Sony Subwoofer not working HELP!! :(

[TimPFla]

I just want to let you know that I have posted on avs forum. Reason I am looking for quick answers.

I have the sony 2500 sub..Friend just gave it to me until I can get one of my own. I am going to save up and get one of TSC subs. With that said i have a Onkyo 304 receiver. I hooked up the sub cable to the receiver and I am having no luck with any sounds. I went into my receiver and turned sub to yes. Then did test zone and all my speakers work except for the sub out...Can anyone help me???? thanks everyone in advance!!

 

[Adam]

Hi. Some questions, none of which are intended to be insulting:

1. Did you plug the subwoofer into a power outlet?
2. Did you turn the subwoofer power switch to on?
3. Have you checked the troubleshooting section of the Onkyo 304 (see below)?

(From the Onkyo TX-SR304 Owner's Manual)

The subwoofer produces no sound?
• The subwoofer outputs no sound while only speaker set B is on. Turn on speaker set A.
• When you play source material that contains no information in the LFE channel, the subwoofer produces no sound.
• Make sure the speakers are configured correctly (page 34).
• If the multichannel DVD input is selected and speaker set B is on, speaker set A is reduced to 2-channel playback, so the subwoofer outputs no sound.
• On the AV receiver, the subwoofer setting in the speaker configuration is set to No. Set the subwoofer setting to Yes.

 

[TimPFla]

Hi. Some questions, none of which are intended to be insulting:

1. Did you plug the subwoofer into a power outlet?
2. Did you turn the subwoofer power switch to on?
3. Have you checked the troubleshooting section of the Onkyo 304 (see below)?

(From the Onkyo TX-SR304 Owner's Manual)

I totally understand Maybe I'm missing something. I tried all of that. Sub plugged in correct outlet. Even switched from power supply to wall outlet. Sub is on. Speakers are set correctly. I dunno..

 

[Adam]

Make sure that the volume knob on the sub is turned up (don't go straight to max , just make sure it's not all the way down), make sure that the receiver output setting for the sub is not really low (I'd suggest starting at 0dB), and make sure that you have connected the subwoofer output jack on the receiver to the line level input jack(s) on the sub.

 

[TimPFla]

Make sure that the volume knob on the sub is turned up (don't go straight to max , just make sure it's not all the way down), make sure that the receiver output setting for the sub is not really low (I'd suggest starting at 0dB), and make sure that you have connected the subwoofer output jack on the receiver to the line level input jack(s) on the sub.

I have tried all that..I really appreciate you troubleshooting with me. tried the crossover knobs and volume knobs. I did the sub setting in levels went from 0 to +4, +4 to +8, and so on.

 

[Adam]

Are your speakers set to "small"?

Also, when you run the test tones, does the subwoofer show up on the screen but you get no sound, or does it not even display the subwoofer when you go through the tones?

Something else that you can try is to directly connect one of your components (like a DVD player) to the line level inputs on the sub. That would bypass the receiver and let you know if the issue is with the receiver or the sub. If you're interested in that and have any questions about how to do it, just let us know.

 

[TimPFla]

Are your speakers set to "small"?

Also, when you run the test tones, does the subwoofer show up on the screen but you get no sound, or does it not even display the subwoofer when you go through the tones?

Something else that you can try is to directly connect one of your components (like a DVD player) to the line level inputs on the sub. That would bypass the receiver and let you know if the issue is with the receiver or the sub. If you're interested in that and have any questions about how to do it, just let us know.

Yes all speakers are set to small

I'm not smart when it comes to this so I only have the LFE on the sub then I have speaker springs on it as well. Can I do a audio out on the DVD player to that Sub IN??

 

[Adam]

Your DVD player should have left and right audio outputs (red and white RCA jacks). If that subwoofer only has one RCA input, then you could connect either the red or white jack on the DVD player to the sub. The goal is to send a signal to the subwoofer and see if it makes any sound. The outputs on your DVD player may or may not be variable (they are fixed if your DVD player doesn't have a volume control), but if you have a volume control on the DVD player, then you'll want to turn it up to make sure that you're sending a signal to the sub.

 

[TimPFla]

Your DVD player should have left and right audio outputs (red and white RCA jacks). If that subwoofer only has one RCA input, then you could connect either the red or white jack on the DVD player to the sub. The goal is to send a signal to the subwoofer and see if it makes any sound. The outputs on your DVD player may or may not be variable (they are fixed if your DVD player doesn't have a volume control), but if you have a volume control on the DVD player, then you'll want to turn it up to make sure that you're sending a signal to the sub.

