Subwoofer Broken?
 

Hi everybody, I was hoping you could help me with a problem I have.
This afternoon, I went to a local pawn shop and picked up a Philips
SW-090 Powered Subwoofer for $20. From what I've researched, this is a
90-watt speaker. I brought it home, placed it on the floor (but on a
piece of wood, not right on the carpet) backed up directly against a
wall. I connected it to the output labeled "Subwoofer Pre Out" on the
back of my receiver (an old Kenwood VR-405 Dolby Digital Receiver) with
a generic 75 ohm RCA video cable. My problem is this, even with the
volume turned all the way up on the sub, and the subwoofer adjusted to
+10 dB on the reciever, I am getting less than satisfactory low-end
response, far less than I would expect from a 90-watt Subwoofer at
least. What I would like to know is this:

1.) Is the amp in my subwoofer broken or not working properly?

2.) Is the cable I used insufficient for carrying the signal to my sub?

3.) Is it possible that the output on the reciever is broken or not
working properly?

Thanks in advance,
-Hukuis

Subwoofer Broken?
 

....and pull it a couple feet off the wall.

More than likely, Stan's right. The reciever won't send the proper
signal out to the sub if it thinks your front speakers are handling the
bass. You have to set your fronts to "small" so the lower frequencies
will be cut off and redirected to the sub.

Subwoofer Broken?
 

In article .com,
wrote:

Hi everybody, I was hoping you could help me with a problem I have.
This afternoon, I went to a local pawn shop and picked up a Philips
SW-090 Powered Subwoofer for $20. From what I've researched, this is a
90-watt speaker. I brought it home, placed it on the floor (but on a
piece of wood, not right on the carpet) backed up directly against a
wall. I connected it to the output labeled "Subwoofer Pre Out" on the
back of my receiver (an old Kenwood VR-405 Dolby Digital Receiver) with
a generic 75 ohm RCA video cable.

Try a regular audio RCA cable.

My problem is this, even with the
volume turned all the way up on the sub, and the subwoofer adjusted to
+10 dB on the reciever, I am getting less than satisfactory low-end
response, far less than I would expect from a 90-watt Subwoofer at
least. What I would like to know is this:

1.) Is the amp in my subwoofer broken or not working properly?

If its on and making sounds, its working. Therefore an installation
problem.


2.) Is the cable I used insufficient for carrying the signal to my sub?


Possibly, read above.

3.) Is it possible that the output on the reciever is broken or not
working properly?


If its on and making sounds, its working. Therefore an installation
problem.

Thanks in advance,
-Hukuis


And/or maybe its time for an upgrade already.

hth,

--
Cyrus

*coughcasaucedoprodigynetcough*

Subwoofer Broken?
 

I've checked the pre out level on my reciever, it's set to +10 dB, so
there should be no problem there, and I have my front speakers set to
"Normal" because my reciever does not have a "Small" setting. I guess
if it's certain it's an installation problem, it's probably my cable,
but I didn't realize that a "Subwoofer Cable" is that much different
from a standard 75 ohm RCA cable. What do you mean by time for an
upgrade? Do you mean my reciever? If so, I can't really afford it at
the moment, and although it isn't the most current or powerful model on
the market, it has always done what I've needed it to.

Thanks for the help,
-Hukuis

Subwoofer Broken?
 

Any rca cable will carry the signal, it's just that the ones designed
for subwoofers have the right impedence for the audio signal. Try any
other rca cable just to make sure your cable isn't the issue.

Not sure where you're located but our local forsale newsgroup
(hfx.forsale) often has postings for used gear. I've bought both of my
subs online (A PSB 10 and a PSB 12) with no problems at all. Might be
worth checking to see if there's a group for your area and watching for
a different sub. Mine were both very affordable, $100 and $150
respectively.

Hope you get this figured out!

Subwoofer Broken?
 

"Cyrus" wrote in message
...
In article .com,
wrote:

Hi everybody, I was hoping you could help me with a problem I have.
This afternoon, I went to a local pawn shop and picked up a Philips
SW-090 Powered Subwoofer for $20. From what I've researched, this is a
90-watt speaker. I brought it home, placed it on the floor (but on a
piece of wood, not right on the carpet) backed up directly against a
wall. I connected it to the output labeled "Subwoofer Pre Out" on the
back of my receiver (an old Kenwood VR-405 Dolby Digital Receiver) with
a generic 75 ohm RCA video cable.

Try a regular audio RCA cable.

You can try another cable just to verify that yours is ok. The coax is fine
to use, but the cable may be defective for some reason.


