I picked up an Onkyo SKW-530 subwoofer the other day, not because I wanted it myself but because I could get it cheap along with a couple other things and I intended to resell it. So, I know it's not a great sub in any case, but my problem is I'm not sure whether it's working as it should. I was cleaning it and testing it and I noticed that the output seemed much lower than I expected.
I tested it hooked to the sub out from my Marantz SR-7002, without changing any settings on the receiver that under normal use is sending signal to my Klipsch SW12.
I played an old CD that would normally have some good low-end to try it out, but wasn't hearing (or feeling, when I put my hand on it) much of anything. I turned off my L/R speakers completely (using the A/B speaker switch), and then I could hear the faintly working sub. I turned the volume on the sub unit itself all the way up and then I could hear it a bit. I went into the EQ, where Audyssey had previously lowered the sub level significantly, and raised it up to around 0 db in the EQ, and I also turned the receiver volume up. At this point I could hear the sub, but the amount of sub sounded to me like what I should be getting at 50% or lower on the volume dial, not with the sub's gain all the way up and all these other things, too.
So I turned the music off and just went into my receiver's audio setup, and I can definitely hear the test tone rumble through the sub (though nowhere near the level of the Klipsch, even with the Klipsch at 1/4 gain). That rumble does go up/down as I adjust the gain on the sub, so I know that at least that part of the sub's amp is working, and from what I can tell the actual sound reproduction sounds "normal" - not obviously distorted, not cutting in and out.
I've got audio measuring apps on my phone - if I run that test tone through the sub, is there a way for me to know roughly what level of output I "should" be getting from it? Like I said, all I really want to do is make sure it's working before I sell it to someone as a working sub. Otherwise I'll sell the driver and trash the rest, but it would be a shame if it was all working fine.
At the same time - if I have to turn the sub's gain all the way up just to hear it, something tells me it ain't working fine.
I've taken out the amplifier and had a look at all the parts. Zero expertise there AT ALL, but did not see any obvious signs like burnt components, leaking caps, loose connections, etc.
I tested it hooked to the sub out from my Marantz SR-7002, without changing any settings on the receiver that under normal use is sending signal to my Klipsch SW12.
I played an old CD that would normally have some good low-end to try it out, but wasn't hearing (or feeling, when I put my hand on it) much of anything. I turned off my L/R speakers completely (using the A/B speaker switch), and then I could hear the faintly working sub. I turned the volume on the sub unit itself all the way up and then I could hear it a bit. I went into the EQ, where Audyssey had previously lowered the sub level significantly, and raised it up to around 0 db in the EQ, and I also turned the receiver volume up. At this point I could hear the sub, but the amount of sub sounded to me like what I should be getting at 50% or lower on the volume dial, not with the sub's gain all the way up and all these other things, too.
So I turned the music off and just went into my receiver's audio setup, and I can definitely hear the test tone rumble through the sub (though nowhere near the level of the Klipsch, even with the Klipsch at 1/4 gain). That rumble does go up/down as I adjust the gain on the sub, so I know that at least that part of the sub's amp is working, and from what I can tell the actual sound reproduction sounds "normal" - not obviously distorted, not cutting in and out.
I've got audio measuring apps on my phone - if I run that test tone through the sub, is there a way for me to know roughly what level of output I "should" be getting from it? Like I said, all I really want to do is make sure it's working before I sell it to someone as a working sub. Otherwise I'll sell the driver and trash the rest, but it would be a shame if it was all working fine.
At the same time - if I have to turn the sub's gain all the way up just to hear it, something tells me it ain't working fine.
I've taken out the amplifier and had a look at all the parts. Zero expertise there AT ALL, but did not see any obvious signs like burnt components, leaking caps, loose connections, etc.
