Sub Troubleshooting help

[klinemj]

I was re-running Dirac tonight and something odd happened with my sub.

I had connected Mr. Ed, the switch, etc. and had Dirac running on my PC. I was beginning to set levels on the sub and the level was low no matter what I did. So, I was adjusting the master level to get the sub into a reasonable range. I heard sound through the sub, but then there was a "click" that sounded like it came from the XMC-2 and the sub stopped making sound. The power light on the back of the sub was on, and I checked the fuse (after disconnecting the sub power and XLR cable from the XMC-2 and the sub). The fuse appears good but I don't have the means to test it (and...if it were bad, the power light on the sub wouldn't be on...).

I was able to get sound through other speakers within Dirac - just not the sub.

So, I exited Dirac and went back into the speaker preset setups, and - again - I can run test tones through other speakers - just not the sub. So, whether by Dirac or the XMC-2's test tones...so sound from the sub.

Of course - it's after hours for Emotiva and I will call tomorrow.

But...looking for leads in the interim. KeithL??? Are there fuses on the sub circuits that could have blown independently of the circuits for the other speakers?

Any ideas anyone?

Mark (PS - I have sent a note to Rythmik to check for ideas with them also)

[klinemj]

Just heard from Brian Ding of Rythmik - sounds like it might be an issue with the sub amp. Ughhh...

Mark

[klinemj]

Already got a 2nd response from Brian. I'll be removing the amp plate tomorrow and shipping it back to them for repair.

Mark

[405x5]

Dec 22, 2020 19:51:29 GMT -5 klinemj said:

Just heard from Brian Ding of Rythmik - sounds like it might be an issue with the sub amp. Ughhh...

Mark

I feared that’s the news you might get.
Plate amps are slick but a crap shoot beyond 10 years....is yours that old yet??

Bill

[405x5]

Dec 22, 2020 20:01:05 GMT -5 klinemj said:

Already got a 2nd response from Brian. I'll be removing the amp plate tomorrow and shipping it back to them for repair.

Mark

Mine went south also just with different symptoms.

The whole thing was done with in around 2 weeks.

[klinemj]

Dec 22, 2020 20:01:24 GMT -5 405x5 said:

Dec 22, 2020 19:51:29 GMT -5 klinemj said:

Just heard from Brian Ding of Rythmik - sounds like it might be an issue with the sub amp. Ughhh...

Mark

I feared that’s the news you might get.
Plate amps are slick but a crap shoot beyond 10 years....is yours that old yet??

Bill

Mine is only 5 years old, but I did have a blown fuse recently. We also had a lightning strike about the time I was shutting the system down to prep to the XMC-1 upgrade. I am thinking maybe something happened during that that led to the blown fuse and then this.

The good news is that the repair cost is $100 + $50 shipping, and he already sent me a return label. Now, I just have to remove the plate amp and package it up. He gave detailed packing instructions also.

Mark

[klinemj]

Sub amp is on its way back to Rythmik! It sure is a challenge to find the right size boxes and securely pack a heavy, odd shaped amp. This thing has a big coil for its power supply. But, shipping the amp is a lot better than shipping the whole sub (but I do have the box for it).

Mark

[novisnick]

Dec 23, 2020 14:30:16 GMT -5 klinemj said:

Sub amp is on its way back to Rythmik! It sure is a challenge to find the right size boxes and securely pack a heavy, odd shaped amp. This thing has a big coil for its power supply. But, shipping the amp is a lot better than shipping the whole sub (but I do have the box for it).

Mark

So sorry your having trouble with your sub. Sorry for being lazy but I haven’t read the whole thread.  When I had amp problems with my PSA, Tom walked me through the trouble shooting process and then he shipped me the replacement and told me to send it back in the postage paid packaging that the replacement came in. Beyond great service.
I have heard great reviews about Rythmik but have never heard one, I believe they’re at very different price points as well. That said, I can’t say enough about the exemplary service and attention to detail that Tom at PSA gives to each of his customers. 
Good luck buddy, wish you could have had it home for the holidays.

Nick

[klinemj]

Dec 23, 2020 15:03:23 GMT -5 novisnick said:

Dec 23, 2020 14:30:16 GMT -5 klinemj said:

Sub amp is on its way back to Rythmik! It sure is a challenge to find the right size boxes and securely pack a heavy, odd shaped amp. This thing has a big coil for its power supply. But, shipping the amp is a lot better than shipping the whole sub (but I do have the box for it).

Mark

So sorry your having trouble with your sub. Sorry for being lazy but I haven’t read the whole thread.  When I had amp problems with my PSA, Tom walked me through the trouble shooting process and then he shipped me the replacement and told me to send it back in the postage paid packaging that the replacement came in. Beyond great service.
I have heard great reviews about Rythmik but have never heard one, I believe they’re at very different price points as well. That said, I can’t say enough about the exemplary service and attention to detail that Tom at PSA gives to each of his customers. 
Good luck buddy, wish you could have had it home for the holidays.

