How To Eliminate A Subwoofer Humming Problem

This is such a common issue: you have a subwoofer humming problem right out of the gate, without even playing anything. In this Quick Tips video, Chief Product Officer Andrew Welker helps you diagnose and eliminate subwoofer hum.
The Quick Tips series is not about the science behind what's happening, these are videos designed to solve the issue. If you have a question you'd like to see covered in a future Quick Tips video, let us know in the comments below. Your questions and comments inspire our future videos.
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#HowToStopSubHum #SubwooferHum #GroundLoopNoise #

[@Sam-ch9mn]

Andrew, this is exactly the sort of question millions of people around the world ask themselves. Many just take the hum as a given; I have... but no longer. Thank you for this information and I'm looking forward to more videos. Perhaps you can adjudicate on the argument about variation in sound volumes between TV/radio programmes and advertisement breaks. Do broadcasters up the volume deliberately during advert breaks (many have denied it)? Surely it can't be our imagination. Whatever, it's irritating and if you know something, please tell.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Hopefully this gets rid of your hum issue, let me know how it goes. With there being an app for everything now, grab one for measuring decibels and test your louder commercials theory. If you’re right, then decide if you want to let the company know, take it up with a regulator, or just feel vindicated.

[@michaelcharles5273]

Excellent question, I just spoke to my wife about this a week ago.

[@Truth-Machine5000]

I once read that advertisers are allowed to make the commercials as loud as the loudest (peak decibal) of the show you are watching.

[@daniells71]

I tried every quick method mentioned and nothing. Then I tried the grounding to chassis. It worked! Now I'm sitting in dead silence realizing how loud that hum was lol. Thank you!

[@davewin1792]

Thank you so much for this valuable information. I was getting flutter from my subs using my turntable. The heat sinks were actually quite hot from all the movement. I followed your way of eliminating component by component. Just plugging my turntable into the same outlets that most of the other components are plugged in and that did it. The subs no longer flutter and are running super cool. Thank you Andrew.

[@steadydavoliv]

Disconnected everything in back of my all in one computer then reconnected them and noise from sub woofer has gone !! thanx so much sir !!

[@seena8113]

Thank you so very much!!! I just solved the humming problem on my subwoofer which I had given up on, after trying various things in the past. It was a very very simple fix and this is now solved after watching your explanation.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

That's fantastic, and much appreciated that you took the time to say it helped solve your hum issue, cheers!

[@tuomasholo]

I cut the third prong on my flux capacitor and now I’m stuck in 2024. Thanks for this very informative video.

[@eyestick8012]

My sub is literally humming as I watch this. Ill try moving the power cables to the same power strip. Thanks Andrew.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Look forward to hearing how it worked out for you, good luck!

[@NBC_NCO]

I've never had this problem in home audio. I did on a car Amplifier. I ended up using the high level input to get rid of the noise. Excellent information.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

You’re lucky you have never run into it…it’s very common. Yes, car audio is another can of worms because the power is so noisy. High level is the way to go, as you’ve found.

[@neomatrix2722]

@@AxiomHomeTheaters what do you mean high level input . i assume you mean a shielded rca cables?

[@invisibles362]

Really good and informative video again. You keep it simple, and nicely explain. Keep them coming about subwoofers...Good work Andrew.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Glad you’re enjoying the videos, happy to do more subwoofer videos, what would you like to see covered next?

[@invisibles362]

@@AxiomHomeTheaters how to integrate 2 subwoofer in my home theater room. I think I do a pretty good job at it. And easy way to adjust it with Dirac Live room correction that is integrated on my home theater processor, if you have access to Dirac Live room correction. My home theater processor as 2 dub output, but Dirac only calibrate as one sub. I measure my distance of each, and calibrate individual at 75 DC Bell, after I run the Dirac live room correction. It sounds amazing but I'm not a professional calibrator, and I'm not familiar with adjusting the curve in the Dirac correction. I go to my processor and increase my bass from 1 to 1.5 dc bells, because Dirac Live kill the bass. In movies. Dirac as a version for multiple subwoofer but not in my processor. After one of the video you did about subwoofer calibration in home theater. I didn't no that I had to put my subs to bypass so my home theater processor would do it. I allways use to adjust the volume in the back of my subs myself until I've seen your video. It was a big step up for me personally. And I've been in home theater and music listening for 28 years. Little things that I miss, because some calibrator on KZbin are way more advanced than I ham, and they don't explain it as good and simple like you. Nice to see someone is interested to help people like me, that are passionate of audio, but allways learning. Did a lot of trial and error in dose 28 years, and $$$ in gear . Thanks Andrew, I appreciate your response.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

@@invisibles362 I’m really happy that the video was able to help you out! I keep learning new things, year after year, and it’s sometimes the simplest things that are taken for granted or missed when we set up our systems. Thank you for sharing with us!

