onetechyguy Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 Hi, I have a klipsch SW-15 sub which I have had since new. It is working but has a strange problem, when either me it my wife get off the couch the sub makes a few popping sounds. That is the only time I can simulate this problem, other than that the sub plays fine & loud. Could static being generated by stepping on the carpet cause it or could it be a problem with the drivers being so old that maybe they are due to be re-coned? Anyone experience this or have any ideas? Thanks, Rick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twistedcrankcammer Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 KSW or RSW sub??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 Is the signal cable run anywhere near the couch? Does it matter if the sub is on or off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang guy Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 (edited) They sell antistatic spray for carpets and upholstery and it's actually pretty cheap at around $10-15 / quart. If static is causing it somehow, that is how I would treat the problem. Static discharge can be in the tens of thousands of volts with very little current. I'm no expert, but I can see how that could cause some RF noise in an RCA cable. Edited November 25, 2013 by mustang guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onetechyguy Posted November 25, 2013 Author Share Posted November 25, 2013 Hi, The sub has to be on for it to happen. The cable is not near the couch but it an inexpensive cable. Maybe I need to try a newer better cable & see if that solves it. It is their SW-15 sub with 200watt amp. I think I bought it in 1994 or 1995 Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 For just a couple of bucks you can get a new cable from monoprice. It would be easy enough to try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sancho Panza Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 In the meantime, any cheap RCA type cable will do to check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onetechyguy Posted November 25, 2013 Author Share Posted November 25, 2013 I'm going to stop at menards on the way home & get another RCA cable to test it. I will let you know tomorrow if it solved the problem. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onetechyguy Posted November 26, 2013 Author Share Posted November 26, 2013 I bought a monster cable RCA sub cable to test the sub last night. The popping was almost completely gone until I heard a couple of slight pops when I got up from the couch after trying to simulate it numerous times. One thing I have noticed which could be part of the problem is where my y adapter connects to the RCA jacks on the sub. The left & right are both loose & have been like that for sometime now. Maybe there is a bad ground or loose connection? My next step is going to be to open the sub up and repair or replace those RCA jacks. Other than that I can't think of what else it could be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang guy Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I'd buy a new y-adapter before I did anything else. A bit of Deoxit may be necessary to clean the female RCA even if you do replace the y-adapter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Or just take the Y off and bump the gain on the sub amp. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philly0116 Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Or just take the Y off and bump the gain on the sub amp. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onetechyguy Posted November 26, 2013 Author Share Posted November 26, 2013 Ok, I will try taking the Y off. I will lose a lot of volume if I do that right? Does it matter which input I use? Right or left? I do have a can of deoxit, I will try that as well. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang guy Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Ok, I will try taking the Y off. I will lose a lot of volume if I do that right? Does it matter which input I use? Right or left? I do have a can of deoxit, I will try that as well. Thanks As CECAA850 stated, just turn up the gain on your receiver/preamp, or the gain knob on the amp itself. If you have trouble with the sub detecting power on state, then the y-adapter may be necessary. If the problem goes away when you connect directly to the amp with your RCA, then you have isolated the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Ok, I will lose a lot of volume if I do that right? The sub amp sees the voltage on both legs of the Y and sums them together. If you remove the Y the amp sees less voltage. If you installed the Y to wake the sub up sooner, increase the output from your receiver. If your sub wakes up fine without it, just turn the gain up on the amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Ok, I will try taking the Y off. I will lose a lot of volume if I do that right? Does it matter which input I use? Right or left? I do have a can of deoxit, I will try that as well. Thanks As CECAA850 stated, just turn up the gain on your receiver/preamp, or the gain knob on the amp itself. If you have trouble with the sub detecting power on state, then the y-adapter may be necessary. If the problem goes away when you connect directly to the amp with your RCA, then you have isolated the problem. Or just leave the sub in the on position as opposed to auto. It doesn't use any more current in the on position than it does on auto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang guy Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Carl, Can't you see I am trying to spend his money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onetechyguy Posted November 27, 2013 Author Share Posted November 27, 2013 I removed the Y cable, it's still doing it. I forgot to clean the connections with de-oxit. I will try that later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 Does the sub amp have a ground prong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 Try placing some small wooden blocks temporarily under all 4 legs of the sub and elevate the sub cable off the floor (with a non conductive material). That should rule out static as an issue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.