Has this ever happened to you? Typically it's been it works or it doesn't, for me.
Cranked the volume, went through all the settings last night, it will still get kind of loud. But even the better half when we want to listen to Gojira, Kendrick Lamar, Meshuggah, we want to FEEL the bass and it was just suddenly not there.
And we haven't been working it hard the last few months. Since I'm going to have to buy another it seems, I'm thinking an SVS, any better suggestions less than $1000?
We don't have a ton of sq ft, but a lot of cubic ft with big ceilings.
Are there any wires that have been bumped or a phase switch/dial that could have been moved? Is it getting full power?
dj06482 (Forum Supporter) said:
Are there any wires that have been bumped or a phase switch/dial that could have been moved? Is it getting full power?
As far as I can tell nothing changed. It's powered, so it just needs the LFE signal from the receiver.
I went through I think basically all the settings last night. We can still hear it, but even using the volume knob on the sub itself turned all the way up, it used to rattle the house now we can just hear vs feeling it.
If that makes sense.
Time for a new clutch IMO.
preach said:
Time for a new clutch IMO.
I think I'm going to make the rounds tomorrow to see what the stores have in stock.
Pull the plate off the sub and inspect for bulging caps or burnt things.
Sometimes you get a failed doohickey on the board and it sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. The driver/speaker is dirt stupid. It's just a magnet and a coil, so unless the manufacturer did something really idiotic, it's not the failure point usually.
I had a Boston Acoustics 2.1 setup in the camper and it died that way. It would power up and work for about 20 seconds, then it would start clicking, then it would just fade out. I tested it by bypassing the plate and powering the driver with a 2.1 amp and it worked fine. I replaced the plate amp with a piece of plywood and a speaker terminal cup and now I run it off that little 2.1 amp instead.
Edit to add: I suppose it wouldn't hurt to inspect the cabinet and the cone surround as well. Years of pressure and vibes could have put a crack in a seam or caused the port to wiggle off inside.
I'm super happy with my Definitive Technology sub. I have a small living room, but for an 8" with a passive radiator and 300W, it hits HARD. 3db down point is 34hz which is impressive and it will do a very respectable 20hz. They do a 10" version as well around $800 and a 12" version at around $1100.
I got my ProSub 800 as an open box from Crutchfield for $275. The ProSub line has apparently been replaced with a new line called Descend
Powered Subwoofers, Home Theater Subwoofers (crutchfield.com) Not a canoe, just sharing a review.
Have I told the story of my Bose 901s?
Had a sweet set of first gen Bose 901s with the pedestal stands. When I came to NH for college I had to store them in dad's attic.
One day I came over and my step-mom handed me $20. "I sold your old speakers at the yard sale today."
WTF!
If you wanna feel the music, set up an infinite baffle system in an attic, crawlspace, or closet. Couple of 18s, couple thousand watts, and you are off to the races.
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
Thanks! That brand has also been on the radar. I didn't get a chance to roam the stores this weekend, yet another eye/eyelid infection I'm still dealing with.
The Polk towers I have, have been going strong for 10+ years. I forget the exact model number, but they have 3 6.5" and a tweeter and I have them bi-amped through the receiver. But since this is 2nd or 3rd Polk sub that has died on us, I'm ready to spend the $$$ to have one that will thump and last.
I've driven mine hard since about 2017. No complaints.
It actually worked out very well for me. I got an open-box from Crutchfield for cheap, and when I got it, it had a rattle. Sounded like something on the crossover board wasn't glued down properly. So they sent me a brand new one
SVS owner since 2012. It is a PB 1000 (10" ported box) which is no longer in production. It is part of a 5.1 system and I used to drive it pretty hard but have backed off in recent years as our dog does not like the "thunder" it produces. Very happy with it and set up properly in our 20'x20' cathedral ceiling room would give a decent "punch in the chest" feeling on the best movie explosions. I would really like an excuse to try a SVS 12" or 15" but love my doggo way too much :)
I used to have an 18" DTX sub powered off a 400-watt sub amp. While not the best in music quality, that thing was so much fun. When the explosion on the TV feels like you are sitting in the middle of it, it takes movies to a whole new level. It was also the reason my turntable was hung from the ceiling on springs.
Unfortunately, I have no recommendations. All my good stuff is gone. My son has my Polks, a lightning strike took out my D9s and Onkyo amp. The only thing left is a stack of LPs, the turntable that is collecting dust, an old Yamaha receiver, and a set of 30-year-old Acoustic Research bookcase speakers that I haven't listened to in years.
Your Polk story is the second time I heard about reliability issues with Polk. Might be a coincidence, but it will make me think twice about their subs
I've also heard great things about the knockdown kits from Parts Express. I did a few of their DIY kits - two sets of c-notes and a portable bluetooth thing. Very impressed with those.
SUB kits
Are you up to building one?
My Sub Build
I've built two of these. They are absolutely amazing, but you do have to source the correct driver, but that's easy.
i'd avoid powered subs. When the amp goes (like now) the whole thing is scrapped, or you're trying to make another plate amp fit the hole and driver specs.