[@blairbarnhardt6985]

Andrew thank you for saving my sanity today, my little SSL 2+ was sending speaker signal out with RCA to TRS 1/4" jacks, I re routed with XLR at TRS 1/4" and BOOM. Now if you can do a video on why the sub woofer pops every time the power switch comes on, does it affect my monitors etc. hmmmm Five Star Review!

[@skerich7056]

incredible ,thank you. For my cheap subwoofer radio ,removing the wire antenna for the radio cut the noise 90%

[@InPastLifeLabrador]

Thank you for explaining this so well! I am stoked to get so many options and looking forward to trying them!

[@PM-zg6zv]

Andrew thanks for another great video, these little fixes may seem mundane to some but when you have a particular issue it can drive you crazy. For Mark Roze, i had switched tv providers from one satellite service to another and "Bam" instant hum from only one of two subs. I chased it down to the cable box so i called the provider and they came back out and ran a ground wire from my satellite dish to my ground at the meter and instantly problem solved. I have no idea why the first installer omitted this, but according to the service person that came out the second time that should have been done originally. He even came in to make sure the hum was gone. I still can't figure out why the problem was with only one of my subs.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Were both subwoofers plugged into the same wall outlet? If not, that is likely why only one sub hummed.

[@johnd1536]

Nice understandable explanation. I will start my process of elimination. I have a few questions. You mentioned plugging the subwoofer into the same outlet as the rest of the system can you plug the subwoofer into a regular power strip that’s plugged into the outlet where the stereo is. Number two, even when my subwoofer has been in the AUTO position when it’s not powered up the back panel where the connections are can get very hot to the touch, can you explain that. Is there a recommended subwoofer position in the room because I do have mine sitting about 8 feet away plugged into a separate outlet because where my stereo is I don’t have room on the floor next to It. Should it be placed next to my stereo console.

[@bnewton239]

i had a powered definitive technology 15" sub that hummed when new with nothing connected to it. what stopped the hum was to move the internal speaker wires further away from the speaker magnet. i don't understand why it worked but it did so i was happy.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

That’s very, very strange…there must have been some carrier signal or RF on the amplifier output that was interacting with the magnetic field of the woofer.

[@asalvi]

You soved my problem in less than a min !!!!! Thx a lot !

[@bob7501]

This is a very helpful video! I seem to have a related unique problem now. I have an Elac 3010 sub that integrates perfectly with my system and has no hum issues but I also have a pair of REL T/5i subs and they have hummed since day one and no matter what I've tried, I can't eliminate the hum. I'd rather run the REL's because they're physically smaller than the Elac plus they are a pair, yet the hum drives me crazy!

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Glad you enjoyed the video, hopefully one of the tips will stop the hum in the RELs.

[@michaelcharles5273]

Thank you for the information. Can you also address front and rear speaker HUM?

[@delvindoodles2182]

Thank you. You made this simple and straightforward and that is much appreciated.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Glad you enjoyed this video enough to take the time to comment, cheers!

[@rodneuson]

Hello Andrew. First, congrats on this very direct and instructional video. I’ve learned a lot :) But I need help with a scenario I’m facing, that seems a bit unusual based on things I read around. My subwoofer hums with or without a signal been send. It also hums whenever the RCA cable is connected to it: if I simply turn it on with or without the RCA, it hums. And it really feels like a ground loop issue. I already tried all possible outlets in the living room, including the same where the receiver is connected to, and in all of them the hum persists. The hum is not present only if it I connect it to a power outlet in any other room of my apartment. The thing is, my subwoofer uses a 2 prong power cord, no grounding. And I really don’t have any idea of what to do. If the grounding loop is the issue, how can it affect a subwoofer that uses a 2 prong? Hope I’m not asking too much of you, and really appreciate any guidance on this. Thanks!

[@MarcelRichard]

Have you found a solution to this? I have the same issue. I actually have 2 same subwoofers and they both have this hum but one is significantly louder. I also can't get rid of it in any way. It's unfortunately older subwoofers I bought used

[@rodneuson]

@@MarcelRichard no, not yet. I was able to mitigate it a little bit - the hum is significantly reduced, and from the usual distance is not noticeable

[@MarcelRichard]

@@rodneuson yeah for me it's not noticeable from where I am sitting but it's definitely present when I go next to my sub

[@deanakennedy3878]

Blue Jeans makes a humm eliminator, I got it off Amazon, it works amazingly well. Before i used it on my subwoofer outputs I did everything I could to eliminate the humm. It was almost gone, and this little device took care of the test. I also threw out ALL cords and power strips that were missing the ground pin.

