Amplifier OR Speakers Are Working But Subwoofer Doesn’t [20+ Fixes]

There are two main problems with the subwoofers. Sometimes their speakers work, but they don’t and sometimes their amplifiers are powered but the subwoofers don’t work.

Don’t worry, these are the most common and easy-to-solve problems and anyone can face them in their home theater systems or cars.

You should check the quality and connection of wires, inputs, fuses, firmware updation, sound settings, and the physical condition of the subwoofer to fix these problems.

If you are facing one of these problems and want easy and simple DIY (Do It Yourself) solutions, you should follow the following methods carefully and perfectly.

REASONS FOR THESE PROBLEMS

There are some reasons why your subwoofer is not sounding well.

Check out all the things very carefully and then figure out, which is the reason behind this problem.

1. Wiring Issues

Check out all the wires very carefully and then see which wire has issues.

There may be some short circuit or loose wire due to which the current is not traveling and hence the subwoofer is not sounding.

Also, check out the wiring connections of other devices like amplifiers or speakers and ensure that they are connected properly.

2. Check Subwoofer’s Status

Ensure that your subwoofer should not be blown, the blown subwoofer can cause serious damage to your other audio devices.

If your subwoofer is producing unclear or noisy sounds, it means it has blown. The other most important thing is, your subwoofer should break in.

This helps to produce a clear, louder, and undistorted sound

3. Physical Damage

If your subwoofer has some kind of physical damage then it will not work even if your amplifier or speakers work.

The physical trauma can damage the internal wiring or electronic kit severely.

There may be some minor internal wiring issues in the subwoofer due to physical damage. The damaged spider or cone is the most severe case. Here you have to change the spider or cone completely and this is somehow an expensive treatment.

4. Cable Or Connectivity Issues

Subwoofers can be connected to speakers or amplifiers through specific optical cables.

 Ensure that these cables are compatible and good in health.

Sometimes, the cable doesn’t feel damaged but can be out of order due to many reasons. In this case, you have no other option despite buying a new one.

5. The Speaker’s Wiring Is Faulty

In case your amplifier or all the other things are working well then you should check the speaker’s internal and external wiring.

The internal wiring means the speaker’s internal kit or socket has some kind of issue.

While the external wiring is actually those cables that you used for connecting your speakers to the subwoofer.

The electric wires which are used to provide electric power to the speakers also come in external wiring.

Double-check it and ensure that the electric socket and the plug you are using are working well. If you are using more than one speaker with your subwoofer then you should check the wiring status of all the speakers one by one.

6. The Amplifier Is Not Working

In case of a second problem (where the speaker and all the other things are working well but the subwoofer is not sounding yet), you should check all the wiring and connectivity settings of the amplifier.

Amplifiers actually have more technical settings than speakers. Check out all the knobs (especially volume-related knobs) of the amplifier (as well as the speaker).

7. The Voltages Are Not Enough

This is the most critical point. Please try to understand it keenly.

As you know subwoofers come with different impedances or resistances which are symbolized as “Ohm”. Some subwoofers are of 12 Ohm and some are of 14 Ohm.

The 14 Ohm subwoofer has more impedance against current than 12 Ohm.

Therefore we have to choose the given voltage carefully. The subwoofer of high Ohms may not work on low voltage and vice versa.

You have to contact the customer support of your subwoofer’s brand or read the manual guidebook carefully.

Here the required voltage will be mentioned.

Ensure that your subwoofer is receiving recommended voltage.

8. Wire Gauge Is Not Compatible

 Wire gauge is the size of wire (in terms of thickness). This is the most important factor. Check that you have chosen the wire of compatible gauge.

The incompatible wire will increase the resistance of the current and consume more power. This thing will destroy your subwoofer too soon.

Which wire size you should select, depends upon the Ohm (resistance) and size of your subwoofer.

9. Protect Mode Is ON

The latest subwoofers are coming with this awesome technology.

This is called the “Protect Mode”. In this, your subwoofer was temporarily turned OFF due to a technical issue.

