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On-board subwoofer amps - limited shelf life ?

Both me and my hi-fi godfather purchased subwoofers for 2-channel systems in 2000, I got a PSB Subsonic 5, he got a Monitor Audio FB 210 for his Monitor Audio speakers.

Both our subwoofers failed this year, mine a victim of a power surge, his blown up by his teenager sons.

Are subwoofer amps worth replacing/difficult to replace? Do we have to go up to the REL/Velodyne level to get a longer lasting sub? Anybody have good things to say about Von Schweikerts, James, or Supercubes? Thanks ahead of time.
feaoce
jeffreybehr's avatar
jeffreybehr
805 posts
 
Shadorne: "I don't think you can generalize, however, I have stopped buying Sony products."

Me too after THREE 23" Sony monitors died within about 5 months. I replaced them with a quite-inexpensive Princeton 20" 1.6 monitor at Costco and am very happy with it. I consider Sony to be the Microsoft-type bully of the consumer-electronics world and avoid their stuff including Blu-ray hi-def-video discs.
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undertow
1,033 posts
 
Being that there is a ton of internal vibration, and heat generated in a more sealed enclosure due to driving such low frequencies in a subÂ… its not that surprising.. But there are better amps that could rectify this I am sure, however most are pretty cheap, newer digital designs probably fair better in the long run as well, they draw less power, next to Zero heat, and the components being much less are probably less sensitive than the standard A-B type designed boards.     
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,976 posts
 
undertow the sub amps I have are digital and still run hot as all heck. I have never seen a sub amp fail due to vibration but I have seen many fail due to heat.
undertow
1,033 posts
 
Johnk, What Digitals are those? Huh, I have had, Bash, Crown, Keiga... All are as cold as the metal they are mounted too even driven for hours at a time.. I have a Digital receiver which is considered a Hybrid for my HT system, and it runs a bit warm, but not too bad, And I don't think that is due to the Digital amps inside, but the Preamp section... But never had a straight digital have any temp at all over room temp, so that is strange and a new one to me..
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,976 posts
 
The dig plate amp that runs hot is a keiga. I have had 6 now all the 1000 watt run hot even on stand by, madisound had early units fail keiga made a few changes, but I could cook a egg on it;) When its running not so hot, but on stand by heat builds so I just turn it off and on when needed.I have had good luck with hypex plates still enjoy the big keigas just worry how long they will last.
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