Geeno

Ive got a 10 year old kenwood surround system, some nice 3 channel speakers (sony) and the subwoofer... It seems as if the sub has shit the bed. I've got two turntables hooked up to a mixer that runs to the receiver, and when Ive got the receiver anywhere under -8db, theres a bunch of feedback coming through the sub, then above that volume - theres nothing at all.

Time for a new receiver? New sub? Should I step my audio game up? Do you think I've lost touch with the streets?

I know some of you around here are very knowledgeable about this kind of thing. I like to play with records and I'm really disappointed with my ability to do so right now.

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Sir-Ex

Have you checked your wires? Make sure they aren't crossed and the red wire is going into the red slot. Also you might want to jiggle the subwoofer for about 25 seconds because that can help sometimes. If neither of those tips work, it's almost certainly a magnet that got caught inside the subwoofer somehow (dunno how, maybe you have some prankster friends) and is fucking with the magnet that's suposed to be in there. In that case you need to open the subwoofer up by unscrewing all the screws and pulling the shell apart. You should see the magnet most likely stuck to the inner edge of the speaker basket. Use pliars to remove it because some magnets are poisonous.

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Smile

Ditch the cigs!!!!!!

~1~

A ten year old sub that I imagine gets some decent use?

Yeah man, lets see you vibrate like that and not give up the ghost after a decade.

Cheap bastard.




On the plus, as it gets closer to black Friday, you'll only have a short wait for a smokin' deal.

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HTAM

To add to that, you might have some kind of shielding problem caused by interference from the current running through wiring located close to the sub.

Hard to diagnose without hearing it. I like the cable theory though. I might just be time to replace them. RCA jacks can wear or deliver a faulty signal if they are not connected correctly.

cantSEEme

this happened to me on a mixer channel on my vs1680. turns out the pot (knob) was going. at lower levels it introduced a hum, and when i turned the knob it would crackle, but when i turned up the volume, the hum would vanish. now that channel has a constant hum, and i cant use it anymore. so if it's not any power cords crossing over audio cords (ground hum), a shielding problem, or the wires or sub itself, then that could be a reason.

edit - nvrmnd. i read it as you had your sub hooked up to a seperate channel mixer, not receiver.

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HTAM

I agree. Potentiometers can be the devil of many problems.
If that is the problem, it could be a very cheap and easy fix.

Or not.

cantSEEme

for my 1680, it would cost as much as a used unit off ebay, so not worth the $ for the fix.

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Geeno

Okay, I'm going to try some things. You've all given me some good ideas.

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Geeno

Who's so bored that they decided to move my thread?

I moved the whole unit to address a possible shielding unit and that didn't help, it appears to be connected within the unit - It's a cheap ass sub that came in the package and I think it's just bumped itself out of order. To get inside I'd have to tear apart the screen on the front, it won't just come off. P lame.

It says its a 100 watt sub with 8 ohm resistance, could I use a voltmeter to verify that the wire is transmitting that? I would assume that if the wire has nothing, then the problem lies in the receiver.

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osirus2020

I would start by removing all the connections that go in and out of your zappy box to check for corrosion or something else causing poor conductivity. Get a small tube of dielectric grease and apply a thin coat to your terminal ends.

Instead of securing left over wire coiled in a circle, lay it over itself in 1' foot increments and zip tie the ends so it keeps an oblong coil shape. Also no wires crossing each other perpendicularly.

I would pick the unit up, shake it and listen for anything loose inside. If it still doesn't work after that, off the train bridge with it.

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Geeno

the ends of the speaker wire appear to be soddered together, not the separate lines but the strands of copper within them.

Or is that corrosion and maybe i should cut those ends off and strip a bit of the plastic back?

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osirus2020

A good sign of heavily oxidized wire would be very dark, almost black coating on any bare wire and will even continue under the insulation.

A lot of times pre-terminated speaker wire ends are soldered so you can use them in the "push and insert" type jacks without fraying the ends of the wire. If you can see shiny silver looking solder then you're probably ok. If the ends look damaged, mangled, dark or hazy you can remove a few inches of wire expose about 3/4" of copper and fold the exposed end until it fits in the jack nicely. This wouldn't hurt to do this regardless the condition of your wire.

A sure test for oxidation would be to remove maybe an inch of insulation and try to solder some of the copper. Heavily oxidized copper won't solder properly if at all.

Also the press and insert (lol) terminals are known to not really hold onto the wire. If you have the means and ability I would install a set of gold plated (not diamonds) screw down terminals.

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Geeno

Alright, I shake the subwoofer and hear nothing loose (no wire juggling or whatever)

I'll probably crack open the ol receiver and make sure everything looks up to par.

I think the wires are fine considering i can spot fine looking copper between the soldered bits and the insulation

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osirus2020

From the sounds of it they're fine. You just never know with 10 year old stuff. Most of the wiring I deal with is exposed to the elements (Jeep) which exacerbates the whole breakdown cycle so it's usually the first think I check for now.

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Geeno

Understandable. Thanks for the help though.

It's funny because my fathers sound equipment from back in the dizzay works fine, while my 2000 era shit is just that... shit.

ps: I think I'm gonna get a jeep when I upgrade vehicles.

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osirus2020

Hell yeah mang. Wrangler?

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Roach

8 ohm impedence , not resistance. A resistance test of the speaker coil will result in maybe <2 ohms resistance.

wires from the receiver carry voltage/current, but testing their resistance would
not give you any useful info.

distortion is most likely in the volume/level control, since you said there is no distortion as volume/loudness is increased ?

having done alot of radio ,tv ,and stereo repair...I'd agree with the reply above, unless you have several thousand tied up in professional (designed to be repaired) equipment, repair is just too expensive for most consumer stuff.

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לזיין את הקופים

Geeno

So you're saying just cop some new gear? Thanks for the ohm correction too

it was like a 250 receiver or so... so no huge investment, certainly paid for itself.

Do you or anyone have recommendations for directions to go with a future receiver?

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