9 Easy Ways To Fix Crackling Speakers (2023 How-To)

Here comes your favorite part of the song…

But your excitement was cut off.

Because instead of the best guitar solo…

What you heard was crackling from your speakers.

Let’s not let it happen again, shall we?

Keep reading to learn:

• 9 simple ways to fix your crackling speakers.
• 3 major reasons why your speakers are crackling (watch out for #1).
• 5 surprising wiring issues that cause your speakers to produce crackling sounds.
• And many more…

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How to fix crackling speakers – 9 ways

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#1: Check for any loose or knotted wirings

Before anything else…

Try the quickest fix for the simplest issue:

Check if your speakers’ wires are loose. Then, adjust them, if there are any.

You could never know…

The audio jack might be hanging on the input device’s port.

So see whether it’s properly plugged into the device.

Then, also check if the power cord is fully connected to the outlet.

And if those are loosely connected, adjust the plugs. 

Note: If you do so while your speaker is ON, you might hear more crackling while adjusting the wires. But once there are no loose wirings, the popping sounds are gone.

And don’t forget to also check for…

Twisted or knotted wires

Do you have pets around?

If so, chances are they might’ve played with the wires. Therefore causing knots and twisting. 

Or if you have a rolly chair around your speakers…

Then maybe you rolled over the wire, which twisted them.

When this happens, simply straighten the wires. And keep it out of anyone’s way to prevent it from knotting again.

#2: Fix damaged or old wires

If the wires aren’t loose or twisted, then they might be disrupted or damaged.

Remember the examples I mentioned earlier? That pets play with the wires. And rolly chairs run over the cord.

Sometimes, those can cause damage to the rubber coating. And they lead to exposed wires. 

Warning: Immediately tend to the parts without a rubber coating. If not, you’ll be electrocuted once you come in contact with it. So cover it up with electrical tape. 

However, wrapping it up is only a band-aid solution.

That said, you can also try soldering the wires. Watch this quick video on how to do so:

But if that’s too much of a bother…

Then the best fix would be to replace the damaged wires. 

And if your speakers are old…

Then they’re definitely going to make crackling sounds from time to time.

For replacing the wires, you should head over to fix #9.

#3: Ensure optimal wireless connection

How can it be the wires if your speakers don’t have any, right?

So, for a wireless speaker, the first thing to consider is:

Whether the connection signal is optimal.

And for that, you need to look at 2 things. Those are:

Distance

According to Sony, the maximum range of a Bluetooth connection is 30 feet. 

However, that’s not always exact because it can change. And it depends on whether there’s any interference (I’ll talk about this later).

That said, your devices should have minimal distance between them. If possible, keep the 2 close by putting the devices next to each other. 

Because there’s also…

Interfering objects

As I mentioned, you can’t always rely on distance…

That range is only guaranteed if no other wireless signal is interfering. Those are:

• WiFi.
• Refrigerators.
• Baby monitors.
• Satellite dishes.
• Smoke detectors.
• Microwave ovens.

Also, watch out for these objects interrupting Bluetooth signals:

• Walls.
• Water (ex: Fishtank).
• Metal objects (ex: Filing cabinets).

With that, remove any object that you can. Or, move your devices away from such things.

Fun fact: Granite can also interfere with Bluetooth signals. That’s because it contains Uranium, which also affects wireless connections.

You might also want to know: WiFi vs Bluetooth Speakers: 3 Sound Quality Comparisons

#4: Adjust sound settings

Apart from the wires or possibilities of a wireless interference…

You should also adjust the sound settings of your speakers immediately. Especially if you’re a fan of blasting music out loud.

So, these are the settings you need to change (if they’re present in your speakers):

• Bass.
• Treble.
• Volume.

And if those you set those to the highest level…

Then that causes the crackling sound. 

It’s because your speakers can’t handle such extreme settings.

Warning: This can even lead to your speakers being blown out.

Read also: 9 Best Equalizer Settings For Car Audio (Bass Mid Treble)

#5: Restart your audio source device

Your speakers are making crackling sounds because of glitches from your audio device.

But restarting your device can help. Especially since they’re only temporary and easy to fix. 

So, a restart removes some data, which can bring along glitches.

Now, the process of restarting depends on what device you’re using…

But here’s a simple guide on how to do it on the most common devices:

PC

Windows

1. Click the Windows start button (on the screen or your keyboard).
2. Select the Power button on the screen.
3. Choose Restart.

Mac

1. Click the Apple Menu (the Apple logo at the top-left corner).
2. Select Restart.

Phone/Tablet

Android

1. Press and hold the power button until the power options show.
2. Select Restart.

iOs

Manually:

1. Press and hold the power button until a slider appears.
2. Slide the power button on the screen to confirm.
3. Wait for it to turn OFF.
4. Then press and hold the power button again. This time, until the Apple logo shows up.

Complete restart:

Note: Your Assistive Touch should be enabled.

1. Click your Assistive Touch.
2. Select Device.
3. Choose More (3 dots).
4. Select Restart (Backwards play button).

TV

Note: This works for most TVs. That said, it might not be effective on some devices.

1. Grab your remote. And press and hold the power button.
2. A prompt asking you to power off your TV will appear. Which means the restart process has started.

