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Why aren't my subs turning on?

I have a pair of Von Schweikert VS-3/S subs. Auto-on appears to be the only option, but they do not turn on unless I manually turn them off and then on? They are being fed from the line level (called LFE) outputs of an SMS-1. One to each sub. Both were purchased used from diff owners; hard to believe that they both are independently defective in the same way. They both play when I run the auto-eq frequency sweep. I am sending same question to VS, but your thoughts would help. TIA.
swampwalker
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker OP
5,138 posts
 
Pzuckerman- Perhaps I should have posted more detail. This is a music only system and the SMS-1 is an outboard x-over equalizer. My mains (Merlins) are recommended to be run full range and they get their signal from the main amp which is fed by the Merlin Bass Augmentation module, which in turn is fed by a pass through from the SMS-1. LFE is the label Velodyne uses on the SMS-1 for the equalized and crossed over, line level output. the SMS-1 gets its signal from the output of my volume controlled APL 3910 U-player. Se we have CDP to SMS-1 to sub (all line level) and CDP to SMS-1 (looped out aka pass through) to BAM to amp to main speakers.

RubenT- Understood. As you can see, I am powering the subs from the main L&R outs from my pre.
geared4me's avatar
geared4me
219 posts
 
Looks like the signal to your sub is just too low to trigger it to turn on. You will probably need to leave it on when you will be using it, ie not in auto mode.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker OP
5,138 posts
 
Geared4me- Unfortunately, that means going to each (I have a pair), reaching behind, shutting them off and then back on after about 30 sec. A real PITA. Hopefully VSA has a work around.
reubent
7,093 posts
 
Sw,

Does it sound correct after you manually force the subwoofers to turn on? If so, then it seems that the subwoofers are not working correctly or they are not receiving enough of a signal to turn them on.

What is the low pass frequency you have set up in the SMS-1? If it is really low, it is possible that the music you are playing does not have any content below that frequency. If that is the case, I think it is very possible that the subwoofer will not be receiving a signal from the SMS-1 and therefore it will not turn on until some content below that frequency is played.

TIC
plato
1,543 posts
 
SW,

Do you have the manual that came with the sub, because it sounds like it may be a problem of not having your settings correct.

When you are playing music you have a stereo line-level source hooked up to the line-level stereo RCA inputs and the switch is set to "Auto-On" with the Red LED (not "stand-by"). Also you have the crossover switch in the position to use the sub's internal crossover and not an external crossover, correct?

Those are my best ideas to check without having the manual for reference...
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