Subwoofer Pop

[Wandering Man]

Hi. I'm a newbie here, found this site after a big thunderstorm.

After a few nearby lightning hits , we shut everything down on the stereo/tv system.

Now, the subwoofer "pops" every time I change channels (Cable box) or switch components (TV to DVD). It pops if I mute the stereo.

Any ideas? I'm not even sure if its the subwoofer or the reciever that's acting up.

Where do I start troubleshooting?


Yamaha YST-SW90 subwoofer
Yamaha RX-V640 reciever

Thanks,

WM

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hi. I'm a newbie here, found this site after a big thunderstorm.
After a few nearby lightning hits , we shut everything down on the stereo/tv system.
Now, the subwoofer "pops" every time I change channels (Cable box) or switch components (TV to DVD). It pops if I mute the stereo.
Any ideas? I'm not even sure if its the subwoofer or the reciever that's acting up.
Where do I start troubleshooting?
Yamaha YST-SW90 subwoofer
Yamaha RX-V640 reciever

Thanks,

WM

Well, is the receiver involved when you change channels, -cable box-?
If not, then the sub pops when the receiver is not connected and the receiver can be eliminated.
Otherwise, it is the receiver. See if you can borrow one to try?

 

[Sheep]

Wandering Man,

I have an RXV-440 Yammy and it makes the same popping sound.

It happened around the time I started running 2 subs. Don't know the exact event that caused it. Any light shed on this would be very helpful.

SheepStar

 

[Wandering Man]

Well, is the receiver involved when you change channels, -cable box-?
If not, then the sub pops when the receiver is not connected and the receiver can be eliminated.
Otherwise, it is the receiver. See if you can borrow one to try?

The receiver is involved insofar as the sound input when the cable box changes channels. I'll look around for a loaner receiver to check it out.

WM

 

[Wandering Man]

Wandering Man,

I have an RXV-440 Yammy and it makes the same popping sound.

It happened around the time I started running 2 subs. Don't know the exact event that caused it. Any light shed on this would be very helpful.

SheepStar

It may take as long as a couple of weekss before I get my stuff together and actually check things out. I've got an old receiver at the office, which I'll lug home, then I've got to get behind the magic curtain and mess with the jungle of wires.

When I do this, I'll report my findings.

WM

 

[mtrycrafts]

The receiver is involved insofar as the sound input when the cable box changes channels. I'll look around for a loaner receiver to check it out.

WM

OK. So, since the cable box and pops also involved the receiver, then something in the receiver must have gone bad in that surge, perhaps there is a muting circuit for the switching cycles and was damaged.

Have you considered calling Yamaha? But that itself could be a daunting task, talking to the right person.

 

[Wandering Man]

Have you considered calling Yamaha? But that itself could be a daunting task, talking to the right person.

Duh!

I'd call the manufacturer for most anything else I've got. I never considered that Yamaha might be helpful.

I did check their website. Nothing useful there. I'll go back and see if I can track down a phone #.

Thanks for reminding me of the obvious.

WM

 

[mtrycrafts]

Duh!

I'd call the manufacturer for most anything else I've got. I never considered that Yamaha might be helpful.

I did check their website. Nothing useful there. I'll go back and see if I can track down a phone #.

Thanks for reminding me of the obvious.

WM

No problem. Just be advised that with this specific problem you may have a hard time getting a cust serv rep who would have that level of knowledge.

Another avenue is to call one of their service centers and talk to a tech. He would know more, hopefully, besides recommending changing a board in there. Ask if there is a muting circuit when changing inputs or such. And continue to get that receiver from the office home and try it.

 

[Wandering Man]

Yamaha

I just fired off an email to Yamaha.

... waiting

WM

 

[Wandering Man]

No problem. Just be advised that with this specific problem you may have a hard time getting a cust serv rep who would have that level of knowledge.

Another avenue is to call one of their service centers and talk to a tech. He would know more, hopefully, besides recommending changing a board in there. Ask if there is a muting circuit when changing inputs or such. And continue to get that receiver from the office home and try it.

I've located the service center in a neighboring town. I'll try to get time off work to run the receiver over to them on Friday, or Saturday (if they are open). They've assured me they can diagnose and fix the problem, whether it is in the receiver or in the subwoofer.

Of course, it'll cost a few bucks ...

... but then I didn't really expect to fix this thing for free.

I've not heard back from Yamaha's tech support.

I'll post as I get more info.