[@garygray3834]

Wow great info for us thank you so much for these videos

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

You are welcome Gary, appreciate you taking the time to say so.

[@brendanlawton7518]

Great info as always. I have to go through ground loop isolating every time I connect something new. The coaxial coming to the building I live in is old and deteriorated. Sadly my cable company is reluctant to change it, even had them in and showed them it's 100% the coax cable. So I use a Power bar with internal Baluns and have as much connected to it as it will fit. According to my cable company the coax. isolator is bad and not to use it. Sadly that's the only way I can defeat the ground loop.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

This is a great tip to try, thank you! Unfortunately those old cable connections are often the source of the problem.

[@officialcisko]

Why does my mic preamp (LA-610) make my subwoofer roar when i turn the mic pre level up to high??

[@ericmootz7254]

Thankyou so much you really gave me something to think about. I will not remove the 3 rd prong, but remove everything, and try components one at a time through the same outlet, so there is no change in ground potential. Your awesome and I appreciate you, and your video. Sincerely Eric

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

You’re welcome, I hope you can find the source of the problem.

[@32toddv]

I agree, why would anyone cut the ground prong off....

[@faizrahman7671]

Excellent video thank you I have a Klipsch reference Cinema 5.1.4 that has recently developed a hum. I followed your instructions and when I unplugged everything turn the volume up and then plugged in the subwoofer it started to hum but when I then plugged in the RCA it stopped. This is the opposite of what you described. So what could be my problem thank you

[@dragan3290]

Thanks heaps! My sub is humming and crackling. I have to go through it like you explained. Cheers from Australia 🙂 👍👍👍. Subbed and liked

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Good luck, looking forward to hearing if you fixed the sub hum issue. Welcome to our channel 🙂

[@pingulainen]

The 2 prong in Europe is only allowed if the chassis can not come into contact with anything electrical at all. It is either plastic or otherwise EU checked/tested ISO thing

[@michaelcharles5273]

Excellent information, thank you

[@stevecagle550]

Very helpful, thank you.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Camus376]

I have a question about my setup. Most of equipment are plugged into the surge protector but I hear the hum on subwoofer when turning the volume to max. So my current is 7.2 channel with PSB Speakers for the front speakers center channel is totem and the surround speakers are mission lx4 and in the front I psb floor standing speakers. And finally, I have totem subwoofer.

[@ahmedmusa2251]

Thank you so much It helped me a lot

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

That's great to hear, thanks for taking the time to comment that it helped you!

[@TurboDirectSA]

Excellent factual and quick info - thank you!

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Glad you enjoyed it, and took the time to comment, cheers!

[@GamingRevenant]

I have a Yamaha RX-A4A and a Yamaha A-S1100 integrated amp, and recently bought a BK-sub. The sub has no hum whatsoever with nothing in it. However, as soon as I connect any cables from my amps to the sub, some noise is always heard. I tried disconnecting the cables from the amps but leaving in the subwoofer and then it's like the first situation, absolutely no hum. So it's not the subwoofer. I then tried to connect SOLELY the RCA sub out to the subwoofer with NOTHING else connected to the receiver, and the LFE-low level input still hums very faintly but only if I put the gain to 100% and in bypass mode. All of this tested with all amps in the same power outlet. I literally tried everything, and nothing seems to work. I tried a RCA ground loop isolator on the sub's RCA cable and that made the hum even louder. Either my receiver is faulty (even though through the main-in coupled with the integrated, I don't have noise coming from the main speakers), or there's something else entirely.

[@mikeami68]

To plug my subwoofer into the same power strip as my amp means the power cable will run parallel (literally right on top of) the speaker cables. Will having a power cable running right next to the speaker cables that connect to the subwoofer ALSO cause a hum?

[@Niberspace]

Outside of USA many people don't have grounded electrical system in their house at all, so I doubt it's as dangerous as he mentioned. None of the houses I lived in until I was 20 had grounded system

[@mapabandara7164]

Thank you ❤

[@brian1185]

So if it's a ground loop fault and I plug it into an ungrounded outlet, will that fix it?

[@JeGo9]

is that the same as coil whine? As soon as i switch on subwoofer i hear a 'hum' like electricity is making something vibrate...cant hear it during movies etc obviously, but when dead silent i hear it

[@R_A_H_A_1]

What if it’s the receiver creating the hum? I just got a new sub. There’s only a hum when it’s plug into the receiver.

