How do I know if my sub is blown?

peter679
peter679 Posts: 5
edited December 2011 in Subwoofer Hookup & Bass Management
When the sub is on, for 1 there is hum or buzz, I've tried 3 different outlets but still there. when music is playing there is a buzz or tick sound it's not a good bass sound at all.
It's weird the sub hasn't been used in a minimum of 2 months, I get a new receiver plug it in turn on the sub and the buzz/hum change outlets and then the clicking sound.. terrible!

I'm pretty sure it is, I'm just looking for a definitive answer.

Thanks all!
Pete
Post edited by peter679 on
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  • peter679
    peter679 Posts: 5
    edited November 2011
    Here's some video so you can hear:
    http://youtu.be/QMDle7QrdeM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlfuiOa2yIo

    Any help is appreciated.

    P
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited November 2011
    If your sub has a content look on it's face it has probably been blown!!!!!
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • djperez81
    djperez81 Posts: 388
    edited November 2011
    decal wrote: »
    If your sub has a content look on it's face it has probably been blown!!!!!
    LMAO... Good one
    Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.
    -Jimi Hendrix
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  • djperez81
    djperez81 Posts: 388
    edited November 2011
    I would recommend trying to hook it up to a friends gear. If it works you might have a ground problem at your house. Otherwise it probably is blown.
    Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.
    -Jimi Hendrix
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  • peter679
    peter679 Posts: 5
    edited November 2011
    As far as I know it doesn't have a smile on it's face!! LOL that's a classic response btw...

    i guess the issue is I don't have any friends with a home theater, my crappy setup was the only one...

    I will say it worked fine with my onkyo receiver.. I swapped the onkyo for the marantz on thursday and it started humming... where the hell could the ground be coming from? Why all of a sudden?
    I'm going to plut the onkyo back in and see if the issue is the same..

    -Thanks
    Pete
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  • peter679
    peter679 Posts: 5
    edited November 2011
    I hooked my kids Ipod up to the sub to test it and it's toast :( I'm SOL.. searching CL for a new sub ...

    damn shame! Been a technightmare of a year for me..

    -P
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  • samnor
    samnor Posts: 155
    edited November 2011
    well there are two things that can "blow". One the amplifier and the second the voicecoil/driver... I had the problem that all of a sudden when I was listening to music, the sub made a whining noise and did so even when no source was connected to it (just the power cord). After checking the voice coil (basically gently push on the driver and see if it travels back and forth without any scraping sound)... the usual suspect is the amplifier. you may be able to get one from partsexpress for cheap (may need to retrofit to get it in the cabinet though)... however if the sub doesnt cost more than 3-400$ you may be better off just getting a new sub.
    Fronts: Wharfedale diamond 9.6
    Sub: Wharfedale sw250
    Rears: Wharfedale diamond 9.1
    Center: Paradigm cc-350
    Pre-amp: Oppo dv981hd
    Amp for fronts: Parasound hca-1500a
    Amp for rears: Adcom gfa-5400
    Amp for center: Marantz MA500 monoblock
    Polk multimedia speakers for PC setup
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  • peter679
    peter679 Posts: 5
    edited November 2011
    so let me ask, I plugged the amp into several outlets one floor and without connecting it to the amp all I get is a hum/buzz.
    I still don't know how this happened, I didn't do anything but buy a new amp.

    thanks
    -P
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  • Jonn Wain
    Jonn Wain Posts: 41
    edited November 2011
    decal wrote: »
    If your sub has a content look on it's face it has probably been blown!!!!!

    Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, he said blown.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited November 2011
    sorry man, but that squawking sound is so funny to me.. coming from a subwoofer.

    seriously, i'm rolling here. :razz:

    sounds like the voice coil is fried.. IE: blown

    contact polk audio customer support on Monday and see what they recommend for a fix...
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • emy
    emy Posts: 7
    edited December 2011
    Inspect the woofer. Look at the cone on the sub woofer and see if there are any cracks. The cone is the main part of the front of the speaker: it resembles a hubcap and is where the sound comes out. Cracks here are the most obvious symptom of a blown woofer. However, a cone that looks normal may still be blown.

    Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_7388998_tell-woofer-blown.html
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