PSW125 Problems: Periodic Humming, Static and Heartbeat Noises

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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 9,820
    Stop spamming our forum.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 9,820
    ^^ Again, this was directed toward a spammer that was posting links for people to click on, not at anyone having a discussion in this thread.
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  • rvs007
    rvs007 Posts: 3
    Hi everyone, I started noticing the dreaded heartbeat noise a week or so ago with my PSW125. Found this thread when I was googling for a solution. I thought I was covered by the 5 year warranty (it was purchased in March 2014 from Best Buy Canada) but to my dismay, the amplifier is only covered for 3 years. Shameful that Polk Audio wouldn't cover all aspect of their product with the 5 year warranty. It's like they know the amplifier would fail first beyond 3 years.

    I see some older posts recommending to contact someone at soundunited.com? Is that still the course of action for Canadian customers? Moderator can you post the latest contact information for getting the heartbeat issue fixed?

    Thank you.
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 7,246
    @KennethSwauger
    Living Room 2.1: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Musical Fidelity A308; NAD M51 DAC; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
    Game Room HT: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 700 x3; Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 350; Definitive Technology ProMonitor 800; Sub - HSU VTF-2 MK5
    Master Bedroom
    Cambridge Azur 551r; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
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  • arulrajj
    arulrajj Posts: 1
    Hi,
    I got Polk Subwoofer Model PSW125 and its not turning on.
    Initially Fuse got blown and replaced it .
    Now fuse is ok ,but the SubWoofer won't power on.
    Not sure on the issue.
    Any suggestions.
    Highly appreciated for your help.

    Thank you
    Arulcckprbzo7l5w.jpeg
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  • affnaff
    affnaff Posts: 1
    Hi, I have a similar issue. started about 6 years since purchased:

    If you want to listen to the sound. First 10 seconds is a low volume, last 10 seconds at higher volume.

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/j20xwkcoz4jtgrf/PWS125 Noise Inssue.mp3?dl=0

    Any help would be appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Nic
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  • curgle
    curgle Posts: 1
    I have a PSW111 sub which has also begun making the heartbeat noise. Started infrequently but is now consistent and the sub is unusable. Seems this is a known issue???? What is the best course of action?

    I'm in Canada (Toronto).

    Appreciate any information or recommendations!
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 46,151
    Try contacting the Canadian distributor for Polk to see if a replacement amp is available.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • stjen666
    stjen666 Posts: 1
    Hi, PSW125 makes all sorts of weird noises if powered up. No audio connections just power. Bought at future shop not sure when definitely more than 3 years serial number AM122511042. How do I get this fixed?
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  • mfd4843
    mfd4843 Posts: 1
    Hi,
    I have a Polk PSW110. It started with the heartbeat sound about a week ago. Now I am also getting what I've heard referred to as a 60hz hum. The hum comes and goes, but the heartbeat sound is constant. It doesn't change in loudness if you turn the volume up or down. Is Polk doing anything for this, or is it just too late. Any information would be appreciated.
    Best regards,
    Michael
    5/21/2019
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  • 2019polk
    2019polk Posts: 1
    Hi there,

    I have a 3 year old psw125 with the exact same heart beat problem. The sub only seems to work when on max volumn and then even cuts in and out. I’m based in Australia. Are you able to please confirm who the best person is to contact and also if Polk has ended up doing any replacements free of charge due to the huge issue they have ? Thank you
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  • chros
    chros Posts: 5
    edited September 2019
    chros wrote: »
    Hey Guys! I started to have the very exact problem yesterday (mine is 1.5 years old), google lead me here. Reading the comments tells me that it's the amp, only 1 RCA cable is used for LFE from my Yamaha AVR. Noise isn't there only (!) if I unplug the power cable, otherwise it's always present:
    - when RCA cable is plugged off (means no input at all)
    - doesn't matter if the switch on the back is on/auto/standby mode
    - doesn't matter where the potmeters are set (lfe/volume)
    - doesn't matter where the phase switch is set

    So, after around 2 years later, the replacement amp board started to do the same thing around 2 months ago :(
    I tried to contact Gil again, but didn't get back any reply this time.
    blackice36 wrote: »
    Same issue with my psw125. Heartbeat for a few months, and now no output. Found a site describing 2 bad caps. Might try to follow his suggesting and repair myself. Polk wants $120 for a board. Caps are 50 cents each. Wish this was covered under the 5 year warranty. Shameful failure rate polk....