[@katiet7322]

I have a question my subwoofer will humming just plug the power in. no other cable hook up yet so do you know why please let know

[@joaomarques8260]

What about when it hums just when plugged into the ac wallet, and nothing else? Nothing changed in the setup and it just started to hum quite loudly!

[@FancyIsAPro]

I’ve got the same problem have you figured out the issue?

[@kccc2767]

How about sparking noise? I tried different cables and no help

[@nickdial8528]

My second, subwoofer was plugged in across the room for over a year. No humming and perfectly clean, and now for no reason that I can tell, it started humming... Any ideas?

[@chriscammidge5445]

Get this one Once and awhile my powered sub would hum and it was almost like i could hear someone talking from it!😳 and i was beyond confused until i went and sat out on my front porch one day and a white truck drove buy. My front window was open so i could hear the speaker in the house doing its muffled voice noise and as the white truck rolled by slowly i noticed the driver talking into on an old CB radio and there was a big antenna on his truck Long story short The guy lives around the corner from me and when he drives by my sub pickes up his darn 50 year old CB transmittion (who even uses cb these days) When someone stops buy and my speaker starts making the noise i say to my company Watch i bet the next vehicle to go by will be a white ford truck and it freaks them out Been doing this for 6 years now 😆

[@MichaelLove83]

I get a slight hum in my Monitor Audio Subwoofer, its due to design issues not ground loop. A lot of home audio in the UK doesn't have a ground/earth connection in the power supply plug, but i think this is due to neutral being tied to ground/earth somewhere outside the house and the cable is double insulated. Quote, "A Class II or double insulated electrical appliance is one which has been built in such a way that it does not require a connection to electrical earth (ground)".

[@DBanitza]

Great vid! Not sure if this caused the "hum" in my subwoofer but it started after I disconnected and plugged back in the RCA cable from the subwoofers LFE input , which then made a loud "popping sound" ... unfortunately, I didn't realize the sub was powered on at the time; perhaps this exacerbated things and the hum has been there every since, albeit very faint..unsure! Troubleshooting: I noticed that the sub does not hum after disconnecting the RCA cable from the sub.. I also tried plugging in the main power into another outlet , no change + Swapped the output on the processor to the second rca sub output, no change Could it be the RCA cable?

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Certainly the cable could be the issue, or the plug connectors themselves. I always tend to start with trying a new cable, particularly if the hum has only just started and was not present before.

[@amitmate2923]

My subwoofer makes ratting sound even if it is not connected to to my receiver . I tried moving my subwoofer to separate room and plugged in w/o any audio cable . still it makes noise. Not sure what could be issue, can you help Andrew?

[@bewhee]

What if it buzzes (not hums) and it does that in every socket in the house, with no audio source connected, just the power? When I put my ear on it it sounds like it's buzzing from the inside.

[@broseph1928]

My issue was no humming with nothing plugged in but would hum with all av cables even with the other end not plugged into anything. I'm using a car sub with a car amp, a cheap power supply, and a receiver. I connected a wire to the chassis of my receiver and to the ground connection of the amp. No hum now

[@aussie8114]

Try a different brand of digital cable. I had slight hum enough to stop the sub going into standby. I swapped the cable for another and same problem, swapped the cable for a different brand and no problem. Cause was pretty much the coating on the cables connector. All cables tried were high quality.

[@jambonsambo]

Slight irritation aside the low level hum isnt audible when something is playing. Is there any reason other than that to troubleshoot it? It's not damaging anything right?

[@brandonvandine1695]

I plugged it into the same strip as the system. So i thinks normal 😊

[@neomatrix2722]

Question : bought brand new Klipsch 120sw 12 in sub all i get is hum. I"m stumped i did what you said and unplug ALL wires on sub and yes hum gone. But as soon as i hook banana plug ( 16 gauge speaker wire) to rca ooutlets ( LFE) hums. So what do i do now that's the cause of the hum.

[@montimahner9357]

I have klipsch subs and all they do is hum. I hate them. Klipsch makes trash. My previous sub , same system, no hum ever.

[@miket803]

I also suffer from subwoofer hum. I did find how to get it to stop, but don't know what to do next. I have an HDMI cable that goes from my cable box to a Blackbird 4K Pro splitter that has two HDMI outputs, one goes to a 55" tv and the other to my 77" tv. I found that when I disconnect either HDMI output cable, the hum stops. But, if I disconnect the INPUT cable from the cable box, the hum does NOT stop. Is the problem the Blackbird splitter? If so, what do I do about this? Any comments/help would be greatly appreciated.

