Can a subwoofer go bad from sitting? So the short answer is yes! Subwoofer breaks from sitting. A subwoofer is one product that can make or break your entertainment system.
Subwoofers play an essential role in an audio system. A subwoofer is designed to reproduce the low frequencies in sound. The subwoofer creates bass in the sound, which makes the sound enjoyable to listen to.
If you don’t use the subwoofer for a long time, the chances of your subwoofer getting damaged increase.
In today’s article, we’ll guide you can a subwoofer go bad from sitting. Also, we learned how to tell if a subwoofer is bad and the reasons for a bad subwoofer.
If you also want answers to all these questions, read this article from beginning to end. You may still find this article helpful if you have a new subwoofer.
Can a Subwoofer Go Bad From Sitting?
Yes, if you don’t use the subwoofer for a long time, your subwoofer may get damaged. Many factors can cause a subwoofer to malfunction.
I try to explain to you through examples. If you have a car and don’t use it for many years, it’ll rust, making it difficult to drive.
Similarly, if you have a subwoofer and you don’t use it for a long time, your subwoofer can also rust. When something rusts, it cannot move.
If your subwoofer goes unused for long periods, it may experience a common problem. One common problem is the drying out of the rubber surrounds or suspensions that attach the driver cone to the frame.
These surroundings are crucial for maintaining the driver’s flexibility and accurate movement, enabling it to produce precise bass frequencies.
If the rubber surrounds become dry and brittle, the driver’s performance can be compromised, reducing sound quality or causing complete failure.
Additionally, components such as capacitors, resistors, and coils inside the subwoofer may degrade over time due to inactivity.
Prolonged periods without usage can cause these components to lose their electrical properties, leading to performance issues or total failure.
It’s important to note that not all subwoofers will experience the same level of damage from sitting.
Factors such as build quality, materials used, and environmental conditions during storage can significantly influence the extent of damage.
Also Read: Do Subwoofers Make a Difference
How to Prevent Subwoofer Damage from Sitting?
If you want to prevent the subwoofer from getting damaged from sitting, you must take some steps. I have guided all these steps in detail below.
Regular usage and maintenance
The best way to prevent subwoofer damage is to use the subwoofer daily. If you can’t use it daily, use it once a week.
Once you start using the subwoofer daily, the chances of it getting damaged are reduced by 80%. When you run the subwoofer, it prevents the rubber from drying out on all four sides.
Additionally, periodic maintenance, such as cleaning the subwoofer and inspecting for any physical damage, can help identify and address potential issues early on.
Proper storage techniques
When storing a subwoofer for an extended period, it’s crucial to consider the following:
Clean and dust-free environment:
Ensure the storage area is clean and free from dust or debris that can accumulate inside the subwoofer.
Temperature and humidity control:
Store the subwoofer in a controlled environment with moderate temperature and humidity levels to avoid extremes that can cause damage.
Protective covers:
If possible, use protective covers or cases to shield the subwoofer from physical impacts and dust.
By implementing these measures, you can help maintain the longevity and performance of your subwoofer, even during periods of inactivity.
Troubleshooting and Repairing a Bad Subwoofer:
If your subwoofer has been unused for a long time, your subwoofer has become damaged. Now you’re worried about how to fix your subwoofer, first of all, don’t panic because today I’ll tell you some tips you can follow to fix your broken subwoofer.
Checking connections and settings
Ensure all connections, including power, audio cables, and speaker wires, are securely attached and properly seated.
Verify that the subwoofer’s settings, such as volume and crossover frequency, are correctly configured.
Sometimes, issues can arise due to loose connections or incorrect settings rather than subwoofer damage.
Replacing damaged components
If you suspect that a physical component of your subwoofer is faulty, you may need to replace the faulty component.
You should take the defective part of your subwoofer to the market and get a new part from the market according to its design.
You can also do this yourself; if you don’t understand, you can call a mechanic and get it fixed. If you can’t find a mechanic, you can use YouTube’s help. You get all kinds of support on YouTube.
Also Read: Do Subwoofers Need a Box
How Do You Tell If Your Sub Is Going Bad From Sitting?
Now let’s talk about how we know if our subwoofer is damaged. In this, I’ll tell you some points to check if your subwoofer is bad or good by keeping in mind.
No sound or distorted sound:
If your subwoofer has been turned off for a long time and now you want to turn it on, check its sound to see if it’s making the sound.
If the sound is coming from the subwoofer, you have to check that the sound is fully clear. If the sound from the subwoofer is coming and the full is clear, then your subwoofer is fine.
Overheating:
When you start playing your subwoofer after a long time, the first thing you should do is check the sound and check if your subwoofer is getting hot.
If your subwoofer isn’t getting hot, the subwoofer is fine. If it’s getting hot, your subwoofer isn’t right.
Physical damage:
Inspect the subwoofer for visible physical damage, such as dented cones, torn surrounds, or broken connectors. Sitting idle can sometimes lead to these damages, impacting the subwoofer’s performance.
Lack of responsiveness:
If the subwoofer is unresponsive to control inputs or exhibits a delay in responding, it may indicate a problem arising from prolonged inactivity.
Unusual noises:
Pay attention to abnormal noises from the subwoofer, such as buzzing, crackling, or popping. These noises could be an indication of damaged components caused by sitting unused.
Check your subwoofer with the above points in mind whenever you must use a subwoofer that has been turned off for an extended period.
If you see even one of these errors in the subwoofer, understand that your subwoofer is damaged. Now you need to get it repaired.
What Causes A Subwoofer To Go Bad?
Now I am going to tell you what are the reasons why our subwoofer breaks down.
Overpowering:
Using an amplifier or receiver that exceeds the subwoofer’s recommended power handling capacity can cause the subwoofer to go bad.
It can lead to overheating of the voice coil, which may result in coil failure or damage to other components.
Underpowering:
Conversely, providing insufficient power to the subwoofer can cause it to distort or clip. This distortion can lead to damage over time, as the subwoofer is continuously pushed beyond its capabilities to produce clear and accurate bass.
Improper installation:
If you don’t install your subwoofer correctly, the chances of your subwoofer getting damaged increase. You have to route the wiring while doing the installation properly.
Physical damage:
When a physical part of your subwoofer goes bad, it causes it to go bad. Its physical component includes drivers, cones, surrounds, and other components. Avoid damaging the physical parts of your subwoofer as much as possible.
Environmental factors:
Exposure to extreme temperatures, high humidity, moisture, or dusty environments can harm the subwoofer’s components.
These conditions can lead to corrosion, rust, or deterioration of materials, affecting the subwoofer’s overall performance.
Age and wear:
Subwoofers, like any other electronic device, have a finite lifespan. Over time, components may degrade, connections loosen, and performance may diminish.
Aging can gradually lead to a subwoofer going bad, especially if it has not been correctly maintained or subjected to harsh operating conditions.
Manufacturing defects:
Subwoofers may sometimes have inherent manufacturing defects that can cause premature failure. These defects can manifest as issues with the driver, voice coil, or other internal components.
Important FAQs
Conclusion
Can a subwoofer go bad from sitting? The short answer is yes; leaving the subwoofer off for long periods increases the chances of the subwoofer getting damaged.
There can be many reasons behind the failure of a subwoofer, such as under or over-powering, not correctly installed, left for long periods, and damaged physical parts.
First, understand all these reasons and then take care of your subwoofer with preventive measures. If you do this, you can protect the subwoofer from damage.
If you have any queries related to subwoofer malfunction, you can ask me through the comment section. If you liked this article, share it with your friends so they too can know can a subwoofer go bad from sitting.
