When you have a home or car stereo system, there is no doubt that amplifiers and subwoofers enhance the sound quality by adding power and bass to the overall music. However, there could be a scenario when your amplifier might have power, but your subwoofer is not working. There are various reasons why you may come across such an annoying issue. It could be a wiring issue, input cabling issue, volume issue as well as an issue with the subwoofer or speaker. In this article, we will provide a step by step solution to fix this subwoofer not working issue.
What Should Be Your First Step?
First of all, you should turn on all the devices starting from speakers and amplifiers to subwoofers. Ensure that all the devices are truly turned on. If you cannot hear any sound coming out of your subwoofer, the issue could be with the overall setup. Here are the steps to follow –
Step 1: Check if your amplifier has proper power supply. Even when there is proper power supply, the amplifier may be switched off. Therefore, make sure that the power button is turned on.
Step 2: If the power button is turned on and the power indicator is not on, then the issue could be with the internal circuit of the amplifier.
Step 3: If the power indicator of the amplifier is turned on, the problem is not with the amplifier but with the subwoofer. Make sure that the power cables of the subwoofer are properly connected.
Step 4: Ensure that the power button of the subwoofer is turned on and if you see that the power indicator is on, then you need some additional troubleshooting steps which we will discuss in the next section.
Step By Step To Solve Subwoofer Not Working Even When The Amplifier Has Power –
When your amplifier is turned on, and even your subwoofer is turned on, but the subwoofer is not working, you should not panic. Before taking the music system to the nearby technician or asking him to pay a visit, you should take the following troubleshooting steps to solve the issue at home.
1. Inspect All The Control Knobs
After you have ensured all the connected parts, such as speakers, amplifier, and subwoofer are properly powered on, you should check the control knobs for all parts. This means you should check the volume knob on the amplifier as well as the subwoofer. If they are set very low, turn them up.
Similarly, you should check the Gain knob. The gain knob controls the volume that is coming into the channel, and hence, if it is set very low, the output could be too low to hear. Therefore, you should also turn it up. Lastly, check the Bass knob and make the necessary adjustments.
It is quite possible that someone, especially kids, has turned down the knobs in your absence which is why you are not hearing anything from your subwoofer. Moreover, if your amplifier and subwoofer have a mute button, make sure it is not turned on. If all knobs are perfectly set, go for the next step.
2. Inspect The Input Cables
Apart from control knobs, the input cables are the usual suspects when your subwoofer is not working properly. This is because any issue with the input cable can lead to loss of signal transmission in the entire setup and lead to the audio issue.
First, check if all the input cables are tightly plugged in. If they are loose, that could hinder the proper transmission of signals. If the problem is not solved, unplug all the input cables one by one and check if the ports are damaged or cables are cut somewhere.
After inspecting if you find all of them in good condition, put them back in their respective ports. However, if you find damaged or cut cables, you should replace them and see if the problem is solved.
3. Inspect The Wires
Apart from input cables, there are various types of wires in an audio system. There could easily be some issues with the wiring. The first wire to check is the power wire because it is generally the culprit. In fact, you should also check the electric plug to see if it is working properly by plugging in some other electronic devices. If the audio system is in the car, make sure that the wires are not in a mess.
4. Inspect The Fuse Of The Subwoofer
It is quite possible that the fuse of the subwoofer or other connected parts could be blown off due to a sudden power surge. Naturally, when the fuse is blown off, the circuit breaks, and the electricity won’t flow from one component to another.
Therefore, spot the place where the fuse of the subwoofer and other components are located. You can use the user manual to find out the fuses of the respective components. Check them one by one and replace the fuse wire if it is blown off.
5. Inspect The Speakers
Last but not least, you should check the wires of the speakers. Due to heavy vibrations and overheating, the wires of the speakers can get affected. Once the speakers stop working, the subwoofer won’t work as everything is connected. Therefore, thoroughly check all the wires and cables and the input ports of the speakers. Make sure they are connected correctly. You can always replace a damaged speaker with a new one of the same specifications.
Some Additional Troubleshooting Steps –
Apart from the above-mentioned common troubleshooting steps, here are some additional steps to follow when the issue is not solved by the above steps specified.
- You have to check the settings of the speaker to ensure that the subwoofer is enabled. Therefore, go to Settings> Speaker> Speaker SP and check the speaker pattern. If the pattern ends with 1 or 2, then it is ok. If the pattern ends with 0, then your subwoofer won’t work.
- Make sure that the power cord of the subwoofer is plugged perfectly into active AC outlet. If there is no power cord, the subwoofer is a passive one. If the problem persists, you may consider buying an active subwoofer.
- Some subwoofers have a cut-off frequency. You should adjust the frequency to the maximum limit so that it picks up all the low-frequency signals.
- Check if the subwoofer is in standby mode or not. If it is set to standby mode, the subwoofer will not work. Switch off the standby mode by taking the necessary steps.
What If Your Subwoofer Has Turned On But No Sound Is Coming Out?
Here are the steps to follow to fix the issue.
Step 1: Make sure that the amplifier is properly plugged in, and the power indicator is on.
Step 2: Check if all the inputs to the amplifier are correct and tightly plugged in. Moreover, inspect the RAC cables if they are connected properly.
Step 3: Every amplifier has certain voltage requirements. Even when the voltage requirement is not met, the amplifier may turn on, but the subwoofer won’t work. Therefore, make sure that the power is flowing properly to the amplifier.
Step 4: Make sure that the subwoofer is not on mute or the volume is too low to hear anything. Besides, ensure that the settings of the amplifier and the subwoofer are proper.
Step 5: There is a possibility that the subwoofer is short-circuited. If it is short-circuited, you have to replace the fuse wire. If any internal damage has happened, you have to take it to the nearby technician.
Conclusion
To sum it up all, when you find the amplifier is powered on properly, but the subwoofer is not working, you should check the control knobs followed by input cables and wirings. If everything is perfect, make sure the fuse is perfect and inspect all the different components of the audio system starting from speakers to the amplifier. If nothing works, you have to take the audio system to the nearby technician.