Hey Adam,
Just want to let you know I tried the DVD Player thing. The sub isn't getting a signal. It seems like a bad sub..I tried everything I could think of.

 

[Adam]

Did the sub work for your friend before you got it?

 

[TimPFla]

Not Sure. He had it sitting in closet because he upgraded a while ago. I still don't have a large budget but would like a sub. So Do you have a budget sub recomendation?? I'm not taking the sub apart to look at the fuse... I will call my friend tomorrow and find out. I really appreciate your time.

 

[Adam]

My budget sub recommendations are based off of what I've read on this forum. A few people have recommended the Dayton subwoofers sold by Parts Express. There's a 12" version for $155 + shipping and a 10" version for $132 + shipping, among others.

I also look at customer reviews for subs. There a some inexpensive ($200 or under) Polk and Infinity (and other brands) subs sold at chain stores and online that people seem quite happy with. Those subs aren't as popular among some people here, but I figure that if a lot of people are happy with them, then they can't be all bad. I have a friend with a lower end Polk sub that cost about $100 or $150, and I think that it does a good job in his family's set up.

 

[TimPFla]

Not Sure. He had it sitting in closet because he upgraded a while ago. I still don't have a large budget but would like a sub. So Do you have a budget sub recomendation?? I'm not taking the sub apart to look at the fuse... I will call my friend tomorrow and find out. I really appreciate your time.

Adam,
I wasn't able to contact my friend as of yet. However, I started messing around with the sub. Maybe this will help. When I connect the cable to my sub, And then touch the other end of the sub cable to the outside of any terminal whether it be a speaker connection or componet in, The subwoofer does get power but it's a constand rumble..But when I insert the cable nothing So again the sub does get power.

I don't know if I told you but I had a Passive sub that suddenly quit working. This is why after I got a bookshelf speaker set, I wanted bass again.

 

[highfigh]

Since the sub gets its signal through an RCA cable, try another one. Turn the sub's input level control to medium and touch the center pin of the RCA plug. If you hear a hum when you touch it, it's working but the signal isn't getting to it, for whatever reason. If it has a fuse holder, unplug the power cord and check the fuse.

 

[TimPFla]

I Tried a new set of Rca cables. Touched it, and it does hum on that one as well but when I plug it to the receiver sub out slot, It does nothing

 

[highfigh]

I Tried a new set of Rca cables. Touched it, and it does hum on that one as well but when I plug it to the receiver sub out slot, It does nothing

As I posted before, if the sub hums, it's working. It sounds like the menu needs to be re-checked and possibly the manual. If there's a way to manually change the levels of the channels and sub, make sure the sub's level isn't all the way down.

I just looked at a photo of the rear of the receiver- if it's a TX-SR304, look at the jack next to the Front Speakers B connections. Is that where you plugged the cable in, or is it the one marked 'Subwoofer' immediately to the left of it as you look at the rear? If you used the one directly under the Center jack, you need to move it to the one under 'Pre Out'.

Hold Ctrl and use the scroll wheel or scroll function on the mouse pad to zoom in on it. When zoomed in, it's not very clear but you can still see the labels.
http://www.onkyousa.com/zoom.cfm?class=Receiver&m=TX-SR304#

 

[TimPFla]

As I posted before, if the sub hums, it's working. It sounds like the menu needs to be re-checked and possibly the manual. If there's a way to manually change the levels of the channels and sub, make sure the sub's level isn't all the way down.

I have all speakers set to "Small", Treble set to +5 out of 12, Bass set to +12,Main:sub, and of course I have subwoofer set to yes....Also to add. Whenever i do test zone when it goes to subwoofer, Silence

 

[santeini]

You can do a simple test to check weather your sub is working or not, on the sub, set the volume on the sub to about 2 steps, next plug in a RCA cable on the sub and on the other end of the RCA touch the positive end of the RCA plug, you should hear some humming sound from the sub. If there is no sound than some thing is wrong with it.

 

[TimPFla]

You can do a simple test to check weather your sub is working or not, on the sub, set the volume on the sub to about 2 steps, next plug in a RCA cable on the sub and on the other end of the RCA touch the positive end of the RCA plug, you should hear some humming sound from the sub. If there is no sound than some thing is wrong with it.

I did this...and the sub rumbles so I know it's not the sub... I have all the settings on my receiver correct...I'm beginning to think my sub out on the rcv'r doesn't work...Should I try a better sub cable??

 

[krzywica]

Don't think anyone has asked yet but does the sub have any other Inputs than RCA?

I would either try another input or try another receiver as it sounds like the sub should be working for you.

Good luck