What Can I Check If My Subwoofer Is Humming
Article summary
- Subwoofer hum can stem from multiple sources, requiring trial and error to diagnose.
- Start troubleshooting by addressing potential grounding issues with your electrical outlets.
- Separate RCA cables from power cords to reduce interference.
- Upgrade to high-quality, shielded, or balanced cables (like XLR) for better signal integrity.
- Enhance your audio-visual setup with the 1723 Tower THX for immersive sound quality.
Subwoofer hum is a potential issue that can be caused by a variety or combination of sources. Finding the solution is usually a complex game of trial and error, depending entirely on the root cause. In order to save yourself some initial headache, please try the troubleshooting guide below:
Grounding Issue
The ground current is shared throughout your home and can introduce feedback to a subwoofer, resulting in a hum. Try each step, and if the hum remains, move to the next step.
Step 1) Try plugging the subwoofer into a different electrical outlet. This is the easiest way to address a potential ground issue in your home, and you should notice a change in the amplitude of the hum.
Step 2) Try plugging your subwoofer power cord into the same power strip as your other electrical components. This may reduce a hum if not eliminate it. Use an extension cord if necessary.
Step 3) Try connecting the power cable to a travel adapter without a grounding pin. This way the subwoofer is no longer grounded, and shouldn’t be affected. This is safe for Arendal Sound subwoofers as they are double insulated, and the only issue you may theoretically experience is that the amplifier could be susceptible to radio frequency noise.
Step 4) Try using a hum eliminator. These tend to be quite effective.
If the above steps do not work, your RCA cable might be the culprit (skip this section if using XLR cables).
Power Cord Interference
If the “Ground Issue” steps above do not help, you may have power cord interference. Power cords in close proximity to speaker cables can introduce distortion to the cable signal, resulting in a hum from your subwoofer. RCA cables are more susceptible to signal distortion since they are unbalanced, whereas XLR cables are much better thanks to their balanced design.
Step 5) Separate your RCA cables from your power cables as much as possible. You can use search “power cable management” online for ideas.
Step 6) Try using a shorter RCA cable.
Step 7) Change to an RCA cable with high-quality shielding; these better protect the input signal from outside interference.
Step 8) Use balanced cables. It is much more difficult to induce a subwoofer hum when using balanced, or XLR cables.
For many, XLR cables are not featured on their AVR/processor and they can only use RCA cables. In this case we still have a few more options.
Naughty Neighbor
At this stage it is likely that one of your components is inducing the hum in your subwoofer, due to a difference in grounding potential.
Step 9) Disconnect each component cable one at a time until the hum stops. Connect a hum eliminator/isolation transformer for that specific type of cable. A lot of times it is your TV signal cable coming out the wall. You can try a very inexpensive galvanic separator.
For RCA connections you can also get galvanic filters but are a lot more expensive in decent quality.
Step 10) Once you have found the component that is causing the hum and if Step 9 does not work, try connecting the component chassis to your subwoofer chassis via a wire. Losen a screw on a metal section of each chassis, and connect them like in the photo below:
Reach Out
If these solutions are not effective, feel free to reach out and our customer support team will happily do our best to help find a solution.
Frequently asked questions
What causes a subwoofer to hum?
A subwoofer hum can be caused by grounding issues, power cord interference, or problems with RCA cables. It's often a combination of these factors.
How can I fix a humming subwoofer?
Start by trying different electrical outlets, using a power strip, or a travel adapter without a grounding pin. If the hum persists, explore cable management and consider using high-quality RCA or balanced XLR cables.
What is a grounding issue with my subwoofer?
A grounding issue occurs when the ground current shared in your home introduces feedback to the subwoofer, leading to humming. It can often be resolved by changing electrical outlets or using anti-hum devices.
Why is my RCA cable causing hum?
RCA cables can introduce distortion due to being unbalanced, making them more susceptible to interference. Keeping them apart from power cables or using higher-quality shielding can help reduce hum.
How can I manage power cord interference?
To reduce power cord interference, keep RCA cables away from power cords, use shorter RCA cables, or choose cables with better shielding.
What if my neighbor's equipment is causing the hum?
If disconnecting components reveals that a neighbor's device is the source, consider using an isolation transformer or connecting the component chassis to your subwoofer chassis for a more stable ground.
What should I do if these solutions don't work?
If you’ve tried all troubleshooting steps and the hum persists, reach out to our customer support team for further assistance and solutions tailored to your situation.
Are XLR cables better than RCA for avoiding hum?
Yes, XLR cables are balanced and better at reducing noise interference, making them less likely to cause a hum compared to unbalanced RCA cables.
Can grounding issues be resolved with a travel adapter?
Yes, using a travel adapter without a grounding pin can help eliminate grounding issues by removing the ground connection, which may reduce hum safely for Arendal Sound subwoofers.
