How can I test my subs at home?

[dsanders92]

So I got a free pair of MTX 10" subs from a guy who's garage I cleaned out for a school community service project. It was full of crap and he wanted to throw away everything, but he said if there was anything I wanted I could keep, and I found these little treasures laying under all the rubbish, along with a blow torch

I don't know the first thing about car audio and I have just have a couple questions:
1. When I gently push one of the subs back and forth, it makes a scratching noise. Does this indicate that it's blown out? I've checked out the inside and it's not rubbing on anything. It's only one of them that makes the sound.

2. Is there any way to hook them up to anything at home to test them and make sure the 2nd sub is working correctly?

[bhazard]

Scratching is probably a blown speaker.

I have a fusion 12" sub and amp hooked up to a pc power supply running to a home theater receiver right now.

[dsanders92]

So do I need an amp to physically listen to them?

[Nerd Racing]

hmm, not sure about the subs, but the 12 volt power supply will run automotive sound equiptment.

[dsanders92]

I'm not really sure what a 12 volt power supply would look like.

[bhazard]

A computer power supply supplies 12 volt.

Though it sounds like you shouldnt be trying this stuff..heh.

[FestYboy]

you got access to a 9v battery? or even a AA would work in a pinch, but basicaly QUICKLY touch the ends of the 9v to the speaker terminals and you'll hear a light pop. you want to pay attention to the pop and any noise AFTER the pop (any noise other thean a clean pop means blown coil).

if it sounds good one way, flip the battery and do it again (if speaker pulled in, now it should push out). again, listen to the pop and for any other noises.

also you can push down directly in the center of the speaker with one finger (lightly) and feel/listen for scratching.

that's a crude test for large speakers when no amp and music is available.

[dsanders92]

Well I'm not trying to use them, I just need to know if they work properly so that I can sell them. And FestY, would I do the same thing with an AA battery?

[perucho]

If you hear scratching noises, the voice coil is messed up. I wouldn't use or sell them.

[JPT]

Scratchy sounds usually mean that the voice coil was over heated (too much wattage) and the glue holding it melted or burned. It might still play, but it'll never sound good again.

[FestYboy]

Well I'm not trying to use them, I just need to know if they work properly so that I can sell them. And FestY, would I do the same thing with an AA battery?

yeah, but you'd have to add wires to make it work from the ends of the AA to the terminals.

[bobbyspider]

a voice coil would sound like the problem but listen to festyboy and def chec a nine volt reaction and aa reaction. how many speakers do you have now and how many do you think are bad or blown? was th cone missing from the speaker?

if i were you i wouldnt try to sell them untill you have a conrirmation

[dsanders92]

I've got 2 10's and one of them is blown (or the voice coil thing), as far as I can tell. I'm just going to bring them to school tomorrow and hook them up to my friends Range Rover to test them.