My problem is this, even with the
volume turned all the way up on the sub, and the subwoofer adjusted to
+10 dB on the reciever, I am getting less than satisfactory low-end
response, far less than I would expect from a 90-watt Subwoofer at
least. What I would like to know is this:

1.) Is the amp in my subwoofer broken or not working properly?

If its on and making sounds, its working. Therefore an installation
problem.


2.) Is the cable I used insufficient for carrying the signal to my sub?


Possibly, read above.

3.) Is it possible that the output on the reciever is broken or not
working properly?


If its on and making sounds, its working. Therefore an installation
problem.

Not so. It may produce sound but the amp could still be broken.

Subwoofer Broken?
 

wrote:
I've checked the pre out level on my reciever, it's set to +10 dB, so
there should be no problem there, and I have my front speakers set to
"Normal" because my reciever does not have a "Small" setting. I guess
if it's certain it's an installation problem, it's probably my cable,
but I didn't realize that a "Subwoofer Cable" is that much different
from a standard 75 ohm RCA cable. What do you mean by time for an
upgrade? Do you mean my reciever? If so, I can't really afford it at
the moment, and although it isn't the most current or powerful model on
the market, it has always done what I've needed it to.

There should also be a subwoofer yes/no setting. It's possible that if
it's set to "no," you can't change the speaker setting to small
(because that would be telling it to direct the bass to a subwoofer
that isn't there).

RichC

Subwoofer Broken?
 

On 9 Nov 2005 04:56:05 -0800, "Fyrman" wrote:

Any rca cable will carry the signal, it's just that the ones designed
for subwoofers have the right impedence for the audio signal. Try any
other rca cable just to make sure your cable isn't the issue.

Any audio cable will work as long as it is not defective. There is no
defined impedance for RCA audio cables.

Kal

Subwoofer Broken?
 

He's right.... I'm a victim of "Sales Sensationalism"!! I believed what
I heard.

Subwoofer Broken?
 

In article ,
"C what I mean" no wrote:

"Cyrus" wrote in message
...
In article .com,
wrote:

Hi everybody, I was hoping you could help me with a problem I have.
This afternoon, I went to a local pawn shop and picked up a Philips
SW-090 Powered Subwoofer for $20. From what I've researched, this is a
90-watt speaker. I brought it home, placed it on the floor (but on a
piece of wood, not right on the carpet) backed up directly against a
wall. I connected it to the output labeled "Subwoofer Pre Out" on the
back of my receiver (an old Kenwood VR-405 Dolby Digital Receiver) with
a generic 75 ohm RCA video cable.

Try a regular audio RCA cable.

You can try another cable just to verify that yours is ok. The coax is fine
to use, but the cable may be defective for some reason.



Impedance can and is an issue.

My problem is this, even with the
volume turned all the way up on the sub, and the subwoofer adjusted to
+10 dB on the reciever, I am getting less than satisfactory low-end
response, far less than I would expect from a 90-watt Subwoofer at
least. What I would like to know is this:

1.) Is the amp in my subwoofer broken or not working properly?

If its on and making sounds, its working. Therefore an installation
problem.


2.) Is the cable I used insufficient for carrying the signal to my sub?


Possibly, read above.

3.) Is it possible that the output on the reciever is broken or not
working properly?


If its on and making sounds, its working. Therefore an installation
problem.

Not so. It may produce sound but the amp could still be broken.



Broken in what way?

If undistorted sound is being produced, an amp is working and
installation is the issue.

--
Cyrus

*coughcasaucedoprodigynetcough*

Subwoofer Broken?
 

In article . com,
wrote:

I've checked the pre out level on my reciever, it's set to +10 dB, so
there should be no problem there, and I have my front speakers set to
"Normal" because my reciever does not have a "Small" setting. I guess
if it's certain it's an installation problem, it's probably my cable,
but I didn't realize that a "Subwoofer Cable" is that much different
from a standard 75 ohm RCA cable. What do you mean by time for an
upgrade? Do you mean my reciever? If so, I can't really afford it at
the moment, and although it isn't the most current or powerful model on
the market, it has always done what I've needed it to.

Thanks for the help,
-Hukuis


I meant upgrade of the woofer, to an actual subwoofer.

--
Cyrus

*coughcasaucedoprodigynetcough*

Subwoofer Broken?
 