[@Sam-Jay-Electronics8447]

My creative inspire T6160 makes a humming without anything connected to it idk how to fix it

[@A_WoW_Player]

As you said - I plugged the sub into the same power outlet as the AV receiver and the hum was gone!

[@simonjohnston9488]

Hello! Unless I missed something, the only thing not addressed is my issue: nothing is plugged in to my subwoofer - just electricity, via a kettle plug. I have a persistent hum, and volume control doesn't change it - the only thing that will, is turning it off. Is this a job for an electrician, or is there something I can try? Thanks very much, really appreciate you. :)

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

At this point I’d contact the manufacturer as something is likely wrong with the internal amplifier.

[@kuya_nens]

hi my subwoffer has a humming sound by just connecting it to the power source :( can u help me out?

[@FloStudios]

Hi, sadly this did not help but I’d like to detail my issue here because I’m getting desperate. I have three components along which a ground loop seems to be: an av receiver, a subwoofer, and a projector. They are all plugged into the same power conditioner. The projector and subwoofer have ground prongs on their plugs but the receiver does not and honestly I’ve never owned one that did. The projector is connected to the receiver via hdmi and the subwoofer is connected to the receiver via rca. If either of these cables are unplugged, the hum goes away. Interestingly, I noticed the hum was reduced but not eliminated if I used a different hdmi cable that was longer and thinner, but the one I got that is well shielded and the right length for the job carries the ground loop. I also noticed if I run the subwoofers power on an extension cord to an outlet on a different circuit, the hum is reduced significantly but not completely. There is a ground post on the av receiver (specifically for the phono preamp, I don’t know if it grounds the whole unit) that I attached some speaker wire to and ran it to the subwoofer but there is nothing conductive on the exterior other than the plugs themselves. So I held the wire to the outer metal of one of the rca plugs and heard a slight reduction in hum but again not an elimination. Also, the hum does not start until the projector is on. I am at my wits end and don’t really know what to do to resolve the problem. Any suggestions? Side question: while I agree it is a bad idea to cut the ground prong from a plug, I recently got a new klipsch subwoofer for another room and it does not have a ground prong either. So out of curiosity, why would it really be that dangerous to use a ground lifter on my sub, if klipsch seems to think they don’t need one? Especially if my sub runs on a voltage conditioner/surge protector, and both do.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

At this point I would disconnect everything else that’s plugged into the AVR or the projector. You should be left with HDMI to the projector and RCA to the sub, and no other cables plugged in. Do you still have hum? The fact that moving the subwoofer AC connection reduces the hum slightly confirms this is a ground loop of some sort. Electronics that only have 2-prong plugs by design need to be certified as double-insulated devices and have to be built with a different (and somewhat more stringent) set of safety requirements than items that use a 3-prong AC plug. In other words, they are electrically certified to be safe, even though there is no ground connection.

[@rinkrat06]

I've had humming before I've fixed it by tightening the connection, when that didn't work it was a sign that the sub was quitting. My current sub klipsch sw 110 I bought 8 years ago how long will it last?

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Yes, I should have mentioned in the video that sometimes bad connections or cables can be the source of hum. If you loose the ground connection to the subwoofer on the signal cable, you will certainly get hum!

[@Daniel_Ho_Status_101]

My Mirage PS12/90 is still running fine while in daily use. I’ve had to spray some of the knobs with contact cleaner multiple times to eliminate some screeching, but its been a a year since that’s happened. I bought it new...back in 1994!

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

@@Daniel_Ho_Status_101 Excellent! Yes, controls will go scratchy after some time, particularly on subwoofers where they are nor normally used very regularly.

[@MegaWait4it]

Great video, but I still have the hum. It's a new Klipsch sub and it hums as soon as any RCA cables are attached, but they are not attached to anything. If I touch the outer ring, the hum almost completely disappears. I've tried 3 different pairs, and they all sound the same. I've plugged the amp into multiple outlets and no change. I've had three other subs in this room with zero problems. Yamaha, Sony and Onkyo. Also, with this sub it destroys my FM signal whenever it produces sound, as in from music playing through it. The only thing that helped a little was using the existing single sub connection from my Yamaha receiver and coiling it at the subwoofer. The plan is to run the sub with a Kenwood KR-6050 through a Kicker line-out converter but this hum seems invincible. The line out setup seems to work great otherwise. I'm pulling my hair out with this one. Is this sub just junk?

[@montimahner9357]

I have klipsch subs and all they do is hum. No other sub I’ve used does this. I have three diff systems in two diff buildings and all they do is hum the instant I connect the rca cables.

