I've noticed when setting the speaker levels using the tone from my
receiver, I hear a rattle coming from the sub's driver. Its almost like
the basket is not fully attached to the rubber surround.
I've never noticed it when playing any heavy bass, but then I've never
gotten the full effect from LFE I've expected.
Is this common?

Are you sure it isn't just the housing? I have heard of a few boxes that have had some rattles.

At first I thought it might be a cord or something in the component stand
next to it. But no, I took off the grill and it was pretty clearly comming
from the driver.

Which sub? Does it sound like some small pebbles rattling in there?

Mojo, he has EP500 in his sig.

Ok. Does it sound like small pebbles rattling?

Time to call Axiom.

The sound is more like a window rattling.
I tried the "War Of The Worlds"pod emerging scene
and did hear it in the more intense spots.
But I don't notice in bass heavy music.

Try putting a "weight" on top of your 500. Just make sure you put a thick towel on your 500 before doing so. I've since put a towel under mine since the beaver was shuffling around too much.

I have the beaver (about 15lbs) shown below on top of my 600. On really demanding scenes like the depth charge scene in U-571 or the pod emerging scene in WOTW, the beaver prevents the "rattling" resonance that I hear.

The 600 (and I imagine the 500) are not infallible. If you put on tracks 6 or 7 of Plastikman: Closer, you will hear what some that have heard my 600 describe as "basket noises". However, I tried playing the same tracks on a Hsu VTF-3 and not only was half the bass missing, the chuffing noise out of the twin ports was awful. And my Sony was a different tale all together as I could smell the amp cooking and could hear the driver's motor structure bottoming out.

Finally, make sure that it isn't your room (or a window) rattling.

Nobody has asked you about your calibration settings. It is possible your running the sub to hot. Have you calibrated everything to 75dB? Do you have an SPL meter from Radio Shack?

If you have the volume on the sub cranked to high, AND have the receiver sub dB levels to high, the woofer will really work hard.

Or, it could just be the port rattling, or something on the back amp panel. I had a rattle once in a 500 I owned, and if I applied preassure with my fingers on the back of the amp plate, the noise went away.

Everything is calibrated at 75db.
With volume at 9 o'clock and trim=flat.
I do run the sub +(1-2), but when when setting levels
I get vibration in the -2 to +2 db range of 75db setting.
I guess I'll have to try a call to Axiom.

Call Axiom. I had the same noise and they hooked me up. No more ratting / tapping.

Jonhan, forgive Mojo.

He shows off his beaver every chance he gets.

Mark, are you slightly envious ?

Mojo,

I gotta ask. What improved your audio more - magic pebbles, crystals, pyramids or the beaver? Also, is the beaver 12ga or 16ga?

. I never thought the beaver would have any utility but now I'm so glad I chose that as my 10 year gift from the company over the gold watch . Maybe I should sell this idea to Machina Dynamica.

I have been having the same problem with my ep 500. There had been a rattle that was rather anoying coming from the back of the ep500 at certain times.

I checked with my new spl meter to make sure my sub was not running too 'hot', and it did not appear to be the case.

I called axiom and they suggested I tighten the hex screws on the back of the amp plate.

I tightened them all up about 1/2 a turn or so (there were a couple that were pretty easy to turn so I think they may have been the culprit)

Viola- no more rattle.

My rattle is coming from the front driver. I spoke to Brent
and he suggested tightening the front screws. I did this but
still have the rattle.
Brent/Axiom has sent me a new driver which I'll install
this weekend.

My problem was very easy to fix.

Hopefully changing out the driver will solve your problem.

May you will even find something loose inside that is rattling against the inside of the driver.. or maybe the driver itself is the problem.

Let us know what happens

The new driver is in and all is well.
No more rattle and now a punch I didn't have before.
Stuff would sure shake before, but I just felt I was missing something.
I can't believe it took a year for me to realize the rattle
wasn't from the glass coffee table or the decorative
glass marbles on the end table.

Good for you! There is nothing like the present to be happy!

OK - Looks like it's my turn. Sounds like something inside the EP500 has started to rattle on some scenes (for me the new Planet Earth Blu-ray) and it is not calibrated hot (or it wasn't). Looks like from this thread in order I should try:
1) Tighten back screws
2) Tighten front scres
3) Double check some setting is not running
4) Call Axiom!

Thanks
Nathan

Make sure it is not the source. I have some TV shows (Seinfeld is the worse for this) that have some poorly cleaned audio that contains some low noises. You might want to try reconfiguring your system so the M60 gets the bass to see if you can hear it there too or not (I can on my M80s).

OK I tighted all the screws and it make a little (??) difference - On further invistigation it sounds like the rattle is comming from the plastic front port. If I put my hand in there and press down the rattle stops. If no music is playing and I press down I hear a plastic squeaking sound. I removed all eight screws holding the pastic front port it in but it did not seem to want to slide out. Any ideas or is it a "Call Axiom" time?
Thanks
Nathan

It will not slide out as it is attached in side as well. If your careful and remove the front driver and look inside the box, you will see that the port is a two part design that is glued togethor. There are screws inside as well on the back side. Maybe you need to check those internal screws as well, but be careful not to overtighten them.

How cranked up do you have the volume on the sub and receiver. Many people run their subs to hot and create vibrations and rattles.

I recently bought 2 EP500s. One had a bad rattle from the get go. The other developed a bad rattle after only two days. I removed the driver from one sub and noticed that the voice coil had come unglued from the cone (woofer part). On the other sub this did not seem to be the case but did notice that the voice coil did not operate smoothly when manually moving it in and out which could have been causing the rattle noise. After calling the exceptional Axiom customer service line, they sent out 2 new drivers. All is well so far. Your problem sounds exactly like mine. I'd call Axiom and have them send out a new driver. There must have been a bad batch from China recently.

I don't run the sub hot at all (it is about 40% on the back) and was calibrated with an SPL meter originally. The rattle appears to be more related to a specific frequence (harmonic resonance?) than a particular level.

Looks like I'm calling Axiom Monday to see what they suggest as I'm not that keen to start dismatling it just yet!

Thanks
Nathan

The Axiom service is terrific - after some suggeted fixes a new cabinet is on its way!

All is good - the new cabinet only took two days to arrive in Sydney Australia from Canada - I've swapped the bits over and all is good!

Thanks to Brent for sorting it all out without any fuss!

Hey, congrats, jmone! Glad the problem got solved.

OK guys so here is the deal... I still am having some sort of issue. It seems that the new amp/new driver/ rigging up the wire did not resolve my issue after all.

Listening to a few bass heavy scenes the back of the ep500 seems to shake/vibrate/sound like it is rattling apart.

I told axiom what is going on and that I am not even sure if there is a real problem since the sound is only during loud explosions/ect.

They are sending my a completely new ep500 because They said they want to do some tests on my sub and know for sure if there is something wrong.

There customer service is the greatest I have ever seen. If you call ANY other company and say, "I think I might be having a problem still but I am not sure." The customer service rep will most likely say, 'don't worry about it'.

So I need to get som coax to sub connectors so I can use my coax cable and experiment with multiple subs for a day with my two subs

Bummer, terzaghi. Gotta give it to Axiom for taking care of their customers, though!