#6: Reset your audio device

Before I tell you how to reset your audio device…

I want to clarify something that most people misunderstand:

Restarting and resetting aren’t the same. And here’s how they differ:

Restart	Doesn’t make any changes on your device. With this, you get to keep your data.
Reset	Creates changes on our device by erasing your data.

Now, if a restart isn’t enough to get rid of the glitches…

Then, it’s time to reset your device to remove everything. 

PC

Windows

1. Select the Windows Start button (on your screen or keyboard).
2. Go to Settings.
3. Find Update & Security and click it.
4. Select Recovery.
5. Under “Reset this PC,” choose “Get Started.”
6. Follow the on-screen prompts to reset.

Mac

Hold these 4 keys together and release after 20 seconds:

1. Option.
2. Command.
3. P.
4. R.

This resets your Mac’s memory.

Phone/Tablet

Android

1. Go to Settings.
2. Choose Reset.
3. Select Erase all data.
4. Click Reset Phone or Reset Tablet.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts for confirmation.

iOs (iPhone or iPad)

1. Open Settings.
2. Choose General.
3. Scroll down and click Reset.
4. Select Erase All Content and Settings.

TV

For TVs, there’s no universal way to perform a reset.

So, what I’ll suggest is for you to do a Google search. The template is:

How to reset [brand] TV.

It’s also optional to include the TV’s model number there. But it’ll help you out on the specific search.

#7: Try to play from a different audio source

Before we move on to thinking it’s really your speakers’ fault…

Try to play from a different audio source first.

For example, you’re playing music on your TV. Then, try switching to your phone or PC.

Best to take your chance on this. That’s because the problem might really be with your audio source.

If the new audio source plays the sound perfectly…

Then, the issue is with your initial device. And to know the exact problem, bring it to a technician.

But if you changed devices and the speaker’s still making crackling sounds…

Then the problem is with your speaker itself.

So, proceed to…

#8: Check the speaker drivers

Now, let’s look at your speakers and their parts.

For this, you must focus on the speaker drivers. Any damage on those causes the crackling on your speakers.

With that, it’s about time you change them.

Now, the 2 kinds you can replace by yourself are:

Cones

Well, as the name suggests, this driver is cone-shaped. And old speakers mostly use this type.

More importantly, you can easily replace them when they’re damaged. 

You just have to ensure that you got the right size (in inches). Then, installment will be easy-peasy.

Domes

At first glance, cones and domes look similar.

But while cones have that deep and spiraling offset…

Domes have a concave part that’s sticking out in the middle. 

Regardless, they’re just as quick to replace as cones. Then again, you just have to use the correct size for your speaker.

You might also be interested in: What Is A 5 Way Speaker? 5 Things You Need To Know

#9: Ask for a technician’s help

If all of those don’t work and your speakers are still crackling…

Then, you’ll need a technician’s help. That’s because the problem’s definitely within the speaker components.

So, bring them to the nearest repair shop. 

There, the technician will diagnose the main issue with your speakers. Then, discuss with you the necessary fixes they’re going to do.

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What causes crackling speakers?

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Crackling speakers are mainly caused by wiring problems. If you’re using a wireless connection, there might be signal interference. Sometimes, your speakers’ components are faulty. Other times, it’s your audio device that’s experiencing issues.

And let me briefly elaborate them. Starting with:

#1: Connection problems

Wired connection

The crackling sounds might be coming from issues on the wires like:

• Loose wirings.
• Overstretched cords.
• Old, worn-down, or damaged wires.
• Wires being moved around or rolled over.

Wireless connection

If your speakers use a Bluetooth connection…

Then, there might be some signal interference going on. Which then leads to that annoying crackling sound on your speakers.

So, go back to fix #3 to see the many objects that cause that disruption.

#2: Audio device issues

As I mentioned, your audio speakers can experience glitching. Which can be the reason for the crackling sounds in your speakers.

“How did glitches even appear on my device?”

Well, technically, a glitch means there’s an error with an unknown cause.

So, there’s no real direct answer to that yet.

However, I did prompt you to fix it with a restart or reset…

That’s because data stored in your device has something to do with it. So, take my advice on that.  

#3: Component issues

Your speakers produce a crackling sound because their components are faulty. 

And you can’t prevent it, especially if your speakers are old.

That aside, there’s a usual component that ends up being damaged. And those are speaker drivers.

But what are they exactly? 

First, we have to start with a technical term here, and it’s:

Transducers

Fun fact: Those are devices that transform energy into another kind.

In the case of speaker drivers…

Electrical energy is changed to mechanical wave energy. The latter is better known as sound waves.

With that said, if the drivers are worn-out or damaged…

Then, there are going to be crackling sounds from your speakers.

That’s because:

The sound waves that the drivers produce aren’t the exact ones they should be making.

Now, you can replace speaker drivers. Even just by yourself. 

But you’ll require a technician’s help if the problem is another component.

I’m talking about a damaged amplifier. 

Don’t get me wrong.

You can replace that yourself, too. 

But you must have some electrical skills for the best result. 

And who else has that kind of skills but a technician, right? So, best you leave it to them if that’s the problem.

“What if it’s not the speaker drivers or amplifier?”

Many other components might be causing the crackling sounds. 

As I’ve mentioned before:

When you bring your malfunctioning device to the technician…

They’ll diagnose the issue first. With that, you’ll know what exactly is the internal issue and how to proceed.