Did my receiver subwoofer preout go bad?

[itsanss]

My five year old subwoofer died and my new one came in today. Hooked it all up and I was thoroughly unimpressed. Played several songs and several video clips....The bass just wasn't very convincing. That's when I discovered the bass that I was hearing wasn't coming from the subwoofer, but rather my theater speakers. lol The subwoofer isn't hitting whatsoever. Talked to the company I bought it from and they e-mailed me a few tests to try. The easiest and most obvious is separating the subwoofer from everything else. I used a 3.5mm to RCA cable to plug my phone directly to the subwoofer. The subwoofer is positively working. My God, I had to remove the grates from my oven because they were rattling so bad!!! Hahaha!

So, it's gotta be the RCA cable or my receiver. I swapped the cable with another one that I had and still no sound from the sub.
So....did my sub preout on the receiver go bad? Everything else works perfectly.

Denon AVR-S900W
Polk Audio CS10 (x1)
Polk Audio RC85i (x6)
SVS PB-2000 (x1)

Plugged into a working 120v wall outlet
LED light on subwoofer is on
Phase set to 0
RCA plugged into LFE on sub and into Subwoofer preout 1 on AVR (I also tried preout 2, but that also doesn't work)
Volume is in the 12:00 position
Low Pass Filter is set to LFE
Have tried setting the power switch from "Auto/Standby" to "On"
I've set the front and center speakers to "Small"
Set the subwoofer to "Yes"
Ran through the Audyssey setup



Did I miss anything?

Thanks, ya'll

 

[one more time]

You did a pretty good job of isolating the problem.

You plugged a different analog source into the sub woofer and it worked.

You replaced the cable and the sub woofer still doesn't work. Odds are against both RCA cables are bad.

That pretty much leaves the receiver as the final suspect.

You're using the same setup on the receiver you have in the past, and it worked then, right?. Does your receiver put out test tones and did the sub woofer work with them?

 

[itsanss]

You did a pretty good job of isolating the problem.

You plugged a different analog source into the sub woofer and it worked.

You replaced the cable and the sub woofer still doesn't work. Odds are against both RCA cables are bad.

That pretty much leaves the receiver as the final suspect.

You're using the same setup on the receiver you have in the past, and it worked then, right?. Does your receiver put out test tones and did the sub woofer work with them?

Yup. Exact same setup I've had all along. I bought the TV, receiver, speakers, and sub all on the same day and all from the same place. I've made no changes or adjustments since the day I configured everything. And I've been perfectly content with the setup until the sub started popping and cracking and sounding terrible. After a couple weeks with the subwoofer turned completely off I finally decided to go subwoofer shopping. Like I said, the SVS got delivered today and I was sorely disappointed when it didn't work. Now my concern is my TV and all my other speakers will go out, too, since I seem to have reached the lifespan of this equipment.

It does put out test tones. 7 of the 8 speakers put out a tone.....bet you can't guess which one does not put out a tone? lol

So if I positively narrow it down that the receiver crapped out on me, would bumping up a few series be advisable? For instance, the Denon AVR-740H or AVR-940H? I've liked the receiver that I have....don't guess it doesn't do anything or have anything that I wish it did......with the exception of a working sub preout, of course. Hehe


Thanks!

 

[one more time]

When it comes to replacing electronics, I try to stay as close to the current SOTA as possible. Now, SOTA today may mean simply more features as opposed to performance gains. To translate that, if you can get by with the features last years models offered, you might be able to save a few sheckles without sacrificing performance.

Check out this site. They've done me well in the past. https://www.accessories4less.com/

 

[lovinthehd]

Before you give up on the old avr I'd try some resets. First, a soft reset (unplug it for a minute or so). If that doesn't clear anything up then try a full reset (factory reset, microprocessor reset) on page 221 of the manual (pdf version at least).

 

[itsanss]

When it comes to replacing electronics, I try to stay as close to the current SOTA as possible. Now, SOTA today may mean simply more features as opposed to performance gains. To translate that, if you can get by with the features last years models offered, you might be able to save a few sheckles without sacrificing performance.

Check out this site. They've done me well in the past. https://www.accessories4less.com/

SOTA would be ideal, but with affordability in mind, just upping a few series would suit me perfectly well.

Thanks for the link. I'll definitely keep that in mind.

Before you give up on the old avr I'd try some resets. First, a soft reset (unplug it for a minute or so). If that doesn't clear anything up then try a full reset (factory reset, microprocessor reset) on page 221 of the manual (pdf version at least).