    http://mrfxr.com/polk-subwoofer/

    Thank you so much for the info!
    I ended up in a local repair shop, giving them the link you've posted plus the original amp board and asking them to replace only the 2 problematic capacitors with a better ones from the article (a lower ripple rate and longer lifetime). They just did and it works fine again for 2 days now. I can only hope that this time it will last around 5 years :)
    2019polk wrote: »
    I have a 3 year old psw125 with the exact same heart beat problem. The sub only seems to work when on max volumn and then even cuts in and out. I’m based in Australia. Are you able to please confirm who the best person is to contact and also if Polk has ended up doing any replacements free of charge due to the huge issue they have ? Thank you
    Can't you connect your retailer instead?
    I was surprised that you can't even buy a pws 125 anymore :) See above for the rest.
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  • Hakan
    Hakan Posts: 1
    Same problem [humming and heartbeat] on the 125, also purchased some 6 yrs ago, in Canada. I actually bought TWO of them, at the same time, and BOTH have started more or less at the same age. Is Ken still moderating or involved with this forum?
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,659
    Hello,
    I'm no longer a moderator, however I try and help out where I can. I'm not sure who to send you to in Canada, it used to be [email protected] was the way to contact the Canadian manager. If that doesn't work send an email to [email protected] and he'll help.
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  • Nhorrocks
    Nhorrocks Posts: 5
    Hello. I have two psw125 subs that have the heartbeat static noise issue. I'm in melbourne Australia. Is there someone from polk customer service that could help me please. Thank you :)
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  • Asali
    Asali Posts: 1
    Hi all,

    I've had this same issue. Polk customer service gave me a few numbers to try for repair shops and all the shops said this is a very common issue with the 110 and 125 and, unfortunately, they don't make the amplifier anymore so there isn't anything they can do. I really don't understand why Polk would allow this product to continue to be sold when they know it's a lemon. It should have been recalled. At the very least, continue the production of the amplifier so that we can get it repaired. Thought I was a Polk customer for life (still enjoying my LSiM 703s) but this was unacceptable.
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  • rvs007
    rvs007 Posts: 3
    About two years ago, I ran into the dreaded heartbeat problem and I posted in this thread for help. I ended up reaching out to Kim @ Polk Audio and he graciously provided a replacement board free of charge even though my subwoofer was out of warranty. It was a nice goodwill gesture that kept me as a Polk customer, and I ended up buying more Polk speakers knowing that even if their products might run into issues, at least they are willing to stand behind them with great customer support.

    However, less than two years later, the subwoofer with the replacement board is now outputting a constant, hissing/static sound that sounds even worst than the heartbeat problem two years prior. I contacted Kim again but it seems this time, there's no more goodwill gestures and the only option is to pay $100 for another replacement board. But I'm now worried that their replacement boards are only lasting 2 years, at which time it's another $100 down the drain.

    If the cost of the replacement board was more reasonable, it wouldn't bug me a lot to just pay for another replacement board. But given I paid $230CAD originally for the PSW125, having to pay $100 every couple of years seems very steep (that's nearly half the cost of the subwoofer)!

    Home theatre equipments are meant to last for years if not decades. With the PSW-125 broken again, I ended up pulling an old Quest subwoofer that I purchased almost 20 years ago out of storage and fired it up in my current HT setup and it sounded great.
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  • pvimalk1
    pvimalk1 Posts: 1
    Hi . I’m also facing the same humming noise . I’m residing at southern part of India called Chennai. Any support available near to our place would be highly useful
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  • SeleniumFalcon
    SeleniumFalcon Posts: 1,026
    I recommend sending an email to: [email protected] and explain your situation.
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  • GustavoMarin
    GustavoMarin Posts: 1
    I'm having the same problem. Check the post from chros and also this link:

    It helped me to start to figure out what I need to fix.
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  • rvs007
    rvs007 Posts: 3
    GustavoMarin wrote: »
    I'm having the same problem. Check the post from chros and also this link:

    It helped me to start to figure out what I need to fix.

    Thanks for posting that but unfortunately it's not an easy fix for the average person.
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