You leave your house for work and when you return in the evening, the sound system isn’t working. That’s when you will start cursing the subwoofer with helpless words and actions. There are a lot of causatives that may become problematic to your device.
You need to understand that a subwoofer is simply a speaker meant to reproduce frequency sounds ranging from low to mid. You can use it to enjoy even lowest frequencies, reproducing typical sounds that range from 20Htz to 200Htz. Like most speakers, subwoofers are equipped with a cone with diameters ranging from 8 to 21 inches.
Reasons why my Onkyo subwoofer is not working
Since this is an electronic device, failures may arise from various parts, interfering with the item’s performance. Under this section, I will take you through some common issues that might be affecting your subwoofer. Operating with an unresponsive subwoofer can be hectic as it may decide to produce you with low-quality sound.
A piece of advice, these subwoofers tend to use a lot of air to reproduce low frequencies. With that action, you will be able to enjoy the real ‘feel’ of its reproduced sound.
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Problematic driver magnet
Well, a failed driver magnet could be another issue, affecting your Onkyo subwoofer. All woofers are equipped with a cone, situated to an everlasting magnet, but not the electromagnet. For your information, a magnet is normally located at the bottom part of the cone and sits close to a wire coil, sometimes acting as an electromagnet.
Whenever a certain input channels current or voltage signals to a particular electromagnet, it can either attract or repel the perpetual magnet. It then drives the cone to produce sound. However, if the everlasting magnet is broken, some of the magnet poles may change, hindering the subwoofer from reproducing correct sound. It can sometimes fail completely; no sound.
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Faulty cone seal
Like other woofers, subwoofers require accurate air movement to release sound. If you are observant, the cones of these speakers always move forth and back while functioning. It does that by pulling and pushing the air in and out. More so, these cones are fully enclosed with reliable materials.
Now, if the seal is damaged, the speaker can move, but won’t channel properly to the intent space. For instance, the air will rotate the cone’s edges, forth and back to the enclosure. On top of that, the speaker’s resistance also diminishes when the seal fails to deliver correct resistance. Therefore, there could be chances that your speaker moves too fast and too much, triggering impacts with other components of the system.
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Power leakage
If the electromagnetic of your subwoofer lacks sufficient amperage for recharge, the strength will be affected too. The electromagnetic will have insufficient stability to interact with the perpetual magnet successfully. Though this problem hardly happens, it can cause serious issues.
That’s when you will start to see your Onkyo subwoofer misbehaving. Its sound quality might be tempered with or completely produce no sound.
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Short circuit
Short circuit might be another problem, eating your subwoofer making it stop working properly. In fact, this is the major cause of speaker malfunctions. Yes, sometimes the wires of these devices encounter short circuits, preventing smooth flow of electrical current.
Besides, the signal transfer will also be hindered and prevented from reaching your subwoofer as it should. On the other hand, coil short circuits are responsible to severely minimize the power that an electromagnet can produce. Therefore, there will be insufficient power to run the cone.
Troubleshooting a subwoofer that fails to work properly
Before you opt for a replacement and dispose of your bad subwoofer, think about these quick solutions. Remember, these steps are still effective when your stereo fails to produce sound completely. Now, before kick off the troubleshooting process, ensure that all the available equipment is turned off; I mean plus the subwoofer. You are not allowed to disconnect or plug in any cable when there’s something on; it may cause some serious accidental damage.
Well, after powering off your subwoofer, let’s dig deeper to see what are some of these steps.
Step 1: Inspect the wires and connections of the speaker
Right from your woofer, you are supposed to inspect all available connection points and wires channeling to speakers, amplifiers, or receivers. The basic thing about these components is to ensure they are all functional. Besides, you should ensure that available cords are connected tightly. Try to tighten loose wires, ensuring they’re linked to correct ports.
Doing so will tackle or prevent short circuit problems. If your subwoofer is linked to the speaker outputs on either an amplifier or receiver, check the length of the wire if they are defective. If you spot a torn, worn, or broken wire, replacing them can be the best solution before using the device again. After confirming all the wires and connections are okay, try to power on your device and see if the problem is persistent. If there’s no change, proceed to the second step and see if it will work for you.
Step 2: Check fuse, outlets, and power cables
Some subwoofers incorporate standby LEDs that glow whenever the power is active. You should therefore check this and if it is not lit, make sure that your subwoofer is securely connected to a power source like power strip, surge protector, or wall socket. Halfway plug will result in sufficient power flow. Therefore don’t forget to bend the plug’s prongs gently to allow them to sit in the place.
More so, you should ensure that all essential switches are turned to the on direction. In case the woofer becomes reluctant to start, maybe you should consider connecting it into any available different outlet. Now with the wires from the speaker, check the power cable of the subwoofer for faults or damages.
Alternatively, since some woofers come with a fuse that may either require detaching a back plate; some may not. In case your sub’s fuse is separate, use your electronic skills to inspect it; it may require a replacement. If you are not sure about this step, I would recommend consulting the nearest repair shop or the manufacturer. This step may work if you are lucky; if the problem persists, advance to the next step.
Step 4: Check Menu and system settings
Now that you have confirmed all the cords and wires are in good working condition, recheck the settings of your amplifier and receiver. This could be the problem and somebody accidentally altered it. You should therefore scrutinize to ensure the sub operates with the right sound input selections. Check also to ensure that the output of your subwoofer has not been altered.
On the other hand, if your input electronic portrays speaker size adjustments, select the lowest option first. You should understand linking the speaker to a bigger speaker may prevent it from receiving a signal. In fact, some receivers can allow subs to run with huge speaker settings. Revise your user manual to get extra information before you fully initiate this step.
Step 4: Wind up the process
Under this step, you are required to verify connections, power on your sub before setting the volume. After you are done with verifying all the settings or connections, power on your subwoofer and be observant. Confirm the level of the amplifier and your sub before channeling any sound input.
For instance, you should start with a low volume and then gradually advance to an enormous one. Doing so will tell you if the sub works properly. Still under this step, you should choose your favorite song as long as it has low-end bass. Observe whether there are any problems or if you are unsatisfied with the entire process.
Step 5: Replacing subwoofer
This is the last step, and should come when you’ve given up. Besides, you should opt for this step; ensure that your sub completely produces no sound or power. Sometimes it may even power, but fails to play; replacement can be the best solution to such an unresponsive device.
You should also try to plug a separate sub to a sending electronic to be sure that the problem is not emanating from the sender. Keenly observe how the second sub works, and if it operates properly, just know that the first subwoofer is defective and needs replacement. Hit the road to the market for a new sub.
Read also our another review: How To Fix Subwoofer With No Sound
Frequently asked questions:
- My subwoofer isn’t producing any sound why?
Power cord defects could be the major problem for this issue. Therefore, you should want to make sure that the device is connected to an active AC power outlet. The subwoofer should be in a position to get enough power for normal functioning. In case there’s not a thumping sound, just know that your subwoofer needs some services.
- My subwoofer is smoke. What could be the problem?
In case you sub produce smoke, especially from the speaker, it’s possible that voice calls are being heated than expected. They could have been completely blown or damaged. This problem therefore arises when the voice coils are hardly driven, excess power and too much distortion for an extended period.
Final words
Solutions are in this article if you have been keen about each section. Sometimes electronic devices come with minor defects, only to stress you. There are some issues that you can handle yourself, but some may require the hand of an experienced electrician. The above report should help you diagnose common faults in onkyo subwoofers and how to troubleshoot them.
If you are not sure with the troubleshooting process, don’t open your sub; consult an expert. Alternatively, you may revise your device user manual to get extra information on suspected complications.
