Subwoofer crackles with no input connected and volume at min (1 Viewer)

[BigWheelz]

I have an old Polk PSW-110 subwoofer that has a lot of crackling. I replaced the wire from the receiver to the speaker - no difference. I unplugged the input from the receiver and when I tap on the speaker I hear the noise - even if the volume is set to minimum. Any idea on what the most likely cause is and how I can test it? Thanks!

 

[JohnRice]

Try working (turn it all the way up and down repeatedly) the volume knob and any other knobs like phase. They may have some internal corrosion.

 

[BigWheelz]

I did as you suggested. No crackling noise heard while moving any of the controls. No change after moving the controls. The volume of the crackling remains the same as I tap the speaker and increase/decrease the volume knob.

 

[JohnRice]

The amp is probably fried. I wanted to be certain it wasn't corrosion in the volume control, but if it's the amp, there's really nothing to do. It's not a expensive enough sub to be worth fixing. You'll probably just have to get a new one.

 

[BigWheelz]

Thanks for the analysis. I will just replace it.

 

[BigWheelz]

I grabbed a 6" speaker I had laying around and replaced the 10" subwoofer - I got the same crackling noises with no input attached which confirmed the amp was fried. I purchased and just installed a Dayton SA70 amp panel (with some small modifications to the Polk box). The Dayton unit works great and has no problem driving the 10" Polk subwoofer. It was a bit of a gamble since the SA70 (70watt) amp costs 2/3 the cost of a new Polk PSW10 subwoofer, but I'm getting the bass I was looking for with the gain set at half power.