Should a subwoofer run dead silent when it's turned on?

Underworld54
Underworld54 Posts: 43
edited March 2010 in Subwoofer Hookup & Bass Management
When a subwoofers power is turned on should they run dead silent? My last 2 subs have had a slight buzz coming from them. Is this just the current running through it or is it something else? Like I said it's been the current and past sub and each sub was used in a different apartment. I'm just curious.
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  • bevo
    bevo Posts: 306
    edited February 2010
    Mine is dead silent.
    Denon 1909, want to upgrade for pre outs
    Fronts-polk RTi A5
    center-polk CSi A4
    Sides Polk FXi A6
    rears- polk rm8's
    sub-SVS pb-13 ultra
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    Buttkicker(don't use or need it anymore since getting the Ultra)
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  • TouchOfEvil
    TouchOfEvil Posts: 967
    edited February 2010
    Unless you have grounding issues or getting noise from your cables it should be silent.
    All mine are.
    Living Room Rig:D
    Rotel RSP-1069/Rotel RMB-1095/Rotel-1072/Polk lsI15's W/modded xoverW/DBsubs/Polk LsiC/lsI7's/Klipsch sub-12"the weak link"/DLP Mitsubishi 65"
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    M.Br. setup:)
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    Computer Rig:
    Rotel RB1050/Tannoy DC4's/Klipsch RW-10d/ImodIpod/HK AVR230 for now....
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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited February 2010
    Yep, my sub is quiet as a mouse......I will say when I was using a basic sub cable I did have a quiet hum at times, once I upgraded to a quality Monoprice cable hum was non-exsistant.
    Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
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  • packetjones
    packetjones Posts: 1,059
    edited February 2010
    Yes it should be silent. Chances are you have a ground loop issue or maybe a bad cable. Are you using the same cable on both of these subs. Have you tried plugging it into a different outlet? Does it hum when it is not connected to the receiver at all?

    Just some things to look into.
    Front - RTiA5's
    Rear - RTiA3's
    Center - CSiA4
    Sub - PSW110
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  • Underworld54
    Underworld54 Posts: 43
    edited February 2010
    packetjones wrote: »
    Yes it should be silent. Chances are you have a ground loop issue or maybe a bad cable. Are you using the same cable on both of these subs. Have you tried plugging it into a different outlet? Does it hum when it is not connected to the receiver at all?

    Just some things to look into.

    With the cable unattached to it, it still buzzes. To test it I unplugged everything from it and turned it on. I have yet to try it in a different outlet. The sub seems to perform well so i'm not sure what's up. Is there something I can try to get the buzz to go away? I hear cheater plugs are a bad idea.
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  • Underworld54
    Underworld54 Posts: 43
    edited February 2010
    Tried a different outlet and it still buzzes.....hmmmm. :confused:
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited February 2010
    ground loop isolator
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  • Huck344
    Huck344 Posts: 453
    edited March 2010
    zarrdoss wrote: »
    ground loop isolator

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the sub is buzzing when nothing is connected to it, is he experiencing an actual ground loop problem or another issue? My understanding is that if the sub buzzes when nothing is connected there is no actual "loop" and it could be a sub amp issue or something else.

    By the way Underworld, what kind of sub are you running?
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  • Underworld54
    Underworld54 Posts: 43
    edited March 2010
    Huck344 wrote: »
    Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the sub is buzzing when nothing is connected to it, is he experiencing an actual ground loop problem or another issue? My understanding is that if the sub buzzes when nothing is connected there is no actual "loop" and it could be a sub amp issue or something else.

    By the way Underworld, what kind of sub are you running?

    I am running a Accoustic Audio HD Sub10.
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited March 2010
    try another outlet in another room with nothing connected. I am guilty of using a cheater plug to get rid of the ground to remedy the problem, not the best solution but was at my wits end.
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  • Underworld54
    Underworld54 Posts: 43
    edited March 2010
    zarrdoss wrote: »
    try another outlet in another room with nothing connected. I am guilty of using a cheater plug to get rid of the ground to remedy the problem, not the best solution but was at my wits end.