For example, if there is faulty wiring or connectivity detected, your subwoofer will turn OFF and will not ON again until you fix that problem.

Therefore, please check all the things again and re-fix all the wires and cables and then turn the subwoofer ON.

When the protected mode is ON there will be a red light blinking.

10. Problem In The Equalizer Settings

Home Theater System is a big setup of audio devices. The chances of faults are very high there.

A small change in the equalizer settings can destroy the whole taste of music. Even a minor change in the audio settings can make your subwoofer quiet.

There may be some kind of serious problem or change in the equalizer settings due to which your subwoofer is not working.

11. The Fuse Has Damaged

The other most noticed reason for electronic devices is the blowing of their fuses.

A fuse is a very small bulb present in the subwoofer which controls and stabilizes the voltage. The fuse acts as a savior or bodyguard for your subwoofer. When the voltage downs or ups, the fuse blows itself but saves the subwoofer.

Check Whether your fuse is good or not. The blown fuse indicates black color. If your fuse has become blackish, it means it has blown.

12. Your Sub May Not Placed Well

As we know there is a wire called Neutral Wire (Black in Color) which should be grounded and touching to earth in order to cancel out the electric effect of the current over the surface of the subwoofer.

Subwoofers are made up of metal and they can easily capture the current and cause some serious damage, therefore it is necessary to have a Neutral grounded wire.

13. Your Room Is Not Compatible

The room acoustics play an important role in the production of good sound quality. Arrange the furniture and other stuff in your room properly and place your subwoofer in the place where it sounds good.

14. May Be Signal Issues

Speakers and subwoofers can only work together when they are properly attached to each other.

There shouldn’t be a signal interruption between the subwoofer and speakers.

15. Difference Between Voltages

As I already discussed the importance of voltages. But here I want to mention one more thing. The amount of voltage required to run a subwoofer is not the same as the amount of voltage required to run an amplifier.

You have to give different voltages to them to work perfectly.

SPEAKERS ARE WORKING BUT THE SUBWOOFER DOESN’T – ULTIMATE SOLUTIONS

You should follow the given steps before going for the solutions.

1. The Initial Solutions

2. Check Out The Voltage

Go to the official website of your subwoofer’s brand or contact the shopkeeper to ask for the original voltage value required for your subwoofer to work perfectly.

It might be up to 12 volts but may vary according to the impedance or size of your subwoofer. This is the most important thing, don’t ignore it. None of the other methods will work if you don’t follow this.

3. Check Out The Voltage Of the Amplifier

There is a huge difference between the voltage of the subwoofer and the amplifier. You can’t run both of them at the same voltage value.

Therefore you need to check out the voltage requirements of both devices and then plug them into the circuit accordingly.

The minimum voltage required to run an amplifier is 10.5 to 16.5 volts.

4. Plug The Amplifier Out

If your subwoofer is running well even without an amplifier, you should remove the amplifier permanently.

There is no need for the attachment of extra devices. It will not only consume your power (consume more power in the case of a car subwoofer) but also form many complexities.

Plug your subwoofer out and now test your subwoofer.

5. Plug Subwoofer And Speakers Strongly

In order to resolve the signal issues, check that the connecting cables between the subwoofer and speakers are strongly connected.

The cables shouldn’t be loose and should be plugged into compatible ports. The RCA cable should be in the RCA port and so for the optical cable.

Order new cables if these are physically damaged or are too old.

6. Do The Room Setting

You can’t get clear, undistorted, or equal sound with better room acoustics.

In order to set your room acoustics, the placement of your subwoofer should be according to the room furniture or walls, etc.

 If the room is empty, then your subwoofer may produce an echo and in the reverse case, the subwoofer will produce a heavy and hard-to-listen sound.

Place your subwoofer at the corners around the TV and the subwoofer should be slightly elevated from the floor, so it can’t be rattled.

7. Connect A Neutral (Ground) Wire

A neutral wire should be connected to your subwoofer so it can transfer the extra current to the ground.

Otherwise, it can seriously damage you, your children, your pets, or all the audio systems. It is the most necessary precaution you should immediately take.

