Speaker not working

[Melat0nin]

My band just bought our first practice PA system from a friend of ours whose band just broke up. We got a Yamaha EMX-660 powered mixer, 2 no name main speakers, 1 CGM wedge monitor, and 1 other monitor of which I forget the brand of. Anyways, we took it home and gave it a try. After one song, however, the no name monitor stopped working. We have no idea what the problem was, as we do not know much about speakers. Any ideas what it is and how to fix it?

[dboomer]

First PROVE that it is that speaker by unplugging the speaker and plugging another one into the cable that remains.

If a new speaker works in the suspected speaker's place you know you have a problem in the speaker (box).

Both highs and lows dead? Check the jacks (you DID try both of them didn't you. Did any wires come off? measure with an ohmeter from the leads coming off the jacks. If it's an 8ohm box you should read about 6.5 ohms. If you read zero or more than 50 ohms you are going to need to replace/recone the speaker. One more thing to check ... any components break off the circuit card/x-over?

[Audiopile]

Originally posted by dboomer
First PROVE that it is that speaker by unplugging the speaker and plugging another one into the cable that remains.

Correct. Don't attempt the opposite (and common) trouble shooting practice of plugging a different amp into your questionable speaker.

Also, make sure you turn off your powered mixer (amp) before making the speaker swap.

Originally posted by dboomer
measure with an ohmeter from the leads coming off the jacks.

Chances are you don't have an ohm meter (multimeter)? That's ok... you can still do a "battery check" like this:
http://www.audiopile.net/Technical_Library/battery_speaker_test.JPG
rock the contacts of the battery across the tip and sleeve of the 1/4" connector. The speaker will make a pretty good "click" if it's working. If it doesn't "click", then either the cord or speaker (or both) is funky. Well... make sure you use a battery that still has some spark left in it.

[swedishcubsfan]

Huge advice here! it took my a few tried to figure this out, luckily it never cost me

First PROVE that it is that speaker by unplugging the speaker and plugging another one into the cable that remains.