[@MegaWait4it]

​@@montimahner9357I returned the klipsch and went with SVS.... hum is gone!

[@chriscammidge5445]

Always use a properly isolated rca cable on your Sub Google will tell u that regular rca cables work.....but to expect feedback

[@MegaWait4it]

@chriscammidge5445 I ended up going with a 12" SVS sub...no hum, and that thing shakes the dust from the rafters!

[@rinkrat06]

I've found that when I have humming it's because of a loose connection. My current sub is a klipsch 110 sw from 2014 how much longer will it last?

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Yes, I should have mentioned in the video that sometimes bad connections or cables can be the source of hum. If you lose the ground connection to the subwoofer on the signal cable, you will certainly get hum!

[@mrmrgaming]

Just got the Polk TX12 sub, and I get the buzz no matter what socket/unplug everything/no cables plugged in it.

[@JeGo9]

you mean Polk XT12 subwoofer right? I have the exact same issue!! Even with just power cable and nothing else plugged in, i get that noise! I think it might be Coil Whine noise? my wife can't hear it as loud as I do which is odd...

[@mrmrgaming]

@JeGo I swapped over to a different system. The other speakers were fine, but on a night time, I could hear that buzz, and once you hear it, your ears are drawn to it.

[@JeGo9]

@@mrmrgaming gonna do some more testing tonight...i only hear it when it is dead silent, will see if can hear during movies

[@markroze3641]

So how do you get rid of a ground loop caused by the cable box? My hum is caused by my cable box. When I disconnect the HDMI cable connecting the cable box to my Denon AVR the hum goes away. But I don’t know how to get rid of it. I tried using a cheater plug for the cable box. I also tried one of those ground loop isolator filters you connect between the cable line and box but neither worked. Should I try plugging the cable box into a different outlet on another circuit? Or is there an affordable product I could buy to eliminate it?

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Yes, try plugging the cable box into a different outlet. If that still does not help, request a tech from the cable company to come out and check the grounding on your line where it comes into your home.

[@jwblue575]

Can my AMP be causing the ground loop? When I plug the interconnects that are going from my "Loop Back" ports on my amp to the inputs on my sub - that is when it starts to hum (very low level). The Sub-woofer can be powered on but, it will not hum unless it is connected to my AMP. I have to set it up that way according to Parasound. Thanks.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

It’s certainly possible as you have an output and a return to the same component. I would try the tests I suggest in the video to see if you can improve the hum level.

[@jwblue575]

@@AxiomHomeTheaters I don't want to improve the hum level. I want to diminish the hum level. 🙂 🙃☺

[@jwblue575]

@@AxiomHomeTheaters Thanks again ... AA.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

@@jwblue575 I see what you did there 🙃 nice grammar catch! You're welcome, and thanks for the laugh.

[@jwblue575]

@@AxiomHomeTheaters Obviously just joking around - thanks for having a sense of humor ... and your replies.

[@ManDuderGuy]

So I'm getting a constant low hum that I can always hear, especially when it gets quiet at night time. I have two 2.1 speaker systems (for my PC) and both of them hum like this. All I do is plug in the power, no signal cables at all. I've tried a power conditioner, an AC ground loop interrupter, and even buying a universal plug adapter so I could reverse the prongs when I plug it in, NONE of that has changed anything. I've tried it at another house as well. It must be something to do with the cable or satellite connection, or just something loose or improperly grounded with our main breaker box. I doubt that both of these subs have bad capacitors. I could probably test it by flipping the breaker that powers the cable/satellite box....if I can figure out which that is. Good god this is aggravating.

[@SalimKhan-fy5lw]

Hi .I get hum noise from my active subwoofer (edefier s550 5.1 audio system.) If I keep volume upto 40 there is very low hum and if increases the volume above 40 the hum noise increases. Wat is the soultion..it's disturb the audio quality. ..u get all the time headache to listen.. Thanks do reply

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

And you've already gone through all the tips in the video already?

[@lamptl3607]

I do not realize the subwoofer hum issues until you raise this topic. It seems that your treatment to curb the subwoofer humming is similar to the elimination of humming picked up by the phono. Is a subwoofer is as sensitive as a phono, though one is an output and the other is the source. I do not want to go deep into technical theory. But for the electric shock danger, I found the ground pin of an AVR is not metal made. The phono plug has no ground pin. With these plug designs, it has long been a mystery to me how interference can propagate through the third pin.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Hum in phone stages can be due to grounding, but it’s also because of the much higher gain (amplification) being more prone to pick up stray electromagnetic fields, such as from power transformers in other nearby components.