So glad you mentioned the reset. I went to the user manual and I didn't bother with the soft reset and opted for the hard, factory reset. I started from scratch. In the process, I found that there was a firmware update. It took about 45 minutes to install, but I got that installed and the calibration redone.

Lo and behold....the subwoofer works again!!!!! I don't know if it was the reset or the firmware update or a combination of the two, but it's now working again. Thanks so much!!

However, one thing I haven't figured out is my volume situation. It's much, much quieter than it ever was before. I would normally keep volume for TV and movies around 33-37. Now I have to have it up to 55-60 to even be able to clearly hear dialogue. I had Dynamic EQ on and then I turned it off. Doesn't seem to make a difference. Not sure what is different.

Also, the subwoofer wasn't hitting all that hard so I manually turned it up on the receiver from -4 to +6. It's better, but the low volume situation has me a bit stumped. I could honestly maybe turn it up even more to have it more balanced to the output of the other speakers. I don't want it to overpower the other speakers, but I do like to know there is undoubtedly a subwoofer present! Even though the ginormous PB-2000 makes it well-known that there is a sub in the room.

Thanks so much for helping me save a few hundred bucks!!!!

 

[lovinthehd]

SOTA would be ideal, but with affordability in mind, just upping a few series would suit me perfectly well.

Thanks for the link. I'll definitely keep that in mind.







So glad you mentioned the reset. I went to the user manual and I didn't bother with the soft reset and opted for the hard, factory reset. I started from scratch. In the process, I found that there was a firmware update. It took about 45 minutes to install, but I got that installed and the calibration redone.

Lo and behold....the subwoofer works again!!!!! I don't know if it was the reset or the firmware update or a combination of the two, but it's now working again. Thanks so much!!

However, one thing I haven't figured out is my volume situation. It's much, much quieter than it ever was before. I would normally keep volume for TV and movies around 33-37. Now I have to have it up to 55-60 to even be able to clearly hear dialogue. I had Dynamic EQ on and then I turned it off. Doesn't seem to make a difference. Not sure what is different.

Also, the subwoofer wasn't hitting all that hard so I manually turned it up on the receiver from -4 to +6. It's better, but the low volume situation has me a bit stumped. I could honestly maybe turn it up even more to have it more balanced to the output of the other speakers. I don't want it to overpower the other speakers, but I do like to know there is undoubtedly a subwoofer present! Even though the ginormous PB-2000 makes it well-known that there is a sub in the room.

Thanks so much for helping me save a few hundred bucks!!!!

They're like computers, sometimes they just need a reboot. Did you re-run Audyssey? A full reset wipes out all your settings back to factory defaults. On the absolute scale (and generally many of use the relative scale for comparisons once calibrated), 33-37 sounds a bit low to me. 55-60 sounds reasonable.

 

[itsanss]

They're like computers, sometimes they just need a reboot. Did you re-run Audyssey? A full reset wipes out all your settings back to factory defaults. On the absolute scale (and generally many of use the relative scale for comparisons once calibrated), 33-37 sounds a bit low to me. 55-60 sounds reasonable.

Yup, I did re-run Audyssey. Running a higher volume isn't too big a deal....I just liked the thought of knowing I had a lot of wiggle room for volume. But it's definitely plenty loud. I'm not sure I've ever had it above 70....ever...

It's sounding good. Dad came over to check out the new sub. I stumbled across this THX Sub test video on YouTube....it's now my new go-to for showing off what the sub is capable of....holy crap....It literally shakes the whole house!!

 

[lovinthehd]

Yup, I did re-run Audyssey. Running a higher volume isn't too big a deal....I just liked the thought of knowing I had a lot of wiggle room for volume. But it's definitely plenty loud. I'm not sure I've ever had it above 70....ever...

It's sounding good. Dad came over to check out the new sub. I stumbled across this THX Sub test video on YouTube....it's now my new go-to for showing off what the sub is capable of....holy crap....It literally shakes the whole house!!

It's just a scale in any case, the capabilities remain the same. I generally don't listen higher than -10 on the relative scale, and that's just the movies that "need" it, my listening level is usually no more than -20 with most movies/tv. Music can vary. I am being nicer to my ears than once upon a time, too.

 

[Sef_Makaro]

Yup, I did re-run Audyssey. Running a higher volume isn't too big a deal....I just liked the thought of knowing I had a lot of wiggle room for volume. But it's definitely plenty loud. I'm not sure I've ever had it above 70....ever...

It's sounding good. Dad came over to check out the new sub. I stumbled across this THX Sub test video on YouTube....it's now my new go-to for showing off what the sub is capable of....holy crap....It literally shakes the whole house!!

