subwoofer cracking and popping noise

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jimboraver77

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Jan 6, 2018
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hi all, been having trouble with my subwoofer, as in it makes a load cracking and popping sound, this happens randomly so is very intermittent and annoying. Any suggestions would be appreciated thanks. james
 
Solution
Usually indicative of voice coil burns at specific areas. Any higher demand in that frequency resulting in cracking as it basically shorts out the coil.

jimboraver77

Prominent
Jan 6, 2018
7
0
520


sounds terminal ! thanks for your reply though, would this also happen when the sub isnt receiving a signal, ie, when only the power is turned on but no audio signal ?
thanks
 

Karadjgne

Distinguished
Herald
No. The coil is a mile of copper wire wrapped by a huge magnet. When you send a deliberate signal to the coil, it moves in response to the magnetic field produced. Without a signal, the coil doesn't move as there's no frequency to make it move.

If the speaker is emitting cracks/pops without a signal from the deck, then there's something else interfering and creating a signal. Usual suspect is a bad ground on the amplifier creating backfeed, abraided/ungrounded/unshielded signal wires allowing certain frequencies to enter etc.

Usually it is a burned voice coil, but only usually. Sometimes it is something else. Check all wiring, move any signal/speaker wires away from power cords etc. If it's a household powered sub, check the outlet it's plugged into, the plug should be tight, not loose to plug in. Check the deck power outlet too.
 
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