B&O rattling speakers on some bass
 

I have a problem with my B&O that is affecting at least 4 of the speakers. I want to figure out whether it is an amp that has failed, or whether multiple speakers have failed.

Is there a fairly simple way to check if the amp has faults? And if there is, does it have to go to an Audi garage at £75 an hour to figure out what is wrong - I wish I could charge that way when I had to figure out a problem - garages do seem to win on the swings and the roundabouts charging for fixing even if they are slow at it, and you also seem to pay them to learn on your car while they figure it out....

I would rather check the amps out first rather than taking all the trim out and individually disconnecting speakers. Its a shame its not a part that will be sat on a shelf that can be swapped out to test.

maybe a local competent car audio expert would be cheaper than a dealer, though not sure you have many options if it comes to needing new parts other than B&O or Audi

I think the easiest way to tell would be by critical ear.
Is the rattle heard on all audio sources?
Is it a rattle of a torn cone?
A rasp of a distorted voice coil catching?
Pop of digital artefacts similar to DAB radio interference?
Resonation of trim etc?

If it is the amp google for repairers the BOSE ones can be repaired. Probably lead-free solder failure.

It sounds like a cone failure, but as it is affecting at least the four lower door speakers, I have to consider the amps too. I may take out one door speaker and look.

The rasp happens on all inputs Radio, CD, DAB & TV. It is also a certain part of the range that is affected. I can have a track that uses very deep bass and that is fine, but a track with mild bass is affected.

I cannot rule out however that the previous owner got all the lower door areas wet and killed the speakers. All four have dents where peoples feet have hit them. The previous lady owner did manage to mark quite a few areas on the car.

Pretty sure VCDS has a speaker test option.

I have managed to disconnect one of the B&O amps which left me with working trebble speakers. Unfortunately, disconnecting the other amp stops the mmi working too. I strongly suspect that the main amp has failed. As finding another B&O equipped car near me with an owner willing to test-swap the amps over is very remote, it makes the job of being sure more complicated.

What is the cheapest way of getting something like VCDS? as I do not have this myself. I have never had a scan run on the system so it could probably do with a clearout of old codes anyway. Would VCDS allow clearing of codes, and installation of updated software?

you could try and find an Indie local to you, mine does scans for free on the (often correct) assumption that he will get the work to fix it, or look at the VagCom etc register on here and see if there is anyone near you, and they would probably scan it for you for free, they are an incredibly friendly and helfpul bunch on here.:D

cheers+++

The amps have component protection too, so swapping them between cars might get a bit messy.... :Confused:

They know how to make things easy don't they.

Does the car have all ecu's registered? As I found that Audi set up the serial number for the battery, does that extend to all the modules?

The Bose amp definitely does, I'd be surprised if the B&O one doesnt.....