A subwoofer is a kind of loudspeaker designed to produce the lowest audio registers of sound called bass and sub-bass. It is bought as a stand-alone system or as part of a whole sound system. You may be listening to some music, and suddenly the sound goes off. Do not worry! It might be easy to fix the subwoofer without involving a specialist. However, you will need to follow a few steps to get your subwoofer into functionality. The following guide will help you to determine the issue with your subwoofer and save time and money. You will also have the satisfaction of being able to fix a simple problem all by yourself.
1. Check whether the power is on
The subwoofer can be off due to a breakdown of power. It is easy to tell whether the power is on or off by looking at the LED indicator light. When the power is on, the LED indicator light will be lit. If the amplifier has an inbuilt crossover control, check whether its frequency control is off. It is important to check whether the power switch is on by examining the power strip, wall socket, and surge protector. In case you are using an extension cable, ensure that it is not connected to a button.
2. Turn the volume of your subwoofer up
If the power is on and the sound is still off, check the volume levels of the subwoofer. Ensure to increase the volume and lower it to its lowest, then increase it again. It is important to check the volume of the amplifier or receiver. If the problem does not resolve go to the next step.
3. Examine the wires and connections of the subwoofer
If the sound does not resume after going through the volume of the subwoofer, you need to examine the connections of the subwoofer, amplifiers, speakers, and receivers. Check the plugins and ensure that all cables are positioned firmly and correctly. If the sound doesn’t resume, check the wires to see whether they are torn, damaged, or worn out. Fix any issue that you may come across and check whether the subwoofer is producing the sound.
4. Check the Fuse
Sometimes, the subwoofer can go off if the fuse is damaged. The subwoofer fuse may burn out if you drive the subwoofer very loud and hard. It is good to check the condition of the fuse, and if it’s not good, you must replace it with another one. At times, the back plate may also require to be removed. In case you are not comfortable with removing a fuse, you can consult a specialist. However, changing the fuse is not complicated.
After disconnecting the flow of the electrical current, locate the fuse first. It is normally located within the speaker dome or along the wires of your subwoofer. You could also get it on the amplifier of your subwoofer. Once you find it, determine whether it is a tube-type fuse or a flat-square-plugin fuse. Remove the spoilt fuse and replace it with the correct fuse. Test the system and see whether the subwoofer will produce any sound.
5. Check the settings of your sound system
You should begin by evaluating the settings of the amplifier and the receiver. Their settings can be adjusted too. Also, ensure that the speaker settings of your sound system are configured correctly. The subwoofer cannot work If the settings on the speaker are not correct. Ensure that the subwoofer is supported in the SP(speaker pattern) settings. On your system menu setting, go to select settings, select speaker, and then select speaker SP. The speaker pattern should either end with a .1 or .2. The subwoofer cannot work if the subwoofer ends with .0. If the sound system has an inbuilt crossover frequency control, set it off.
6. Test the subwoofer
After troubleshooting through the guide listed above, turn on your subwoofer and check the level of its volume. Begin by turning on a low volume as you gradually increase it to test whether the subwoofer is working correctly or not. If the issue is not resolved after following all the steps, It is an indication that the subwoofer is blown out. It is recommendable that you buy a new one to continue enjoying your music.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on common Subwoofer issues and their diagnostics:
1. What Causes A Subwoofer To Stop Working?
More often than not, a subwoofer stops working when the signals fail to reach the speaker. The signals may break down due to several things such as blown fuses and capacity that do not offer the right voltage to the subwoofer. Loose cables can also make the signals not reach the speaker. It is also important to check whether the subwoofer of a sound system is connected to multiple speakers. A sound system that has many speakers connected to it draws a lot of voltage from the power supply. The capacitor failure can be experienced due to an undersized or overworked power supply.
2. How can you troubleshoot no sound coming from an active subwoofer?
The first thing you need to do is to check whether the power supply is enabled by looking at the LED indicator. The LED indicator light glows when power is on. If the amplifier has an inbuilt crossover control, check whether its frequency control is off. It is important to check whether the power switch is on by examining the power strip, wall socket, and surge protector. In case you are using an extension cable, ensure that it is not connected to a button. Then, examine the volume levels of your subwoofer by increasing the volume and lowering it to its lowest, then increasing it again.
If the sound does not resume after going through the volume of the subwoofer, you need to examine the connections of the subwoofer, amplifiers, speakers, and receivers. Additionally, check the wires to see whether they are torn, damaged, or worn out. Fix any issue that you may come across and check whether the subwoofer is producing the sound. It is also good you check the condition of the fuse, and if it’s not good, you must replace it with another one. At times, the back plate may also require to be removed.
Also, ensure that the speaker settings of your sound system are configured correctly. The subwoofer cannot work If the settings on the speaker are not correct. After completing the troubleshooting process, turn on your subwoofer and check the level of its volume to see if the issue has been resolved.
3. Where is the fuse for the subwoofer located?
It is normally located within the speaker dome or along the wires of your subwoofer. You could also get it on the amplifier of your subwoofer
4. How can you replace a subwoofer fuse without involving a specialist?
The first thing you need to do is to locate where the fuse is. You do this after disconnecting your subwoofer from the power supply. Most of the time, the fuse is
located within the speaker dome or along the wires of your subwoofer. It can also be found on the amplifier of the subwoofer. Once you find it, determine whether it is a tube-type fuse or a flat-square-plugin fuse. Remove the spoilt fuse and replace it with the correct fuse. Test the system and see whether the subwoofer will produce any sound.
5. How do you know that the power of the subwoofer is on?
The subwoofer has a LED indicator lighting that glows when connected to the power supply.
6. How can I tell the subwoofer has blown?
Subwoofers blow when they receive undersized or too much power. A blown subwoofer produces a distorted sound when it has partially blown or no sound at all when completely blown. By reviewing the movement of your subwoofer or using a multi-meter to evaluate whether the coil is blown, you can tell whether or not the subwoofer is damaged.
7. How can I measure the electrical resistance of a subwoofer?
To measure the electrical resistance of a subwoofer, you need to use a multimeter. Begin by disconnecting your subwoofer from the power supply. Then remove audio input from your subwoofer. If your subwoofer is not powered by an external receiver or amplifier, disconnect the sub from its enclosure. Then connect the probes to the multimeter and turn it on to measure the electrical resistance. Insert the two probes in the lead; the black one into the negative lead and the red one in the positive lead. To get the correct electric resistance, you must round up the results to the nearest whole number.
8. Why is the blue light flashing on my subwoofer?
When the power is connected to the subwoofer, its LED indicator lighting begins to glow. You can be listening to some music and the light on the LED indicator changes to red or blue. This is an indication that the connection to the main unit has been lost. However, if this continues, the main unit might require a certain software update.