Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater I need a new subwoofer, for the 3rd time!

When i ordered from Axiom back on July 2nd. I received 2 QS4 surrounds, 2 m22tis bookshelves, a VP100 center, and an EP350 subwoofer. Since then everything had worked fine...except the EP350. It was suffering from random shutoffs, which after enough trouble I found out was a power issue in the amplifier. So after adjusting that I thought all was well. Until one day all of the sudden, the EP350 was dead. No light was on, nothing worked. I called and they sent a replacement. After it arrived I hooked up the new one where the old one was and the new one worked perfectly. So clearly it is not a problem with the outlet or anything since the new one would work there and the old one wouldn't. After not even a week of having the new one, I awake this morning and notice a lack of light coming from behind the new EP350. I look back and the light is off. I try the subwoofer. Dead. 2 EP350s have died. I need to get a new subwoofer. I don't want anything related to axiom. I want a reliable different company. Any suggestions? the EP350 was $650 and I want something good but it doens't need to be that expensive. I think I actually want something smaller that is still good because the EP350 had been causing so much static on the screen that it made watching any movies with the color black unbearable...no matter where in the room it was positoned.

You could be getting spikes in that circuit. Granted, it would have to be pretty major.

Plug in a lamp in the same socket all by itself. Turn it on. Does it flicker?

Technically you really need a meter to check for spikes but this might work too.

Well actually, for the 2nd EP350 I used a dif outlet. I just checked with the first outlet when I had both (took turns plugged them in and saw that one worked and the other didn't). But I have game systems hooked up to those outlets now. No problems...they never shut off or reset. Never had any problems with any of the outlets in my room and I've had plenty of stuff hook up.

EDIT: And to follow what you said, I did try a lamp. No problem with it.

How about the HSU VTF-3 MKII. It's $699 and 350 watts, 18Hz max extension mode. It's also sheilded so it might help with the interference you were getting on the TV. How close to the TV was the Axiom sub?

Also you could try the VTF-2 MKII for $499 (250 watts, 20Hz max extension).

The VTF-2 MKII is 25hz in max extension mode not 20hz.

Just a thought- Give Axiom a call and tell them what going on- while there products my not be perfect there support is hard to beat.
Then after three strikes.....

Hate to see problems like this with Axioms, but there are other factors too. There is a guy down the street from me that has Rockets and his sub died on him, he got a replacement, and a few weeks later, that one was dead. He was using some expensive surge protection gear (not saying it is great, just expensive). In the end it was his $1200 (purchased less than a year ago) Denon receiver (don't recall the model, but could find out)... It seemed that the receiver was never letting the sub shut off, but was, instead, sending it a signal that was too low for the sub to produce, but at high volumes, or something strange like that, so he never heard it, but the amp was processing the signal non-stop, overheated and died. That was the best explaination he got from the folks at Rocket (AV123 or whatever) and Denon. Denon replaced his receiver, and sent him a gift card for $100 to Amazon.com for his troubles. He is now on his 3rd sub, and is having no problems in over 2 months.

I also have a SVS 20-39PCi sub that the amp went wacko on me after a couple of months. I tried different outlets, different cables, different sources (2 different receivers) and it still would do this super loud, low frequency rumble for no reason and at odd times. Got a new amp, and it seems to have fixed the problem.

They all have their flaws, and not everything is made 100% perfect. After all, humans are involved in the manufacturing process, but I can tell you this, it may not be the amps fault. Then again, you may be hitting some odd thing that only impacts your exact set up, and any significant change (such as a totally different piece of equipment like a different brand.model sub) may break that particular set of variables.

It is frustrating, I know, trying to troubleshoot, and getting nowhere sometimes, but I just want to make sure that you realize that you may get a different brand sub and have the same problem, or not...

Good luck. I am glad that I am no longer in the position that you are. You'll make it through...

What I would try, in order to completely eliminate the questionable household circuit(I've done this before while checking high wattage items)was to grab a high amp extension cord and plug it into a high amperage circuit kitchen outlet. Make sure not much is "On" in the kitchen circuit other than the fridge, and give the test item a try.

Of course, if the 2nd sub is dead.....

Sorry your having a problem, but I would say the majority of Axiom Sub owners have not experienced such problems, I'm sure the problem is on your end. I know this sounds like a dumb question, but did you realize the green light won't be on all the time, only when LFE's are sent to it, and then the sub kicks in.

The way the light works for me is that: it is green when the Amp is turned on and being used by a movie. After I turn the amp off the green light stays on for somewhere around 10 minutes then changes to Red until I turn the amp on again. But the light isn't on at all now obviously.