Random popping from PSW350...?

hobbes

Here's a mystery for you all...

A recently purchased PSW350 occasionally emits a short series of low-frequency "pops" regardless of the type of audio or volume, and occurs even when there is no input signal.

I've tried line-level inputs, speaker-level inputs, filtered, unfiltered, and leaving the power switched "On" or "Auto". The pops continue... at seemingly random intervals, several times an hour.

Any ideas as to what might be causing this?

(Thanks for your help!)

sgtgto

Hi:

Try plugging it into a different AC outlet and see if the pops still occur.

Gary

[Deleted User]

Hello,
Thanks for participating in the Forum. Most of the time these kind of random popping sounds can be attributed to transient spikes occurring somewhere in your house electrical system. Something, it could be your hot water heater, furnace thermostat, refrigerator compressor is placing a small spike in the 110 Volt AC power. This spike is detected by either your receiver or the sub-woofer and the pop results. There are various "spike arrestors" available, some are incorporated as part of AC line filters. However, the best approach is to find where the spike is originating (sometimes you have to experiment with determining when the pops occur and seeing which appliance is triggering it) and treat the source. Most of the time a transient suppressor can be installed, by an electrician, on the culprit. These are usually a high voltage capacitor placed across the electrical connection of the appliance, but this should be done professionally.
There is a possibility that placing your audio components on another AC outlet in the house (sometimes not easy to do) could isolate your sound system from the other devices. Many audio enthusiasts have a "dedicated" audio/video line installed just to offer that kind of improvement. The popping is probably not hurting anything, more of an annoyance than anything, but they can be eliminated with a little detective work.
Regards, Ken Swauger

dylan

I'm also getting loud popping sounds from PSW350, but I have mine connected to a Uninterruptible Power Supply (I live in the country and our power is flaky). A friend of mine just bought the PSW350, and it also is popping. Both of our popping consistently occurs during low end effects (with DVD's). Is there a trend here? I've tried all the crossover and sub volume adjustments I can. I'm using the LFE in from a Denon 3802 receiver. Is there anything to protect the sub from 'too' low effects, like I've read here the Phantom Menace can go to 10hz?
Thanks for any thoughts, I really appreciate any help.

hobbes

Hello again!

Not sure if this could be related to the other post, but i've identified the culprit in my "random popping" issue: a cell-phone

As i prepared to move the sub to try a different power supply, the cell-phone (sitting about a foot from the sub) rang, and the subwoofer simultaneously belched out a truly impressive roar.

After determining that the world wasn't coming to a sudden, violent end, i moved the phone a couple of feet farther from the sub, and have not heard a pop since. Put the phone anywhere near the unit however, and the popping returns (presumably occurring every time the phone sends a checkin/identification pulse.)

Hope this helps... and thanks again for the replies!

sgtgto

Hi:

That's a new one on me

Gary

kg2mb

Hi all
My 350 "poped" in the middle of the dvd movie "the phantom
menace".I pulled off the grill and gently touched the
cone and sure enough,it makes a poping sound wether
the 350 is on or off.It does it almost contiuasly now so
im gonna call polk(its still under warrranty)hopefully
ill just have to send them just the woofer.

Billm57

did you ever talk to Polk Support? I noticed popping when viewing PHantom Menace also

crewchief68

I too have noticed this problem with the 350. Don't even try to watch Fight Club, and the THX logo at the start of Phantom just crushes it.
I came across an article that talked about running the subs 'hot', and this seems to have helped. Basically cut the LFE output on your reciever to about 1/4 the way up. If your range is -10 - +10 then somewhere around -5 or -6. Then crank the amp on the sub to about 3/4 power. The lower output from the reciever provides a cleaner signal, and the power from the amp really helps on the true low end effects. Also helps get lower lows from traditional sources like broadcast tv and....shudder-to-think....video tape.
Also, direct only LFE to the sub, set all other speakers to large in the set up menu. As much as I love the Polk sound, this sub just can't seem to handle all those low freqs at once. Or try sending just the center speaker low freqs in addition to the LFE.