Slapping The Subwoofer Turns It On - Switch Doesn't??

[HallmanLabs]

So what would you take a guess, could kick on a sub while auto sense is engaged when slapping it that the normal signal can't do? Do I need to give it a buffer or what? Replace this old Sony piece of crap 10" sub?

The main thing is that I can't have a huge bass output because I am in an apartment and I am not trying to spend much at all if necessary.  If someone has a good guess at what it is I will open her up and  take some pictures with my Samsung NX3000.

Or if this is a sign of something that the cost outweighs the repair, what used subs are the go to's?

[ManateeMafia]

Probably vibration from the speaker has caused a wire to come loose and 'jiggling the handle' makes it work. Open it up and make sure all connections are secure.

If it works some of the time, chances are it is fully functional and just needs a physical adjustment.

That's my guess.... I am not saying it's a good one.

[wraper]

Could be a worn out potentiometer, intermittent contact in some connector or just a cracked solder joint

[radar_macgyver]

Or do nothing, some folks find that cool - especially if it's a jukebox

[HallmanLabs]

Haha if it wasn't in the corner of the room behind my stereo speakers I probably wouldn't mind slapping it!   

When I say the switch won't turn it on, I mean that if I turn on the power manually at the power switch which is either Always on or Auto sense. Even when I get it to turn green meaning it's in active mode (before it will eventually go to sleep in auto-sense) and the subwoofer signal is actively being sent, I get no sound. 

If I slap the top of the subwoofer in any area with a decent amount of force, harder than you would spank your dog. The sub always kicks on immediately, no matter if in auto-sense or in "on" mode. Eventually after so much time of the sub working it will kick back off and require another slap before it will ever work. I also assume something is being shaken enough that it is messing with the signal reaching the line in sensor.

I am using a very nice Canare LV-61S 75 Ohm subwoofer cable, so it's not the cable (and I tried three of them).  I know the signal from my Yamaha RX-V863 is fine since it is working after the slap haha.

Just wanted to elaborate a little more on the symptoms I am seeing. I will definitely open her up and take a look at anything which is suspect.

Might make a good article for my website: zosoncsu.com  !!

[james_s]

It's some sort of connection for sure. Could be a wire, or it could be a cracked solder joint on the PCB. I tend to suspect the latter.

[Koray]

Maybe the slap is actually causing it to lose power momentarily and turn on again thus resetting the auto off function? Maybe the auto on doesn't work at all? Just an idea. K.

[HallmanLabs]

Thanks for all the ideas guys! I will let you know when I have the time to take a look inside. Nearing the end of the semester isn't the best, maybe over Easter break?

For now it's going to be more