How to Troubleshoot a Klipsch Subwoofer
By Patrick Nelson
In 1946, Klipsch was one of the first U.S. speaker manufacturers. Product lines include speakers for home audio and theater; personal sound, including headphones; and professional cinema sound. The subwoofer is the element in the home speaker setup that provides the bass. Problems with subwoofers include sound issues related to hook-up, placement and phase among other things. These kinds of problems can be corrected by following some troubleshooting steps.
Examine the subwoofer connection to the amplifier if you don't hear any bass sounds. Many Klipsch subwoofers have two methods of connecting to the amp: Speaker wire connections, called "High-Level Inputs" and an RCA-type subwoofer output. Don't use both. Use the RCA-type connected to the jack marked "Subwoofer" on the amp, if possible.
Move the subwoofer away from the wall if it sounds too booming. The subwoofer is a nondirectional frequency that can be placed anywhere in a room.
Set the phase properly if the subwoofer doesn't sound smooth or sounds disjointed. Sit in the listening position and ask a a friend to switch the 0/180 phase switch on the subwoofer from the "0" position to the "180" position. Listen for bass loudness. The correct phase setting is the position with the loudest sounding bass.
Disconnect and unplug every component in your system if you hear hums or buzzing. Re-attach the components, one by one, until you identify the source of the hum. A common causes is television coaxial cable, so try that first -- it's the cable that supplies television signals.
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Writer Bio
Patrick Nelson has been a professional writer since 1992. He was editor and publisher of the music industry trade publication "Producer Report" and has written for a number of technology blogs. Nelson studied design at Hornsey Art School.