Pulsating buzz from PSW150

rledfo

Hello all,
I have a PSW150 purchased new in 1998. Recently it has developed a pulsating buzz sound that comes alive when you a) run a signal to the sub and b) when you move the cone with your hand. I have unplugged all of the input cables yet the pulse of a buzzing sound still evolves once the cone is moved.

I tried switching out the driver (a friend has the same sub with no issues and was kind enough to let me borrow his driver to troubleshoot the situation) and yet the buzz sound still reared its ugly head. This leads me to believe the problem lies somewhere in the amplifier of this unit.

Any ideas of what this issue could be? I assume I would have to send the amp in for service. Where would one send such a device?

Thanks in advance for any help given.

Ron

RuSsMaN

Thanks for the post Ron. You need to contact Polk Customer Service directly tomorrow morning.

Customer Service:
polkcs@polkaudio.com
9am - 6pm, M-F, EST (USA)
800-377-7655 toll free phone
410-764-5470 fax

They will step you through some basic troubleshooting, but it sounds like you need to send the amplifier in to Polk for repair, and they will certainly help with that.

Cheers,
Russ

treitz3

Welcome to the forum rledfo!

[Deleted User]

Hello:
Thanks for contacting us. Here's a fool proof way to test to see if the sub-woofer is the cause:
1). turn the volume all of the way down on the sub-woofer and remove all of the connecting cables/wires except the AC power cord.
2). find the right and left RCA cables that go from your DVD player to the receiver and remove them at the back of the receiver.
3). bring the DVD player over to the sub-woofer and provide AC power for the DVD player, then connect the right and left RCA cables from the DVD player to the corresponding right and left inputs on the sub-woofer.
4). begin playing any CD (not a DVD, but a CD) and turn the volume up slightly on the sub-woofer. There should be plenty of clean sounding bass with no bad noises. Let the CD play completely through and try stopping and starting the player.
Let me know the results.
Regards, Ken

rledfo

Kenneth, here are the results:

I did just as you directed and as the bass notes played through the sub, the buzzing and distortion overwhelmed the sounds of good, clean bass.

What should I do next?

Ron

rledfo

I assume since it didn't pass the test that I should ship it in for an assessment.
Where should I ship it?
How should I ship it?
What documentation should I include?

Thanks!
Ron