although the ideal situation for better sq is to add some tweeters instead and use crossovers to keep your speakers in their proper freq range. Of course, a better quality speaker will almost always be better than low end ones.

[stepchyld]

4 months for a reply? wow, lol, cool though
My first set of Kenwoods coax's was 11 years ago. Lasted a month.
This set didn't last a year - pitiful. I'm not over-powering them either...
I bought a set of kicker coax's for my truck, 5-1/2's and 5x7's in 99. The 5-1/2's saw use in a few different vehicles, and finally faded out a year ago. the 5 x 7's still sound pretty good. That's quality!
I like Kenwood head units, but guess now that's the only Kenwood I'll buy.
The 4" Polks are quite surprising, EX Series 2.

3-way is a little better than 2-way, some brands have a woofer, tweeter, and higher-range tweeter: 'super-tweeter'. But a component set will blow them away!

[neuspeedescort]

bigger speaker just need thinks like these.




NEUMAN