QuestionQUESTION: I recently moved and now my subwoofer has no sound coming from it. On occasion it will have what is best described as a "heart beat" coming from it. This occurs regardless of the RCA cable being plugged in or not, or the volume setting on the back, OR the rocker switch for the setting of "auto" or "on" for the power saving mode. If the unit it plugged in, turned on (with a fuse in it) it will either do nothing or sound like a heart. The heart is not always on, sometimes the unit will be on and the heart beat will just start without any music being played. Or, in the middle of a song. In short, it seems random.
I have read that car subwoofers commonly have this problem and it is due to poor grounding. My subwoofer has a two prong electrical plug and thus does not have a grounding prong. Just something that might be the problem but I don't think infinity would have designed it that way if it were a problem.
I am at my wits end and would really like my subwoofer to work again. Please let me know what you think I should do as I am open to ALL suggestions (except lighting the unit on fire, that I won't do.)
ANSWER: You first need to troubleshoot whether of not the heartbeat is coming from the subwoofer or generated by whatever is inputting it.
Disconnect the RCA plugs to the input of the subwoofer and turn the volume all of the way up. Leave it like that and see if the heartbeat is still there. If not the problem is not with the subwoofer. Let me know the outcome.
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QUESTION: It makes the same level noise regardless of the volume knob and if RCA cables for plugged in or not. If the unit is powered on with nothing else done to it, it will eventually make the noise, sometimes. Other times, in the same setting, it will make no noise.
Again, when installed correctly it emits no sound except for the beating noise on occasion. The noise is no different then (or regular) than when it is not connected to the receiver. I am confident it is a problem within the subwoofer unit.
ANSWER: In that case it's a sign that there is an internal problem with the power supply. Sounds like a leaky capacitor. I recommend authorized factory service.
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QUESTION: I am in college so money is very tight. How much would that cost me, ballpark.
Also, is this something an electronics shop maybe able to fix? I have not had good experiences with factory service.
AnswerDepending on the electronics shop. The first thing they would have to do is remove the amplifier from the speaker. Then if they know where to find it's power supply, using a VOM they need to check the filter capacitors to the DC to see if they are discharging correctly. If they know what to look for it will be obvious which capacitor is bad. There is also the possibility of a cold solder connection on the circuit board. If they know what to look for they should check the color or a possible unsoldered connection.
