R-23 Troubleshooting Cockpit Speaker

[bergroup]

One of my cockpit speakers does not work. (Probably never did but just never noticed until recently.) I've traced the wire back to the radio but would like your opinion on how to troubleshoot. I could swap speakers to see if it is a wiring or a speaker problem. If I used a multimeter what settings would I be looking for? (I'm a novice!)

Any advice appreciated.

 

[BB marine]

Troubleshooting with a VOA meter will tell a few stories but sometimes not all when a speaker is not working. I test with VOA at lowest setting if analog. If digital fluke auto setting OHM. (First test) is with long test leads or jumper leads check continuity two speaker leads. Test from radio to speaker the positive lead and then the Negative lead there should be no or very little resistance. This test proofs the connection between the radio and speaker and all the connections. If this test proves to be good the next test is check resistance at the speaker. The speaker has a rating on it example 4 ohm this is the impedance rating not true resistance rating. Place the + lead to the Plus connection of the speaker. Place - lead to the Neg connection of the speaker the resistance should be 10 to 15 present less then the speaker rating. 4 ohm speaker should read slightly higher the 3 ohms , 8 ohm speaker 7 - or 6 + Range.

If you know the speaker on the opposite side cockpit is working and you have tested and proved that the wiring from the radio to the speaker is good (step one above) the fastest easiest troubleshoot is to reverse the radio out put leads. Port output to starboard speaker, starboard output to port speaker. This is an easy way of testing the speaker and the radio outputs. If you switch the outputs and failed speaker now works radio bad. If you switch the outputs and speaker doesn't work speaker bad. If you switch the outputs and both speakers now work bad or loose terminal connection.

 

[Champ]

Does that radio have a left/ right speaker adjustment? Maybe just an adjustment?

 

[jkhiser]

Usually corrosion on the speaker terminals, or loose connection. Clean up, tighten up if required, and add some dielectric.

 

[bergroup]

Thanks for the replies. I've tried right/left adjust with no luck. I'll try the multimeter tomorrow. The grill covers just need to be "pried" off, correct? I couldn't budge them with my fingers.

 

[Familyguy]

Hi,
I had that happen to me. Turned out that one of the wires in the back of the speaker came out, was hard to spot as it looked like it was connected until I took the speaker off the mount

 

[Boatagain]

... The grill covers just need to be "pried" off, correct? I couldn't budge them with my fingers.

Turn the speaker cover about five degrees to the left, then they pull off easily.

 

[bergroup]

Doh! 🙂

 

[bergroup]

Good news, bad news. The good news is that thanks to "Boatagain" I was able to remove the grill in about 3 seconds. The bad news is the speaker wires were securely connected. Swapped with the working speakers and the left side is still dead. So it's either a problem coming out of the unit itself, a problem with the connector, or a problem with the wire running from the connector to the speaker. Any of these issues has no easy solution so I think I'm just going to stick with a non working cockpit speaker for a while.

Thanks to all who responded. Appreciate the advice and suggestions.

Paul

 

[StraitKnot]

We have the same issue on our R23. Thanks, everyone, for responses.

 

[ethanbarnett]

We had same issue. Speaker was bad. Bought a new pair. Two weeks later one of my forward speakers died. Already had my spare. Hope yours is a simple.

 

[Boatagain]

I’m not sure what the audio equipment is on your R23, but on my C30 there’s a separate amp that drives the cockpit and foredeck speakers. The salon and forward cabin speakers are driven by an amplifier built into the main head unit. The right and left channels from the head unit to the external amp are delivered via RCA cables/plugs. One possibility is that one of those cables is loose or disconnected. In the rat’s nest of wires behind the head unit that’s a fairly common occurrence. Further, there are left and right channel speaker wires from the external amp going to the speakers themselves, one of which may also be loose or disconnected. Lastly, you may have a bad amp. That happened to me and Fusion replaced it under warranty.

Hope this helps and good luck trouble shooting.

 

[rappja]

I see the post above is from 2019, and refers to a different model, but I have the same problem. Both of my cockpit and bridge speakers don't work. My boat is a 2019 R-31CB.
I have the following questions:
1) Where is the external amp, and how do I identify it? (a picture or wiring diagram would help).
2( I have tried to check the cable connections to the back of the main head unit, which is mounted above the TV in the forward berth. Unfortunately, I couldn't pull the head unit out to inspect the back because the cables wouldn't allow it because they're either too short or bundled with ties. I didn't want to pull too hard, for fear of pulling out a cable myself. Unfortunately, the back of the Fusion head unit is not in the "rat's nest" described above. It is separated by a wall which I didn't want to take apart. How do I get to the back of the head unit?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Jlow49]

I see the post above is from 2019, and refers to a different model, but I have the same problem. Both of my cockpit and bridge speakers don't work. My boat is a 2019 R-31CB.
I have the following questions:
1) Where is the external amp, and how do I identify it? (a picture or wiring diagram would help).
2( I have tried to check the cable connections to the back of the main head unit, which is mounted above the TV in the forward berth. Unfortunately, I couldn't pull the head unit out to inspect the back because the cables wouldn't allow it because they're either too short or bundled with ties. I didn't want to pull too hard, for fear of pulling out a cable myself. Unfortunately, the back of the Fusion head unit is not in the "rat's nest" described above. It is separated by a wall which I didn't want to take apart. How do I get to the back of the head unit?
Thanks in advance.

I have a 2015 31cb with working bridge speakers but silent cockpit speakers. If you've found a solution since posting I'd love to hear it For what it's worth, access to the rear of the Fusion unit is easy by removing the starboard side panel on the middle shelf of the salon hanging locker (2-4 screws) I too would love to see a wiring diagram.