In many areas the current fluctuates day by day, therefore subwoofers or other electronic devices stop working.

The only solution to this problem is the ground wire.

8. Check Out The Fuse

If your fuse has blown, then buy a new one.

You should buy a bundle of fuses. Because they often blow. Carefully open the subwoofer for removing the blown fuse and insert the new one.

I will not suggest you do it by yourself if you are not professional.

9. Do The Best Equalizer Settings

This is the most important thing. The equalizer settings can make your subwoofer a hero and zero at the same time.

First of all, install the sound mobile application of your subwoofer’s brand and then connect your sub to it via WiFi or Bluetooth.

From there you can change or adjust the equalizer settings. Find the best setting and save it. If you are unable to find the best settings, then reset it to default settings.

Default settings are also good.

10. Turn OFF The Protect Mode

You can turn OFF the Protect Mode by fixing everything.

For this, you need to unplug every wire or cable and then re-plug them properly.

If the issue is fixed, the protected mode will automatically turn OFF and your subwoofer will start working.

11. Choose The Compatible Wire Gauge

All the subwoofers are of different sizes and resistance. They can’t play a sound with the same size of wire.

You have to choose the compatible one according to the status of your subwoofer.

12. Check The Cables

The latest subwoofers are attached via RCA cables to the amplifiers or speakers. But some subwoofers have optical cable connectivity issues.

Check out the cable attachment of your subwoofer and connect it accordingly.

 The RCA cable can’t be used in the port of the optical cable and vice versa.

This thing can be bypassed, you can use the RCA cable in the port of the optical cable but the sound will be so poor that it can’t even be listenable.

13. Check Out The External Wiring

Now check out the external and internal wiring of your subwoofer.

In the external wiring, first of all, check the electric circuit and then all the wires and plugs. They should be working fine. In case of any short circuit, there may be huge losses.

Change the wires or circuit if needed. The home theater systems and all the devices like subwoofers, speakers, or TVs are heavily power-consuming devices.

They can’t work well on low-quality wires. You need to buy the best ones which should bear high voltage and should be long lasting.

14. Check Out The Internal Wiring

Here I will say two things.

Open the subwoofer carefully and check the internal wiring and electric kit. The first thing is that the whole electric kit should be neat and clean.

If not then take a blower and clean the dust from it. I will not recommend you use water to clean it.

After cleaning it properly, now it’s time to check every point and connection of the kit. Ensure that everything is good. All the points are working perfectly and wires are attached. If not, then take it to an electrician.

15. Physical Damage

If you have damaged your subwoofer or amplifier etc recently, then it will not work. These are fragile materials and you have to care for them keenly.

In case of any minute trauma, they stop functioning. In case of physical damage the internal wiring and kit effects. Therefore you have to take it to an electrician.

16. The subwoofer Should Be Break-In

If your subwoofer is new it should break in. For breaking in your subwoofer play it at its highest volume or bass and let the spider become elastic.

17. Subwoofer Shouldn’t Be Blown

The blown subwoofer can never be fixed without changing its spider and cone.

The blown subwoofer means your spider and cone have been damaged because of excessive play at the highest volume.

You can fix the blown subwoofer by cleaning it internally or changing the voice coil. You can use the multimeter to confirm whether it has blown or not.

18. Update The Firmware

Firmware is something like the software of the subwoofer. The outdated firmware can stop the subwoofer from working.

Here you need to update the firmware of all the devices of your home theater system.

 You can update the firmware through their mobile applications or by downloading the latest firmware from Google.

You can use USB to update it.

19. Buy A New Subwoofer

If you have applied all the methods and the issue still persists, then you may have to order a new subwoofer.

20. Buy A New Amplifier

If your amplifier is not working and you need it badly. You should buy a new one to complete your home theater system.

A new amplifier should be compatible with your subwoofer. Not all the amplifiers are good for every subwoofer.

21. Contact To Customer Support

Before replacing the subwoofer or amplifier, you should contact a nearby shop for proper treatment or contact the customer support of your brand.

