Excessive port noise with KW-120-THX?

[The Deliterate]

My question is if there any known issues with excessive port noise or if anyone has had problems with that on the KW-120s?

Ill explain my set up and situation a little. About one month ago I bought two KW-120 subs with the matching KA-1000 Amp. They are hooked up to an Onkyo TX-NR905. I am using three KL-650s as L/C/R and RF-82s rears right now. The subwoofers have been broken in properly and have a couple hundred hours of use on them now. Originally the subs were in opposite corners, the front left and right, behind the front speakers. I sit in the center of the room about 12ft away from each sub.

I understand that any ported subwoofer will have some port noise, especially at lower frequencies and at a higher volume. But this port noise is loud. Loud enough that I hear it over the movie that I am watching. Its mainly with movies when there is rumbling bass. I dont hear it nearly as much with music when there is just a punch of a bass drum or walking bass, etc.

When I first got them I was detecting a little port noise and didn't worry about it for a while. I wanted to get them broken in before I judged the sound quality too much. But it has not changed or improved at all and now it is just getting on my nerves. The weird thing is I am getting more noise out of one sub than the other. Past that, with the one sub that I hear it more on, the noise is coming more from the left side of the port than the right.

At first I though that maybe I was just running them too loud or hard so I ended up putting both subwoofers to the side of my couch, about 4 ft from where I sit. I run them at a lot lower volume but even at the lower volume I still end up hearing that same port noise on that one sub.

I was looking at the port on the sub with most of the port noise. When looking in the front of the port towards the back of the sub I discovered what appears to be beads of wood glue protruding from the joints and corners where the edges of wood pieces come together. It is mainly on the left side of the port all the way in the back where the rear vertical part of the port hits the top horizontal part of the port.

My best guess is that is what is causing it. Its driving me crazy though and it is a lot worse in one sub than the other. Do you think that beads of wood glue could cause that much turbulence and noise? Would klipsch do anything about this and should I contact klipsch? Thanks guys.

[The Deliterate]

Bump with PHOTOS!

Sorry, I didnt even introduce myself. I am new to the forum obviously. My name is adam and I am addicted to speakers.

HERE is a photo of the subwoofer with all of the exposed beads of glue (or whatever it is).

HERE is a photo of the 2nd subwoofer that doesnt really have any beads of glue exposed.

What do you guys think? The 1st sub has quite a bit more port noise, do you think that the glue beads would do that? Would klipsch fix that under their warranty? Thanks!

[CECAA850]

Welcome to the forum. I doubt that the small ammount of glue in the pic would cause the symptoms you describe. Normally port noise is heard when the sub is overdriven and the speed of the air in the port is faster than optimal for that enclosure. Have you tried swapping speaker leads to see if the amp is overdriving one side? If the excessive port noise swaps to the other cabinet, the problem is with the amp.

[RichardP]

I am sorry you are having difficulties; I have the same setup, but do not think I have ever heard what you describe. I listen at levels (some in music, some in movies) that might be 90-95 dB, so maybe less than you do.

On one of my sub cabinets, I have a little "aesthetic" display, which includes a small southwestern rug or placemat sized fabric. One corner of it, with fringe, hangs down 2 or 3 inches in front of the middle 1/3 of the port. When a loud, deep passage occurs, boy does that fabric flap like a fan was behind it.

If you bought the system new, from an authorized dealer, then ask Klipsch tech support about it. Unfortunately, if you bought it used, like I did, they won't help you one whit (but maybe someone else here can help).