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I believe the amp in my sub has quit. Can it be repaired?

post #1 of 14
4/27/12 at 11:31am
Thread Starter 
I have a Paradigm PS1000 v3 that just died.

If I unplug the audio cable while everything is powered up (but no sound sent to the sub) then plug it back in there is a little bit of...reverb/feedback (sorry, clueless here...) for a second until the connection is solid.

I then look at the light on the front and it's lit. About 30 seconds later it goes out but all the while no sound comes from it.

Seems like something is wron with the amp. Can it be repaired? If not is anyone interested in a great looking cabinet?

I'm not sure how to go about disposing of it.

Thanks,

Drew
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post #2 of 14
4/27/12 at 11:40am
Might be repairable, but not sure it would be cost effective, most electronics repairs seem to be $100 minimum, and it looks like a used replacement goes for about $250 on eBay. Might do some creative Googling to see if there are others who report similar problems, and if there are any common causes that are DIY repairable.
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post #3 of 14
4/27/12 at 1:52pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Brad,

After doing some searching online it makes more sense to replace it with an HSU VTF-2 MK4. Even more so because they are local to me. An extra $250 will provide me with a much better sub.

-Drew
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post #4 of 14
4/27/12 at 2:15pm
Sounds like a good plan - since you're in OC, I'd drop in on the Hsu factory, they have a nicely set up room where you can demo their speakers and subs, and they are very accommodating for setting up demos.
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post #5 of 14
4/27/12 at 2:35pm
If he goes into their demo room,he'll never come out.
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post #6 of 14
4/27/12 at 4:49pm
Thread Starter 
Haha I'm racing out out work to meet him over there.

Have to beat some serious traffic.
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post #7 of 14
4/27/12 at 5:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drew888 View Post

Thanks Brad,

After doing some searching online it makes more sense to replace it with an HSU VTF-2 MK4. Even more so because they are local to me. An extra $250 will provide me with a much better sub.

-Drew

Good call! The HSU should blow the Paradigm out of the water! Good luck!!

Jeff
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post #8 of 14
4/28/12 at 11:56am
Thread Starter 
Sad news, it wasn't the sub and not the cables.

I'm still not getting any sound out of the sub pre outs.

This is all new to me, is there another way to test for this? I cannot even tell if the HSU sub has power to it. I plug In a lamp to the outlet and it lights. Beyond that? Manual indicates an LED but I'm not seeing one. I'd check out the fuse but now running out the door to a family BDay party.

I'm not going to be a happy camper if I'm next going to replace the Onkyo tx-sr805.

Ideas are very welcome, thx guys.
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post #9 of 14
4/28/12 at 12:09pm
You can test the sub and confirm that it's working by getting an adapter to plug up an MP3 player to it. Switch it off bypass and turn the crossover all the way up. You should hear some bass if you play some bass heavy music.
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post #10 of 14
4/29/12 at 10:34am
Thread Starter 
Ok so...

I tried cables, I tried an mp3 player, and nothing from the HSU sub. I then checked the fuse and that's ok.

I next powered up the old sub and connected the mp3 player and it works fine. I carry it close to the av rack an connect it to the new cable, double check that it's plugged into the LFE out on the receiver and I do now get sound. Meaning, I next go into the speaker setup on the receiver/level calibration and hear a test tone.

Thinking it was just the cable (issues with the HSU sub aside), I pop in the AIX Records audio calibration disk and get nothing from the sub. The receiver has nothing but distance and frequency and I've been all through it several times.

I'm now leaning to the receiver. This may end up being an expensive weekend.

I was saving up to replace my old Paradigm Monitor 7's and center. Gotta love it...
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post #11 of 14
4/29/12 at 12:40pm
Drew, Don't spend money until you're sure of your problem.

Most subwoofers have two types of input connectors - speaker level and line level inputs. The speaker level inputs bypass the sub's internal amplifier and use the receiver amplified outputs to drive the sub. The line level inputs found on most subs and all that have their own internal amplifier use a very low current output from the receiver and amplify it internally. It's important to know the difference because your MP3 player will not drive the sub using the speaker level inputs. The player doesn't put out enough power to hear sound that way, but should (not necessarily) trigger the internal amp if connected at the line level input as it sounds like you did at one point with your original sub.

You don't mention your receiver model but most modern ones have a single connector output for subwoofers. It may be marked 'sub' or it may just have a colored surround , or it may be singled out by a white paint square in the array of connectors at the back of receivers. Your manual should help with determining which is what back there. This is often the easiest route to use if available - one (a single conductor)wire from sub out to one of the two line level inputs on the sub (all deep bass is monoral) cable. Using a double conductor cable incorrectly connected runs a risk of having the two signals cancelling each other and resulting in no sound.
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post #12 of 14
4/29/12 at 2:57pm
Thread Starter 
I own an Onkyo tx-sr805 and have the sub connected to the Subwoofer out as illustrated in the link ( not the pre outs).

http://www.us.onkyo.com/zoom.cfm?cla...er&m=TX-SR805#

I used an iPod to the line level input and got audible bass using the Paradigm sub but could not do the same to the HSU. I could get a test tone from the receiver to the Paradigm sub but not the HSU. After getting a test tone to the sub i could not get a signal to the sub from any source. That's as far as I got.

I was thinking that if I can get a tone I should be able to get a music/broadcast source to output to it but cannot. I have been through all settings on the receiver and my Oppo bdp83 and nothing.
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post #13 of 14
4/29/12 at 5:14pm
Thread Starter 
Problem solved...

Ok let me first say that my eyes aren't so good. Lol...

It was the voltage switch set to 240.

More to come in another thread I'm about to post.



Thanks all for the assist!
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post #14 of 14
4/29/12 at 5:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drew888 View Post

Problem solved...

It was the voltage switch set to 240.



Thanks all for the assist!

Excellent! You probably just forgot to reset it when you returned from Europe to live in the US again, right? Could happen to anyone.
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AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › Subwoofers, Bass, and Transducers › I believe the amp in my sub has quit. Can it be repaired?