    I tried another room last night and it still buzzed at the same level as it has in the previous outlet it was plugged into.
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited March 2010
    try the cheater just for s**ts and grins.
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  • Underworld54
    Underworld54 Posts: 43
    edited March 2010
    zarrdoss wrote: »
    try the cheater just for s**ts and grins.

    Tried that already too...:)
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,441
    edited March 2010
    Underworld54 wrote: »
    Tried a different outlet and it still buzzes.....hmmmm. :confused:

    The different outlet could still be on the same circuit and could be the reason you still have a buzz. I had that problem with a buzz found out it was the old fridge i kept all the adult beverages and soda pop in it was on the same circuit. The fridge was going bad and i had thought it was as it just didn't feel as cold as it used to. I got a new fridge and then ran a dedicated circuit for my audio gear. 20amp breaker on the top of the circuit breaker box two new dedicated ground outlets and some 12ga. wire to the breaker so nothing in the house shares the same breaker. works wonders
    I have two subs in my HT neither one buzz dead quite until they need to make big booms:)
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited March 2010
    Underworld54 wrote: »
    Tried that already too...:)

    same result? if so it could be something in your sub is bad, or something in your wiring in your apartment such as low or high voltage, noise, etc take it to a friends house and try their electrical. Apartments usually are not known for great wiring or constant voltage.
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  • Underworld54
    Underworld54 Posts: 43
    edited March 2010
    zarrdoss wrote: »
    same result? if so it could be something in your sub is bad, or something in your wiring in your apartment such as low or high voltage, noise, etc take it to a friends house and try their electrical. Apartments usually are not known for great wiring or constant voltage.

    Yeah I have all my gear hooked up through an APC H15 and the power stays between 117 and 121. I haven't seen it drop below that.
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited March 2010
    well it would seem to be an issue with your sub itself then or maybe electrical noise
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  • Underworld54
    Underworld54 Posts: 43
    edited March 2010
    zarrdoss wrote: »
    well it would seem to be an issue with your sub itself then or maybe electrical noise

    Yeah looking so. I don't really have the funds for a new subwoofer so I may have to hold off for a while. I could find someone to install a new Amp plate in the subwoofer, you can get a Dayton one from parts express for a little over $100.

    Oh by the way, I hope I didn't come off as blowing off your suggestions. All of them were very helpful and I appreciate each one. Thanks for taking the time out and helping me with the problem
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited March 2010
    I had a sub that did that. I had to replace the caps in the power supply to get it quite. Now it's dead silent again.
    Turntable: Empire 208
    Arm: Rega 300
    Cart: Shelter 501 III
    Phono Pre: Aural Thrills
    Digital: Pioneer DV-79ai
    Pre: Conrad Johnson ET3 SE
    Amp: Conrad Johnson Evolution 2000
    Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference
    Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited March 2010
    No offense taken. I would do this.

    http://forum.blu-ray.com/subwoofers/85212-official-acoustic-audio-subwoofer-owners-thread-160.html

    I am using that same amp on a 15" kicker comp sealed sub. I have also used a Bash 300 watt amp from PE and would recommend.

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  • Ranger0912
    Ranger0912 Posts: 50
    edited March 2010
    Should be quiet. As noted by a few others, grounding issues are usually the most common culprit when it comes to speaker hum.
    McIntosh MA-7000 Integrated
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,081
    edited March 2010
    zarrdoss...since you have used both plate amps I am looking to purchase, would you recommend the Bash or the Dayton?



    zarrdoss wrote: »
    No offense taken. I would do this.

    http://forum.blu-ray.com/subwoofers/85212-official-acoustic-audio-subwoofer-owners-thread-160.html

    I am using that same amp on a 15" kicker comp sealed sub. I have also used a Bash 300 watt amp from PE and would recommend.

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