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Nasty problem - ideas?

On two occasions now, during a movie, I've heard a sharp, unpleasant 'snap' through the right channel (or sub, which is on the right?) during dynamic passages. I haven't heard it on 2 channel only, even at high volume. On the one hand, to narrow down the source requires having it happen repeatedly, but it's an ugly sound, and I'd rather not have it keep happening and potentially damaging something, so I thought I'd post here to see if any of you have experienced something similar.
Nothing in the system changes between 2 channel and HT, although the sub is obviously worked harder during HT, and last night I heard it during Olympus Has Fallen when the C130 was going down (for those of you who've seen the movie). Maybe the volume was a little high, the wife thought we were having an earthquake ;)

Anyway, thanks for any input. It's a sharp 'SNAP' that is either a tweeter, or something electrical in the sub amp at first thought.
english210
english210 OP
175 posts
 
Ok, thanks, I'll retry the same passage with the sub turned down - it was impressive, but didn't seem too loud. Maybe it was too much. Thanks.
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
you could try the switching the cables from left to right and eliminate the source etc... until you find the problem

good luck
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
I'm also guessing that the sub bottomed out. it's pretty hard to diagnose at a distance but luckily this issue is pretty easy to test.
pbnaudio's avatar
pbnaudio
1,614 posts
 
Bottoming out a woofer sounds kinda like a rimshot on a drum. Its quite easy to check if the woofers in you sub can do this. Pressing the cone in with your finger tips in a circle around the dust cap, if you can make the back end of the voice coli former touch the back plate on the pole piece its most likely where the noise is coming from. On a properly designed woofer the suspension will - maxout - before the former touches. And don't worry you wont harm the woofer by performing this test, these things are sturdier that one would think.

Best of luck

Peter

Peter
english210 OP
175 posts
 
Ok, thanks all. I checked the volume on the sub, and it was at about '10 o'clock', so I turned it down a little, replayed the passage I remember having the problem on, and it didn't happen. I'll check the woofer travel tonight when I get home, and verify it's possible. It is a sharp, high-pitched 'snap', not unlike your description of a rimshot.
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