Did you maybe have dynamic volume on before and don’t now? Or maybe DRC is set different than before? Perhaps you had source levels adjusted before?

 

[lovinthehd]

Also, the subwoofer wasn't hitting all that hard so I manually turned it up on the receiver from -4 to +6. It's better, but the low volume situation has me a bit stumped. I could honestly maybe turn it up even more to have it more balanced to the output of the other speakers. I don't want it to overpower the other speakers, but I do like to know there is undoubtedly a subwoofer present! Even though the ginormous PB-2000 makes it well-known that there is a sub in the room.

!

That's a big swing on sub level, many do raise it post-Audyssey, tho usually I see the range of 2-6 dB. Does the avr have you match at 75dB at the start of running Audyssey? You might just like more sub content, too.

 

[itsanss]

It's just a scale in any case, the capabilities remain the same. I generally don't listen higher than -10 on the relative scale, and that's just the movies that "need" it, my listening level is usually no more than -20 with most movies/tv. Music can vary. I am being nicer to my ears than once upon a time, too.

Yeah, I still have plenty of wiggle room, so I guess I won't worry about it too much. Music doesn't seem to need the same volume as movies, unless I really want to jam. Haha

Did you maybe have dynamic volume on before and don’t now? Or maybe DRC is set different than before? Perhaps you had source levels adjusted before?

I'm really thinking that I must have had dynamic volume turned on last time I set everything up (five years ago). I must've made some adjustments that I just don't remember making.

That's a big swing on sub level, many do raise it post-Audyssey, tho usually I see the range of 2-6 dB. Does the avr have you match at 75dB at the start of running Audyssey? You might just like more sub content, too.

Audyssey didn't have me match anything that I recall. It just immediately went to front left speaker...didn't ask anything beforehand. It may be that I like more sub content. Especially with a new sub, I want to make sure it's doing its job. lol I may dial it down after the "new" wears off. However, it honestly seems just where I want it, so it may stay right where it is.

I guess if the volume bothers me too much, I'll try enabling Dynamic Volume and see if that brings me back to my "normal" 30-40 for movie/TV volume.


Thanks!

 

[lovinthehd]

Audyssey didn't have me match anything that I recall. It just immediately went to front left speaker...didn't ask anything beforehand. It may be that I like more sub content. Especially with a new sub, I want to make sure it's doing its job. lol I may dial it down after the "new" wears off. However, it honestly seems just where I want it, so it may stay right where it is.

I guess if the volume bothers me too much, I'll try enabling Dynamic Volume and see if that brings me back to my "normal" 30-40 for movie/TV volume.


Thanks!

So during the Audyssey routine does the sub get test tones at the end of each swing through the set of speakers? Just curious as each of the Audyssey avrs I have has an initial step of setting sub volume to a target of 75dB before starting the rest of the routine (and the subs will still get pinged for each mic position). Then again if it's working then leave it. Do you use Dynamic EQ for some bass boost at lower volumes? I've never cared for Dynamic Volume at all...

 

[itsanss]

So during the Audyssey routine does the sub get test tones at the end of each swing through the set of speakers? Just curious as each of the Audyssey avrs I have has an initial step of setting sub volume to a target of 75dB before starting the rest of the routine (and the subs will still get pinged for each mic position). Then again if it's working then leave it. Do you use Dynamic EQ for some bass boost at lower volumes? I've never cared for Dynamic Volume at all...

Yup. Sub gets test tones after the other 7 speakers have been pinged.

I really, really don't recall an initial setup of the sub dB, though. That's what I'm thinking....if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

No, I didn't enable Dynamic EQ....thought that I might enable that, but haven't. Guess I have still have some stuff to play with. I won't be bored for a long time!

 

[lovinthehd]

Yup. Sub gets test tones after the other 7 speakers have been pinged.

I really, really don't recall an initial setup of the sub dB, though. That's what I'm thinking....if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

No, I didn't enable Dynamic EQ....thought that I might enable that, but haven't. Guess I have still have some stuff to play with. I won't be bored for a long time!

Now that I think about it a bit, on my Denon 4520 I think I have started an Audyssey speaker setup without re-running the sub routine, but that might have been something I experienced with one unit I had some issues with, too and returned. It's been a while. If you did a full reset I'd think it would have started with that first step in any case but maybe Denon changed the implementation of that...mine are MultEQ XT and MultEQ XT32 versions, you have the base MultEQ version in your avr and it's a newer model too.