THE AMPLIFIER HAS BEEN POWERED BUT THE SUBWOOFER ISN’T WORKING – SOLUTIONS

Check Your Speaker’s Wiring

If you have followed all the above-mentioned methods and none of them have worked, you should check the wiring of the speakers.

Plug out all the wires and cables from the speakers and re-plug them. Change the wires and buy the best ones if they are out of order.

Clean The Speakers

Open the speakers and clean the dust from them by using a blower. Check the internal kit and fix it if you have found some kind of detachment.

THE CAR SUBWOOFER IS NOT WORKING BUT THE AMPLIFIER HAS POWERED – HOW DO FIX IT?

Check The Power

There is a huge difference between the car’s battery power and home electricity power. Ensure that your subwoofer is getting enough power to work.

You should change the battery of your car if it is unable to provide the required power to the subwoofer.

 Check Other Things

Check the wiring connections, fuses, subwoofer status, amplifier, speakers, cable connectivities, firmware, and ground wire in order to fix the car subwoofer.

SOME PRO TIPS TO FIX YOUR SUBWOOFER

1. Speakers Set to Large

Ensure that no speaker should be set to large. Those speakers which are set to large will not work.

Because they will not pass the sound from the speakers to the subwoofer.

2. Wiring Proper

In order to connect the subwoofer to the Amplifier, you can connect the other end of the cable to the port (present behind the Amplifier).

There may be two ports in the new amplifiers. They give the option to attach two subwoofers at once.

If one port is not working, try the other one.

3. A Thumping Test

Connect a cable to the subwoofer. Connect One end of the cable to the subwoofer and tap on the other end of the cable.

Turn ON the subwoofer before this.

You will listen to a “Tapping Sound” on the subwoofer when you tap. If there is no such sound, it means your subwoofer has blown.

4. In Case Of Cut-Off Frequency

The latest subwoofers have cut-off frequency settings.

When you turn it ON and set it at its maximum position, it will pass all the low frequencies to the subwoofer.

5. Adjust The Volume

Those subwoofers which have built-in amplifiers are called active subwoofers. These subwoofers work well when you adjust their volume at the middle position.

6. Check The speaker’s Status

You should enable the subwoofer first. For this go to Settings > Speaker > Speaker SP. Ensure that there should be 1 or 2 patterns, instead of 0.

If it is 0, your subwoofer will not sound.

SOME PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

These are some precautionary measures you should take in order to prevent these problems.

 1. Place In Different Rooms

Place your subwoofer in different places. Continuously changing the place and location of the subwoofer, until I find the best one.

They shouldn’t be placed too close to the speakers.

Otherwise, the sound will become entangled and it will give you a scary experience of music. Never place the speakers and subwoofers too close to the walls and curtains.

If your room has curtains, adjust the subwoofer setting according to them.

Place them in the corner and ensure that there is no obstacle in front and back of the subwoofer.

2. Find The Best Frequency

Every subwoofer has its own cross-frequency on which it sounds good, find that frequency. Low cross frequency is the most recommended one.

3. Adjust The Volume

Adjust the most accurate volume level of the subwoofer and the speaker.

Pro Tip:- First of all low down the volume completely and then try to increase it slowly. There will be a point where it sounds good. Adjust it there permanently.

4. Don’t OverPower It

You can use a stabilizer to control the overpowering. The overpower can blow your subwoofer as well as the speakers.

Always maintain the voltages and quantity of current.

5. Place In an Open Area

Always place your subwoofer in an open area for proper ventilation. Don’t place them in a tight box. The box should have holes for airflow.

CONCLUSION

I have told you more than 20 solutions. By following them you can fix all your subwoofer’s problems.

If the speakers are working and the subwoofer is not, it means there is no issue with the speaker. You just need to ignore your speaker and check all the other things, and do the same thing in the case of an amplifier.

Subwoofers are an integral part of the home theater system. Without this, you can’t even feel the bass.

Therefore follow all the precautionary measures so you can’t face these issues. Sometimes your subwoofer becomes too old and due to excessive use, its internal wiring damages.

In this case, you have to replace the whole kit. You can claim the warranty if you have one.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS