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Subwoofer rattle normal?
#352176 07/21/11 02:38 AM
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Hi...

I recently bought an EP400 subwoofer. It works great at low volumes. However, I'm experiencing a phenomenon that I don't quite like when listening at medium to higher volumes, and I'm not sure if this is standard/normal for this subwoofer.

When listening at medium to higher volumes of bass heavy tracks, I can hear the aluminum woofer rattle at a much higher pitch than the sub-frequencies that I expect a subwoofer to make. It's a rattling that is layered on top of the bass - when I hear that, it makes me kind of cringe, like trying to walk on a sprained ankle (the 1st metaphor that came to mind). I don't know if the subwoofer is damaged, or if i'm further damaging it by playing it at this level, or if this is part and parcel with subwoofer performance. I honestly don't feel like i'm 'cranking' the volume with it! And this is a subwoofer - not exactly a light parcel... I'd hate to think of the postage cost to send it back. (sigh)

Any words of wisdom out there?

Last edited by GrnCdn; 07/21/11 02:40 AM.
Re: Subwoofer rattle normal?
GrnCdn #352179 07/21/11 02:52 AM
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have you calibrated it with the other speakers, normally 75dB's using the receiver test tones or auto setup. You may be running the sub to hot, meaning you have the gain to high on the sub and/or receiver.


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Re: Subwoofer rattle normal?
GrnCdn #352182 07/21/11 03:03 AM
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GC, as Randy indicated, if you have the sub calibrated correctly, i.e., you don't have it adjusted much louder than the speakers at a given volume, there should be no such rattling even at fairly high overall volume levels.


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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.


Re: Subwoofer rattle normal?
JohnK #352186 07/21/11 03:34 AM
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What's the cubic size of your room? I hope you are not trying to fill a large space with that sub. That would contribute to over driving it.

Rattling or even "fluttering" sounds during heavy bass passages can be contributed to many things including the driver bottoming out, port noise (is this sub ported?), poor assembly like loose screws securing the driver and or amplifier (air escaping) or even user setup like having the receiver subwoofer pre-out set too high which in turn clips the signal.




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Re: Subwoofer rattle normal?
BlueJays1 #352187 07/21/11 03:37 AM
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The sub is sealed.

I'd give Axiom a call.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Subwoofer rattle normal?
Ken.C #352191 07/21/11 04:08 AM
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I might have misread your initial post. If the EP400 uses some sort high pass brickwall filter, its possible what you are hearing is the sub ringing during those demanding bass tracks that dig low and loud.


I’m armed and I’m drinking. You don’t want to listen to advice from me, amigo.

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Re: Subwoofer rattle normal?
BlueJays1 #352199 07/21/11 12:13 PM
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It sounds like the same kind of noise I was hearing with the EP175 that I bought. Upgrading to an EP350 fixed the problem for me (or in your case downgrading to an EP350). It just wasn't enough subwoofer for the space so it kept bottoming out.

Re: Subwoofer rattle normal?
CatBrat #352201 07/21/11 12:27 PM
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As BlueJays1 said... how big is your room? The EP400 is specifically designed to give you low bass in a small room only. If you're in a larger room, you might be pushing it too hard.

I would think the DSP would prevent damage from over-driving, but that doesn't change the fact that you might be misusing it if your room is larger than a bedroom.


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: Subwoofer rattle normal?
MarkSJohnson #352205 07/21/11 01:14 PM
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There may be something wrong with your sub, but as others have said you may be over driving it. Depending on the size of your room, you may need to consider an ep500 or ep800. As Ken suggested I would contact axiom. If you decide to upgrade to a larger axiom sub you might ask if axiom can help with the return shipping on the 400 (it never hurts to ask!)


-David
Re: Subwoofer rattle normal?
terzaghi #352215 07/21/11 03:11 PM
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I'm using the EP400 in my bedroom, which, if memory serves me right, is 14'x11'... the height, I'm not sure, but it's pretty average for an apartment.

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