R.I.P: Subwoofer

My Friends,

We gather here today to mourn the passing of the subwoofer on my M14x.

It served me well but alas the continuous strain of loud music took its toll and now the distortion generated at even normal volumes is probably going to lead to me disabling it...

*pauses to dab eyes with a tissue*

If any of you have also suffered a similar traumatic loss and managed to somehow replace it please drop me a PM and let me know how you did it!

(I had a look at the parts list and googled for the subwoofer but can't find any sellers - I don't even know if it's possible to replace)

Cheers!

 

your unit should still be in warrenty? why not get them to replace it for you

 

You arent alone, the replacement for subwoofer is the 2nd time after the yesterday's replacement of mine, after 3 weeks of use. I have no idea why they are so fragile.

First time is about 4 day after use Which I blast it at the maximum volume and which all of the bass boosting stuff on to the max, and it barely a day to survive that kind of setting,

Second time is that I try it again this time with the radio stuff, which is went off just in within the first 50 minutes of it, but it look like Dell happy to replace it for me for the second time.

And I think this should be the last time I will replace as I'm now learn the lesson that the subwoofer on this laptop isnt design to handle such high volume with max bass boost setting.

 

yes I have posted about this before, my first sub woofer died the second made a crackling noise and the one I have now sounds terrible I'm soo mad

 

Also I would like to add that the sub is not screwed in to place so it's loose therefore it vibrates and makes a rattling noise. I opened up my laptop and crazy glued it into place lol but one side didn't stick well but it did make less noise... This was only a temporary fix I'm trying to come up with a more permanent fix

 

Ductape? =D

 

Oh wow I forgot about ductape! lol

 

Well, all speakers have a breaking point. if the music or sounds you listen to are of bad quality, and you crank to the highest volume, and you turn on the "bass boost" it's gonna damage the speakers, just like it would with any audio system.

I mean, maybe yeah, the sub isnt the best in the world, but what i've learned from home theatre systems, is that the quality in audio can damage any speaker weather it be high-end and expensive or not, with the volume cranked all the way up.

Also, you shouldnt be starting audio with it on full blast. Slowly turn up the volume to the desired audible level, rather than hitting play and have it go from no music - to full blast.

just a few tips so ya dont blow em again.

ps i wouldnt recommend the full bass boost either.. distorts audio. can't stand when i hear only bass in my songs

 

Probably listening to dubstep.. ugh..

 

I turned off the MaxBass or w/e... It just makes it sound worse anyway... Haven't had a problem with it

 

+1 definitely if you're running 128kbps music and you're cranking the volume you're 100% going to blow your speakers. You need to be running better quality mp3's.

If you are running 320+ then you also need to let the speakers be broken in. the fabric they're made of is very fragile at first and needs to be stretched.

You wouldn't buy a sports car and red line it repeatedly on every gear change until the engine is broken in.... same concept.

 

I will only blast the music with the 320Kbps music, and maybe because of I blast it from no music on, lol.

 

Is this likely to happen from playing games with heavy bass often, like FPS gunfire?

 

i just wanted to tell you guys that i appreciate your report about the subwoofer. i'm sure to play my music at half volume. i also enabled svm on the creative audio control panel. i don't know if that helps make the loud parts not so loud

 

yes that will help too. it's nice if you have certain songs in your library that are louder than others... this just makes all sounds level so there's no "jumps"

 

My subwoofer also died a few days ago while listening to music. Oh well, another visit from the Dell tech, they already had to switch out my keyboard and speaker grill. Probably not buying Alienware again.

 

That sucks.... Are you under the 21 day return period...if you are so unhappy....why don't you turn it back (just suggesting ) also am preying like hell I get a good peice and reading all this stuff scares me