extreme cold weather and speaker bass problem?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: washington dc
2013 C63 P31
extreme cold weather and speaker bass problem?
Morning guys -
East coast has been hit with some arctic temps this week, was single digits this morning when I get into my 2009 c63 amg. As my CD player turned on I immediately noticed a lack of bass in a familiar song. I checked a few more songs and yes, sure enough, there was no bass response from the Harmon Kardon system. My initial thought was, well, I guess the woofers are broken/fuse blown? I adjusted the bass levels all the way up and down and no difference in bass output.
Then I drove about 15 minutes to work and fiddled again, this time noticing some slight bass improvement and change when I adjusted the bass level...
So given that the car had warmed up some in the short drive I am now wondering...can extreme cold weather affect the speaker performance/woofers/bass output in the w204 C class? I've never experienced this type of issue in any other vehicle I've owned.
I'm looking for feedback here before I go to the dealer and claim 'something is broken'...
Would appreciate any thoughts -
Victor
East coast has been hit with some arctic temps this week, was single digits this morning when I get into my 2009 c63 amg. As my CD player turned on I immediately noticed a lack of bass in a familiar song. I checked a few more songs and yes, sure enough, there was no bass response from the Harmon Kardon system. My initial thought was, well, I guess the woofers are broken/fuse blown? I adjusted the bass levels all the way up and down and no difference in bass output.
Then I drove about 15 minutes to work and fiddled again, this time noticing some slight bass improvement and change when I adjusted the bass level...
So given that the car had warmed up some in the short drive I am now wondering...can extreme cold weather affect the speaker performance/woofers/bass output in the w204 C class? I've never experienced this type of issue in any other vehicle I've owned.
I'm looking for feedback here before I go to the dealer and claim 'something is broken'...
Would appreciate any thoughts -
Victor
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 415
Likes: 9
2011 E350 Cabriolet
I can see the extra cold weather affecting mechanical parts of a sound system (speakers) but not the electronics. Electronics generally prefer cooler temperatures VS hot. A large woofer may become stiffer and thus have less excursion in cold weather. I know that happens with my body 
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
2001 CLK55 AMG
I work in car audio, so I have a system in my car and every morning it takes a few minutes for it to warm up and the bass to kick in. It would make sense that a stock sub might take a little time before it starts playing normal.
I live in Chicago so it gets down to like -10 sometimes
I live in Chicago so it gets down to like -10 sometimes
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 725
Likes: 189
From: Chicago area
2015 E400 and 2015 GLK350
I'd be happy with squeaking. When the temps hit -23 to -25 last week (yup, that far down), it sounded and felt like all of my car's suspension bushings had turned to wood.