[@kcw1879]

In my case, my subwoofer actually plays sound/music from a radio station "while" I am playing music. I have tried everything to remove or stop it.

[@grahamlewis6777]

Hi. I have a bad subwoofer hum problem and it's driving me crazy so hope you can help? The source system is a PC and is 6m away under my stairs connected to an AV amp. The amp then connects to surround speaker and sub (via coax) in the living room. When it was installed it worked ok but over the years the sub started to hum intermittently (it seemed a loose connection as wiggling the part coming from the living room wall caused more hum). So I soldered the rca connector again (both centre pin and shield) but now it buzzes very loudly and unusable. It tested and there wasn't a short, but I can't easily test end to end as it's to far apart. The subwoofer is quiet when disconnected and turned up, and the sub sounds fine when connected directly to the AV amp, suggesting it's the cable from under the stairs to the living room.. My question is, how can I prove if the problem is the cable and if there is noise from induction from other cables can that be resolved? Should you always connect the centre pin and shielding at both ends? If I can't fix the cable (it runs behind the wall) and I continue to need to have the AV amp and sub in different places, is there any solution you can recommend such as audio over cat5 or something? I'd rather avoid rewiring as it's in the wall :( Oh lastly the sub buzzes quite loudly if disconnected but I touch the centre pin of the rca lead into it with my finger. Seems very sensitive. Is the sub at fault?

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

An RCA cable needs both a signal and ground connection at both ends. If there is a separate shield wire, it will normally be connected only on one end, but you can solder it on both ends to see. A quick test with your meter is to use something to short the center and shield of one RCA together and then measure the resistance between shield and centre pin on the other RCA. If it measures shorted, then the connectors are likely ok. Many subs will be sensitive enough that putting a finger on the tip of an RCA cable connected to it will cause a hum or buzz. That’s normal.

[@grahamlewis6777]

@@AxiomHomeTheaters Thanks very much, the test you suggested was a great one. On the lengthy coax cable, there was no short detected when I joined the centre pin and outer ground parts of the RCA connector. So I tested some more using a length of speaker cable to allow me to test the centre pin and the ground separately. Turns out there is continuity with the solid centre core, but not the shielding. The cable is basic, just coax with a solid copper core covered in plastic, then copper shielding and the outer plastic cover. I assume the shield shouldn't have a break in it. You mentioned the shield isn't normally connected both ends so I disconnected it at the subwoofer end and resoldered both connectors but just a loud solid 50hz buzz. I've run out of ideas so as there is existing Cat5 cable to the living room I'm going to try sending the line level subwoofer signal via that. I suspect as it's unbalanced it will be very noisy. So I could try a balun after that I guess. Arghh. If that doesn't work (and I tried wireless and it didn't work due to a wall in the way) I am stuck. I hope it's fixable.

[@grahamlewis6777]

@@AxiomHomeTheaters massive thanks for your suggestions. Found out the shield wasnt connected both ends. Some kind of break in the cable. The solid core in the middle was unbroken. So no luck but I had cat5 behind the wall and used a stereo rca to rj45 both ends to send the subwoofer line signal. It worked fine! No buzz :) Sharing in case its an option for others

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

@@grahamlewis6777 You’re very welcome, I’m glad I was able to help diagnose your problem! CAT5 is fine for a not-too-long run of a line-level signal.

[@donc5423]

Thank you for stressing to NOT break the ground pin off. This isn't a solution it's just creating a much more dangerous problem!

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Exactly, glad you agree!

[@Buster-c7r]

My subwoofer is grounded but my amp isnt is that a problem?

[@ARMANDOPING]

I haber my subwoofer plugged and unplugged and still makes that “static” noise I even tried to plug it by itself in different outlets of my home and still the same :/ is that probably the actual woofer that might be damaged?? 🤔

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Yes, if you have static with nothing connected to the subwoofer, it must be the internal amplifier that has a fault.

[@brandonvandine1695]

I honestly think its normal i bought a vizio surround sound plus subwoofer they both hum. I tried everything

[@acemclovin5738]

So what is causing the hum if its still there with only the power cord and nothing else connected?

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

It’s likely bad filter capacitor(s) in the power supply of the amp, or another failure in part of the amp circuit.

[@acemclovin5738]

@@AxiomHomeTheaters so as it's a brand new subwoofer I should probably return it for replacement then.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

@@acemclovin5738 What happens to the noise when you connect it to your AVR? Do you have a trigger connected?