On Thu, 10 Nov 2005 00:32:46 GMT, Cyrus wrote:

In article ,
"C what I mean" no wrote:

"Cyrus" wrote in message
...
In article .com,
wrote:

Hi everybody, I was hoping you could help me with a problem I have.
This afternoon, I went to a local pawn shop and picked up a Philips
SW-090 Powered Subwoofer for $20. From what I've researched, this is a
90-watt speaker. I brought it home, placed it on the floor (but on a
piece of wood, not right on the carpet) backed up directly against a
wall. I connected it to the output labeled "Subwoofer Pre Out" on the
back of my receiver (an old Kenwood VR-405 Dolby Digital Receiver) with
a generic 75 ohm RCA video cable.

Try a regular audio RCA cable.

You can try another cable just to verify that yours is ok. The coax is fine
to use, but the cable may be defective for some reason.

Impedance can and is an issue.

In what way can the impedance of a standard audio coax or of a digital
75ohm coax be an issue here?

Kal

Subwoofer Broken?
 

Spam Catcher wrote:
wrote in news:1131419561.625777.127110
@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

1.) Is the amp in my subwoofer broken or not working properly?

2.) Is the cable I used insufficient for carrying the signal to my
sub?

3.) Is it possible that the output on the reciever is broken or not
working properly?

Most likely your receiver speaker settings are wrong - You might have
to configure your speaker size to "small" - otherwise all bass is
being sent to your front speakers not your sub.

Also, check if you need to enable the sub out in your receiver.

And maybe check the sub-pre-out volumes.

I have all of my speakers set to large and my subs work with no problem.
Maybe the problem is the crossover frequency.

Subwoofer Broken?
 

On Wed, 9 Nov 2005 19:16:24 -0800, "L Alpert"
wrote:

Spam Catcher wrote:
wrote in news:1131419561.625777.127110
@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

1.) Is the amp in my subwoofer broken or not working properly?

2.) Is the cable I used insufficient for carrying the signal to my
sub?

3.) Is it possible that the output on the reciever is broken or not
working properly?

Most likely your receiver speaker settings are wrong - You might have
to configure your speaker size to "small" - otherwise all bass is
being sent to your front speakers not your sub.

Also, check if you need to enable the sub out in your receiver.

And maybe check the sub-pre-out volumes.

I have all of my speakers set to large and my subs work with no problem.
Maybe the problem is the crossover frequency.

That functionality varies from receiver to receiver. The best way to
be certain is to set them to small, even if just to test.

Kal

Subwoofer Broken?
 

In case I wasn't clear, this is an actual subwoofer. On the front of
the cabinet it says "Philips SW-090 Powered Subwoofer." From what I've
been able to dig up online, it has a 90-watt amp. This should provide
fairly decent bass in a small room (bedroom) shouldn't it? That is,
if it's working properly...

Subwoofer Broken?
 

On 10 Nov 2005 03:59:43 -0800, wrote:

In case I wasn't clear, this is an actual subwoofer. On the front of
the cabinet it says "Philips SW-090 Powered Subwoofer." From what I've
been able to dig up online, it has a 90-watt amp. This should provide
fairly decent bass in a small room (bedroom) shouldn't it? That is,
if it's working properly...

All I found was pawn shops and close-outs when I googled this. No
docs, no info.

Kal

Subwoofer Broken?
 

On Thu, 10 Nov 2005 15:23:57 GMT, Spam Catcher
wrote:

Kalman Rubinson wrote in
:

In what way can the impedance of a standard audio coax or of a digital
75ohm coax be an issue here?


Most RCA cables are 75 ohms - so I doubt it's the cable. But it doesn't
hurt to try another one...

Most RCA cables are not 75ohms but it makes no difference for analog
interconnections.

Kal

Subwoofer Broken?
 

In article ,
Kalman Rubinson wrote:

On Thu, 10 Nov 2005 00:32:46 GMT, Cyrus wrote:

In article ,
"C what I mean" no wrote:

"Cyrus" wrote in message
...
In article .com,
wrote:

Hi everybody, I was hoping you could help me with a problem I have.
This afternoon, I went to a local pawn shop and picked up a Philips
SW-090 Powered Subwoofer for $20. From what I've researched, this is a
90-watt speaker. I brought it home, placed it on the floor (but on a
piece of wood, not right on the carpet) backed up directly against a
wall. I connected it to the output labeled "Subwoofer Pre Out" on the
back of my receiver (an old Kenwood VR-405 Dolby Digital Receiver) with
a generic 75 ohm RCA video cable.

Try a regular audio RCA cable.

You can try another cable just to verify that yours is ok. The coax is
fine
to use, but the cable may be defective for some reason.

Impedance can and is an issue.

In what way can the impedance of a standard audio coax or of a digital
75ohm coax be an issue here?

Kal



A defective RCA cable may not work properly. The point was to try
another cable, regardless of what it is.

--
Cyrus

*coughcasaucedoprodigynetcough*