Nick

Thanks - this is the first experience with Rythmik service, other than in buying it. I was very impressed that Brian responded to my email so quickly and late at night. He asked me if the power light was flashing, and if so - how many flashes. I told him, and within minutes I had another response with a quote on cost ($100 + $50 for shipping), details on how to pack it, and a UPS shipping label!

Luckily, I will not be home much for a week, so I won't notice much.

Have a great holiday with Mrs. Nick.

Mark

[klinemj]

My sub amp is on the way back home! There was more damage than he expected, but Brian Ding repaired it for the original estimate cost. I'm looking forward to re-running Dirac with better level setting up front and a few minor differences in how I run it. I also have a new Emotiva switch and switch power cable on the way. The original switch didn't reliably power up. I honestly spent more time getting it to power up than it took me to run sweeps. I don't know if the issue was the switch or the power cord, but I have 1 of each being sent now.

Mark

[405x5]

Jan 13, 2021 19:04:34 GMT -5 klinemj said:

My sub amp is on the way back home! There was more damage than he expected, but Brian Ding repaired it for the original estimate cost. I'm looking forward to re-running Dirac with better level setting up front and a few minor differences in how I run it. I also have a new Emotiva switch and switch power cable on the way. The original switch didn't reliably power up. I honestly spent more time getting it to power up than it took me to run sweeps. I don't know if the issue was the switch or the power cord, but I have 1 of each being sent now.

Mark

That’s great news Mark,
I have maintained an ongoing Ebay search for both a subwoofer plate amp. and a multi channel main amp. (I hate downtime)
My plate amp is now so rare I don’t ever expect to find one.



Bill

[405x5]

....So when I had my plate amp. replaced, I shipped it to Velodyne in CA (now overseas). Already mine was no longer available, but the company had a handful of remanufactured in house. You could only get one if YOU had a dead ☠️ one to send them otherwise no dice.

Bill

[klinemj]

I got my sub amp back the other day and re-installed it into the sub, but I was nervous to hook it back up for fear it might blow again.

When the amp blew, I had been re-positioning the sub and doing dB level checks around the room to choose a position for the sub. (I'd forgotten to measure where the sub used to be before I took the system apart to install the new TV!) During that, I was able to find that sweet spot for the sub that made the level ~constant (within ~1-2 dB) around the room. It's amazing that a few inches forward/backward and left/right can make such a difference!.

But, as I was doing that, I was noticing an odd grainy noise that I thought was just me noticing details of the level check noise. I was a little worried as it didn't sound familiar. Still, I started Dirac and started to set the master level to run a sweep - and that's when the sub make a "click" noise and died. I was pretty sure the sub death was an effect of a prior issue, but I was worried that maybe the XMC-2 sub out had sent some bizarre signal that caused the issue.

So, before hooking my Rythmik back up - I dug out my old Paradigm sub to test with it and make sure the XMC-2 was sending a clean signal to it first! I wouldn't have minded if the Paradigm blew, but I didn't want to have to call Rythmik again! I figured it the Paradigm blew, I'd be calling Emotiva.

I finally got a chance to pull out the old sub and do a check today, and good news - the sound coming from the XMC-2 sub out in level checks is fine.

Given that, I hooked up the Rythmik and re-checked levels and the sub is sounding perfect like it should!

I'm going to just enjoy the system for a few days before re-running Dirac to make sure all is good.

But, I'm very pleased with the prompt response and service from Brian Ding of Rythmik.

Mark

[405x5]

Jan 21, 2021 13:56:11 GMT -5 klinemj said:

I got my sub amp back the other day and re-installed it into the sub, but I was nervous to hook it back up for fear it might blow again.

When the amp blew, I had been re-positioning the sub and doing dB level checks around the room to choose a position for the sub. (I'd forgotten to measure where the sub used to be before I took the system apart to install the new TV!) During that, I was able to find that sweet spot for the sub that made the level ~constant (within ~1-2 dB) around the room. It's amazing that a few inches forward/backward and left/right can make such a difference!.

But, as I was doing that, I was noticing an odd grainy noise that I thought was just me noticing details of the level check noise. I was a little worried as it didn't sound familiar. Still, I started Dirac and started to set the master level to run a sweep - and that's when the sub make a "click" noise and died. I was pretty sure the sub death was an effect of a prior issue, but I was worried that maybe the XMC-2 sub out had sent some bizarre signal that caused the issue.

So, before hooking my Rythmik back up - I dug out my old Paradigm sub to test with it and make sure the XMC-2 was sending a clean signal to it first! I wouldn't have minded if the Paradigm blew, but I didn't want to have to call Rythmik again! I figured it the Paradigm blew, I'd be calling Emotiva.

I finally got a chance to pull out the old sub and do a check today, and good news - the sound coming from the XMC-2 sub out in level checks is fine.

Given that, I hooked up the Rythmik and re-checked levels and the sub is sounding perfect like it should!

I'm going to just enjoy the system for a few days before re-running Dirac to make sure all is good.

But, I'm very pleased with the prompt response and service from Brian Ding of Rythmik.

Mark

A coincidence only most likely Mark. Glad you’re up and running. Sure know what it’s like to be scared in the music room when something OTHER than music rears it’s ugly head!
Bill