[@acemclovin5738]

@@AxiomHomeTheaters nothing changes at all when connected to my AVR. I don't have the option to use a trigger. Only thing that eliminates the hum is turning the sub level below half way on the sub but then the sub is hardly noticeable.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

@@acemclovin5738 It certainly sounds like there is an issue with the amplifier. I’d speak to the manufacturer for guidance.

[@davidrobidas137]

What does it mean if the hum continues even when everything is disconnected except for power?

[@stevehoang5289]

I think in this case, your sub amplifier is at fault or ground fault. I currently have hum in my JTR RS2 subwoofer. If I disconnect the XLR input cable, the hum disappear, I just replaced the xlr cable, but the hum is still there. Headache !!!

[@77bandara]

My subwooper power on is coming hum after 5 minits no hum sound why like this

[@Vipera_Gamer.07]

Hi. I hope you read this comment i have 2 or 4 question 1. why speaker smell and burn?( the Best reason and 2nd reason please ) 2. if I put too much power on a subwoofer will it burn out or smell ? in case 1 (30 w RMS MORE THAN NORMAL POWER) in case 2 ( 80 W RMS MORE THAN NORMAL POWER, this will afect ?) 3. how i can masure the real power a speaker can hanndle or push out ? 4. How i can masure the real power a amplifier can push out ? PLEASE MAKE A VIDEO WITH ALL OF THESE ❤️❤️💯🤙

[@cliftonblock6899]

I had a hum on my REL sub that was caused by a loose transformer. I just opened up sub and tightened the nut holding down transformer. Works great now without the hum.

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Interesting topic ideas. 1. You’re either overdriving your speakers with too much power or clipping your amplifier. 2. Normally subwoofers have built-in amplifiers and have limiters to protect the woofers, so overdriving them should not be a concern. 3. Look at the manufacturer specifications for max power handling. 4. See the previous answer. 😊

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

Interesting, that was likely more of a mechanical hum than something being produced by the woofer itself.

[@Vipera_Gamer.07]

@@AxiomHomeTheaters thank You i fiind the answer (i put to much power on sub speaker (z906 sub 165 w rms) amplified by an Sony bdv e 3100 1000 w rms (250 w rms bass output) but i think the manufacture lie sometimes .... so i am not shure about what they say ( 1000 w rms ? .... no way) or this Logitech z 906 (smell like burn when i put to much power on him) anyway thanx for answer and keep doing what You doing

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

@@Vipera_Gamer.07 Thank you! Yes, many so-called power specifications are complete nonsense. A good rule of thumb is look at the power consumption listed on the amplifier/receiver…you can’t get more audio output power than that number.

[@XKNDKAYNEX]

The problem is how do you eliminate a neighbor causing room mode noise constantly and you or pd can't determine where it is coming from? It's so bad it's making the dog whine. Short of an emp, earplugs and headphones don't help.

[@Denvshvnfpw53831]

Put also louder music, for better after you had those noises. But also during that so you hear your music for a while and not the noises.

[@icarossavvides2641]

" How To Eliminate A Subwoofer Humming Problem"? Teach it the words!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Sam-Jay-Electronics8447]

Huh??

[@icarossavvides2641]

@@Sam-Jay-Electronics8447 It's a joke!🤗

[@devongratrix4921]

Never cut the ground, use pliers to remove it

[@chriscammidge5445]

Yes 95% of the time Sub hum is due to bad grounding in the home and 99% in a vehicle

[@chriscammidge5445]

Google will tell u to get a ISOLATED rca cable for your sub A normal rca will work but expect feedback

[@lz1334]

use the correct cable

[@illawarriorhill70]

Yes, it makes a noise with NO input at all!

[@brendanhoffmann8402]

This is not my problem... I think the rca jack on the back of my subwoofer has a short... I used to be able to stop the hum just from jiggling the cord but now it is always humming. Time for a new subwoofer I think.

[@brandonvandine1695]

I disconnected everything. Still hums

[@Lowkey_nxthxn]

That’s interesting I never had a subwoofer that made a humming noise

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

That’s a good thing, saves a lot of work on trying to dial in your system.

[@Lowkey_nxthxn]

@@AxiomHomeTheaters most definitely

[@AxiomHomeTheaters]

@@Lowkey_nxthxn 👍

[@Gas_Mask_Mike]

Did not help. Same outlet, unplugged everything.

[@TheJason13]

I plugged the sub into another outlet on another wall and the hum went away. Problem solved.

[@justicefreeman6930]

It could kill you? I believe you. How did you come to that view? Does that mean all two prongs will kill you? How many people have died from this? Should I not use a sub?

[@razzman2987]

Dont take a sub buy good speakers 😅

[@kirkrobinson11]

Very helpful! Thank you.