B&W ASW675 Trouble...

[bsodmike]

Hello all, this is my very first post and I've been using the site quite a bit as it has some great reviews and advice...

Before I get started let me detail my setup, which has a Denon AVR-3805 7.1 AV Receiver, (all speakers B&W) LCR600 as the centre, a pair of DM602 S3s for the front and the ASW675 subwoofer. The rears are DM601 S3s but are 11000 miles away and I'm bringing them back in Easter.

QED cabling has been used all around, and Airloc plugs on the receiver end for speaker termination. The subwoofer is hooked up via a QED MPSW cable connecting to the 'L' Line-In on the sub. Settings are, mode:auto, EQ:A, Filter:Out, Phase:0, and Volume:~20% of the way.

On the amp all speakers have been set as 'small', +3dB for the sub level and respective distances have been entered in metres.

The problem started the very evening I connected this when I decided to stream some online radio that really had zero bass. Afterwards the sub played dead and I had to power cycle (set to standby, then auto or via on/off switch) it and it came back on, which takes the receiver out of the question. Since then I've been playing with various settings on the receiver but these pretty much improved quality, not the duration of it working. I managed to get 1hr and 20mins max yesterday. Today I tried something different - POWER!. It was running off a Reillo 1KVA UPS which is connected to all the AV equipment: 42" Plasma, Mac mini, PS2, Satellite receiver, Router and switch (network stuff) and Airport Express + the Denon Receiver.

I decided to take the UPS out of the question and managed to get it to run for 1hr 40mins at which point the heatsink at the back was 'pretty warm'. I ran the 'Ultimate Subwoofer Test.mp3', which many of you may have tried continuously for that period.

Small note, if the receiver is set to standby while the sub is in its 'play dead' state after 5mins the sub it self will go into standby. If the receiver is started it'll work fine...

Right now I'm going to shift all the components onto a Patriot 600VA UPS and have the receiver alone on the 1kVA and have the subwoofer connected to the mains directly...

I don't want to write the subwoofer off as 'defective' as it performs great when it works...oh and I purchased this in England and carried it home with me this Christmas. The suitcase (a huge one) weighed 32kg and was fairly difficult to lug with me, and if I can help it don't want to have to go through it again...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

--Mike

 

[tbewick]

I'm rather confused by your problem. First of all, does the subwoofer make a noise when you run test tones on the receiver? One problem you might be having is the subwoofer turning itself off because it hasn't got anything to do. To prevent this, set it to 'on' and not 'auto'. Is the subwoofer providing all the bass below a certain crossover frequency or is it set to LFE only? If it's set to LFE it will only be active in x.1 DVD's and maybe SACD/DVD-A, depending on your set up.

My best guess is that the subwoofer is turning itself off on auto mode. The reason for this must be that either you have the volume setting on the subwoofer too low or you are playing your music/DVD's etc. at too low a volume (on the receiver) for the subwoofer to do anything. Low bass frequencies (below ~90 Hz) are only really heard at louder volumes (>80 dB). In the words of B&W, you have to have to listen at 'realistic' volume levels in order for the subwoofer to be active.

 

[j_garcia]

Have you calibrated with a SPL meter? Try raising the sub level in the reicever and turning it down a bit at the sub. This will bring the input voltage up and possibly keep it from going into standby. If it has a L&R input, you can try using a Y splitter to both which will also increase the input voltage slightly.

 

[Sheep]

Its not a level problem guys. I was talking to him about it before he posted on here. He was playing bass test tones quite loud, then it shut off after 1hour 40min.

For some reason the sub turns off after an hour or so. Its not the cable or reciever, so he wants to know if its the power. I don't have alot of experience in power so I wouldn't know.

SheepStar

 

[j_garcia]

So it stops playing while in USE? "pretty hot" would be the only other thing I could think of - maybe it's going into thermal protection? Get an SVS

 

[bsodmike]

I think you are correct...Thermal shutdown is the best explanation considering that it is rather warm here in Colombo - no where as cold n' freezing as it is in England.

I'm gonna have the AC on for 2hrs and watch Gladiator - see if it lasts

--Mike

 

[bsodmike]

Ok this sucks. It isn't thermal shutdown - I was watching 'The Jacket' (nice movie in fact) and had the AC on throughout...the room temp was around 20degC and the heatsink temp read a max of 39degC, with +3dB on the channel level. 1hr 25mins or so before it 'shut off' - please note, during these shut offs the LED stays green... When I power cycle the sub I hear a relay clicking. I hear this same relay clicking when it goes dead (well heard it before...).

Oh even thought it is in 'auto' the line level is fine because right now it's stuck in 'green' but dead. If I power cycle it, even at very low levels of 'volume' it'll start to work...

I'm starting to think that the problem is worse than expected

Any help would be great.

--Mike

 

[j_garcia]

Check with your dealer. Sounds like a definite problem.

 

[bsodmike]

According to B&W:

"The issue seems to be located within the subwoofer module, I shall pass your details onto our international customer services department to resolve your situation."

Let's see how this goes...

Thanks, Mike

 

[bsodmike]

Ok wow, I removed the amplifier and all the circuitry from the sub and couriered it to Singapore.

B&W is sending me a new module from Hong Kong tomorrow :-o!

"Hi Mike,
There is a spare amp. module here in HK. If you could let us know your
mailing address, we can send it to you by courier tomorrow. You can send
the faulty amp. module either to Singapore or HK at your preference, Enzer
works in line with us here in Asia so it makes no difference. Hope you can
enjoy your system during the holiday season."

Will keep you guys updated...

--Mike

 

[blacksquid]

....
Today I tried something different - POWER!. It was running off a Reillo 1KVA UPS which is connected to all the AV equipment: 42" Plasma, Mac mini, PS2, Satellite receiver, Router and switch (network stuff) and Airport Express + the Denon Receiver.

I decided to take the UPS out of the question and managed to get it to run for 1hr 40mins at which point the heatsink at the back was 'pretty warm'. I ran the 'Ultimate Subwoofer Test.mp3', which many of you may have tried continuously for that period.

Small note, if the receiver is set to standby while the sub is in its 'play dead' state after 5mins the sub it self will go into standby. If the receiver is started it'll work fine...

Right now I'm going to shift all the components onto a Patriot 600VA UPS and have the receiver alone on the 1kVA and have the subwoofer connected to the mains directly...

I'd also check your power arrangement to make sure you've sized the UPS correctly and are not drawing too much amperage from the electrical circuit(s). The Denon alone draws 7.1 amps. The 600VA UPS may not be sufficient for all of the rest of your gear.

BTW, <a href=http://www.apcc.com/tools/ups_selector/index.cfm>APC</a> has some helpful guides to selecting a UPS by load.

 

[bsodmike]

Hey there squid. I've got a few updates....

Yup, I have shifted everything apart from the audio stuff to the 600VA UPS and it is running fine. If overloaded these *will* complain heh. The receiver and sub are now connected to the 1KVA UPS and are running alright but this will only hold true as long as the subwoofer isn't driven excessivly. I'll be on the look out for a 240V/15A power conditioner....

Today I received the replacement amplifier from B&W Hong Kong, the sub has been running for well over 4hrs now!

I'm completely smitten by B&W's customers service and they have made my Christmas

I will probably have the AVR3805 and my *just* ordered DVD3910 on the 1KVA and shift my sub onto the power conditioner/UPS with higher current handling capabilities...

--Mike