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HT subwoofer rattle

post #1 of 12
4/1/08 at 6:54am
Thread Starter 
I just purchased a Philips DVD Home Theater System HTS3544/37, I've only had it for one day and the subwoofer is rattling. I ran a test on it playing a sound that runs from 100hz down to 15hz and the closer it got to 15hz the more it rattled. I know if it is the sub that is rattling and not something in the wall or around the sub. It is s a passive 8" high efficiency 8 ohnm sub.

Any suggestions on what might be the problem and how I might go about fixing it?


I tried to post a link to the HT System via the Philips website but this is my first post. If you google the model you should be able to find it.
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post #2 of 12
4/1/08 at 7:34am

Re: HT subwoofer rattle

Since it is a passive sub, it can only be the 8" driver, the cabinet or the wire inside the cabinet causing the vibration. You need to eliminate them one by one. For the driver, remove it from the cabinet and play your test tone through it at a low volume. For the wire, secure it inside the cabinet with glue or duct (duck) tape. You can also wrap it in foam. For the cabinet, tap on each side and listen for rattles. Is it small enough to pick up and shake? Shake it. If none of these are your issue, it may be the driver/cabinet connection. Use closed cell foam weatherstripping to seal the driver to the sub cabinet.

This is a long shot but how loud were you playing the test tone? A 15hz tone at high volume can be brutal on a HTiB sub. You may be pushing your sub to its mechanical limits. If you do that too much, you will destroy the driver and may take the sub amp with it.

-Robert
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post #3 of 12
4/1/08 at 7:54am
Thread Starter 

Re: HT subwoofer rattle

The test tone was played at pretty low volume. The volume goes up to about 30 and I had it no higher than 12-15. This is a newb question but what is the 8'' driver?
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post #4 of 12
4/1/08 at 8:03am
Thread Starter 

Re: HT subwoofer rattle

I'm having trouble opening the casing up. I was only able to find two screws and I don't really want to force/pry it open. When I shake it nothing rattles so I'm assuming its not the wire.
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post #5 of 12
4/1/08 at 8:43am

Re: HT subwoofer rattle

There is probably not much if anything you can do. I am guessing it is a plastic housing, and it is most likely just going to rattle. Also, those types of housings tend to lock together with plastic tabs in the inside to make them easy to assemble, but tricky to open.
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post #6 of 12
4/1/08 at 9:01am
Thread Starter 

Re: HT subwoofer rattle

I've been just kind of playing around with it when I squeeze the two sides together the rattling stops so I'm guessing it's just the casing. I just need to figure out how to tighten the casing and get it to stay
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post #7 of 12
4/1/08 at 10:43am

Re: HT subwoofer rattle

Quote:
Originally Posted by gduncan27
This is a newb question but what is the 8'' driver?
Here is a picture of a raw driver - link. The sub is the entire system consisting of the driver and enclosure. In most cases, the sub also includes a built in amp. A driver can be anything from a 10mm tweeter to a 18" sub that weighs 80 pounds.

-Robert
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post #8 of 12
4/1/08 at 1:14pm

Re: HT subwoofer rattle

Quote:
Originally Posted by gduncan27
I've been just kind of playing around with it when I squeeze the two sides together the rattling stops so I'm guessing it's just the casing. I just need to figure out how to tighten the casing and get it to stay
A couple very large rubber bands may be all you need.
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post #9 of 12
4/1/08 at 9:14pm
Thread Starter 

Re: HT subwoofer rattle

Tried the rubber bands but didn't do to much, weren't strong enough.
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post #10 of 12
4/2/08 at 12:54pm

Re: HT subwoofer rattle

Crazy glue? A well-positioned sheet metal screw? Lay the sub on its side and put a concrete block on top? A really big C-clamp and a piece of carpet?

whatever works...
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post #11 of 12
4/8/08 at 1:46pm

Re: HT subwoofer rattle

Can you open the cabinet by chance? If so you may be able to add a small, diagonal brace or two to reinforce.
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post #12 of 12
4/9/08 at 6:14am

Re: HT subwoofer rattle

Maybe the expandable foam they use to deaden car interiors or fill holes in concrete? It won't be very pretty but you could sand it down and paint over it.
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