WM

 

[mtrycrafts]

I've located the service center in a neighboring town. I'll try to get time off work to run the receiver over to them on Friday, or Saturday (if they are open). They've assured me they can diagnose and fix the problem, whether it is in the receiver or in the subwoofer.

Of course, it'll cost a few bucks ...

... but then I didn't really expect to fix this thing for free.

I've not heard back from Yamaha's tech support.

I'll post as I get more info.

WM

Great. Get an estimate first, etc. And, you may still want to swap receivers to be sure that is what needs looking at, unless they will also check the sub for you. Regardless, it would be good to know beforehand.

 

[Wandering Man]

I got an email yesterday from Yamaha, asking me to call them next week and give more details.

The receiver was already in the shop.

The shop guys told me I had a live charge (like two volts) at the subwoofer preamp on the receiver. No other shorts evident. They were going to dig deeper, but the shop boss called me to discourage repairing the receiver. He advised that it could run $150 to $250 for the repair (most likely replacing the DSP board). He also advised that I could bypass the preamp and run my front speaker wires to and from the subwoofer.

I thought about doing that. Then I thought of the prospect of drilling more holes in my wood floors, buying more cable, crawling under the house, etc.

I went out and bought a Yamaha RX-V661. 2007 version of my old receiver. I'll move the old one to the office, and junk the very old one.

It has inputs for my Ipod, and an HDMI for 1080p TV. Hopefully I'm set for our next purchase.

BTW: 2 Questions on setting up: 1) Is optical better than coaxial on sound?
2) Is there an advantage to running all of the video inputs through the receiver?

Thanks for your input guys.

WM

 

[mtrycrafts]

BTW: 2 Questions on setting up: 1) Is optical better than coaxial on sound?
2) Is there an advantage to running all of the video inputs through the receiver?

Thanks for your input guys.

WM

Sounds like that surge caused that 2V on the sub somehow

Either optical or coax will do equally well. Use coax if you play with the cables a lot, unplug them for whatever reason as it is more durable for that abuse. Otherwise whatever you have on hand.
Using the receiver as a video switcher along with the audio source is convenient nothing more. One selection of a source will give you the right video and audio instead or going to the TV to select video input. An issue of preference and convenience.

 

[Wandering Man]

Thanks, mtrycrafts.

I'm really going to have to start lurking around this place. There is so much I don't really understand about a/v stuff. Not that I'll ever be able to afford the really high-end stuff, but I like to know what I've got, what its capable of, etc.

Did I mention the repair shop said it really isn't worth repairing a unit unless it cost over $1,000 new?

A/V technology is advancing so rapidly, its hard to keep up. It didn't take long for my Mitsubishi HD projection TV with component inputs to become yesterday's news.

WM

 

[Adam]

WM,

Sorry that your old receiver was broken, but congratulations on your new upgrade. Sounds like you could still use the old one in a second room as long as you didn't need the sub pre-out.

I just want to second the recommendation on the optical/coax question, and add that you can use just about any cable with RCA plugs for the coax connection. Sure, stores sell digital coax cables (use to be $40, but I haven't looked in a while). However, if you don't have one, I suggest using something like a RCA video cable or whatever you have around. You can also compare cheap cables to more expensive ones and decide if you can tell a difference. Coax are definitely easier to work with, IMO. Tens years ago a bought an optical cable because I didn't know any better (and because it let me use something that my brother couldn't), and it is definitely more difficult to hook up...especially if you have to reach around the back of a receiver or entertainment center.

Adam

 

[Wandering Man]

I just want to second the recommendation on the optical/coax question, and add that you can use just about any cable with RCA plugs for the coax connection.

I've already got two opticals (cablebox and dvd player), and I tend not to do much fiddling with the cables, so as long as they are basically equivelant in transfering data, I'm good to go until they break.

Thanks for the recommendation, though.

WM

 

[Wandering Man]

Sounds like you could still use the old one in a second room as long as you didn't need the sub pre-out.

Its kinda sad, actually. The RX-V640 receiver will go sit in a closet at my office providing power to mono ceiling speakers. We use a Sirrius radio to hide conversations going on in our offices. Way too fancy a machine to be relegated to amplifier duty.

WM

 

[Adam]

Its kinda sad, actually. The RX-V640 receiver will go sit in a closet at my office providing power to mono ceiling speakers. We use a Sirrius radio to hide conversations going on in our offices. Way too fancy a machine to be relegated to amplifier duty.

Poor Yammy. But, better than sitting in a closet in a box, right? Plus, it can feel good knowing that it's hiding conversations with radio and not just a white noise generator. Ahhh, the constant droning noise of HISSSSS.