EP350 problem and Axiom's solution - 01/10/10 07:47 PM
I've mentioned this in passing before, but my EP350v3 has had a rather odd problem. At relatively low volumes, it didn't properly reproduce bass, until it had been triggered on by higher volume. If I stuck my ear up against it, I could hear that it was making a static-y approximation of the input signal, an octave or two above where it should be, and certainly with no bass whatsoever. I variously thought that the problem was caused by the auto-on circuit, my receiver, the cable, etc., but narrowed it down to happening only when the sub had first been powered on and then fed a low volume signal. If I pumped up the volume to the point that the sub really came on, then turned it back down again, it worked for the rest of the listening session.
I originally described it to Axiom as a squeak, so they shipped me a box and had me send it in. They tightened seals, etc, and sent it back to me. Unfortunately, when they sent it back, the problem was still there. They were fairly convinced it was a mechanical issue--I assume because they hadn't been able to reproduce the problem. I'm guessing Axiom tests stuff at a higher volume than I often use.
In any case, I exchanged a few more emails with JC, and finally realized I could record the sound with my iPhone (of all things). I sent along a couple of clips (which you can hear here and here). The first clip was just the static-y sound. In the second (ignoring hte bits where I touched the grill cloth accidentally), I'm turning up the volume and the sub transitioned into producing real bass about halfway through. Listen to these clips on headphones or on decent speakers--laptop speakers don't tell you anything.
The next email I got back said that they were going to ship me a new amp design to try out. Cool! A couple of weeks later, I received a very, very large package. It was... a whole new EP350. I had kind of wondered why JC asked what finish my sub was in...
Unfortunately, while the new sub solved the first problem, it had a pretty bad hum. I told JC (starting to feel pretty rotten about bugging them about this in the first place...), and he said that they would send me a new replacement amp, which they did. I switched out the amps and found out why they sent me a whole new sub--the new amps aren't the same physical shape as the old ones, at all. Here's a few shots of the new amp, inside and out.
Outside
Inside
The case, sans the amp--notice how the amp compartment is sealed now?
The new amp and the newer amp, side by side
As you can see, Ian and crew have made the same change as far as input connectors on this amp as on the new EP800 amp. I had to do a little 1/4" jack swapping before the newest one started working, but it's been solid since then. No hum, no static, just niiice bass. I'm guessing they've gone to a class D design as well.
Thanks to JC, Ian, and Peter for all the work they did on this and for their patience.
I originally described it to Axiom as a squeak, so they shipped me a box and had me send it in. They tightened seals, etc, and sent it back to me. Unfortunately, when they sent it back, the problem was still there. They were fairly convinced it was a mechanical issue--I assume because they hadn't been able to reproduce the problem. I'm guessing Axiom tests stuff at a higher volume than I often use.
In any case, I exchanged a few more emails with JC, and finally realized I could record the sound with my iPhone (of all things). I sent along a couple of clips (which you can hear here and here). The first clip was just the static-y sound. In the second (ignoring hte bits where I touched the grill cloth accidentally), I'm turning up the volume and the sub transitioned into producing real bass about halfway through. Listen to these clips on headphones or on decent speakers--laptop speakers don't tell you anything.
The next email I got back said that they were going to ship me a new amp design to try out. Cool! A couple of weeks later, I received a very, very large package. It was... a whole new EP350. I had kind of wondered why JC asked what finish my sub was in...
Unfortunately, while the new sub solved the first problem, it had a pretty bad hum. I told JC (starting to feel pretty rotten about bugging them about this in the first place...), and he said that they would send me a new replacement amp, which they did. I switched out the amps and found out why they sent me a whole new sub--the new amps aren't the same physical shape as the old ones, at all. Here's a few shots of the new amp, inside and out.
Outside
Inside
The case, sans the amp--notice how the amp compartment is sealed now?
The new amp and the newer amp, side by side
As you can see, Ian and crew have made the same change as far as input connectors on this amp as on the new EP800 amp. I had to do a little 1/4" jack swapping before the newest one started working, but it's been solid since then. No hum, no static, just niiice bass. I'm guessing they've gone to a class D design as well.
Thanks to JC, Ian, and Peter for all the work they did on this and for their patience.
