Sub woofer not working

socrates

Have a Creative Gigaworks 2.1 set up (connected to my PC)

All of a sudden the sub has stopped working.

The two small speakers are working but at a very low volume (even though volume is on full) and not exactly clear.

When I switch off my PC the sub makes a loud noise as it shuts down.

Is it possible that there is an error with my sound card?

The Company I purchased from want me to return the whole piece of kit and I must have the original packaging!

I do not have this and have told them this has nothing to do with the faulty sub.

It will cost to return this and I would rather try to repair at my end - is it possible that there is an issue with the sound card?

Are there any tests I can do at my end?

Sublime_2

Have you checked the wires at the back?

socrates

All wires in the right places

spakkker

Try it on a friend's or neighbour's pc/laptop. Packaging not required for waranty claim.

socrates

I tried playing around with the jack that goes into the headphone socket - if I place it 3/4 of the way in - the sub works but not at any where near its normal sound and is distorted.

Is it possible that the sub is blown?

almillar

Sounds like it could just be the power supply that has gone - this might allow the sound to pass through, meaning the quiet sound you're getting, is the sound at the volume the soundcard is outputting.
Potential cheap test and fix - check the power supply that goes into the wall, hopefully there is a block telling you the voltage, amperage and polarity, and hopefully the connection to the amp/sub combo is a fairly standard socket. Therefore you'll be able to plug in a household AC/DC adaptor at the right settings, which will fix the above problem, if that is the problem!
Can be bought for under £10 from Argos, B&Q etc.

socrates

almillar wrote: »

Sounds like it could just be the power supply that has gone - this might allow the sound to pass through, meaning the quiet sound you're getting, is the sound at the volume the soundcard is outputting.
Potential cheap test and fix - check the power supply that goes into the wall, hopefully there is a block telling you the voltage, amperage and polarity, and hopefully the connection to the amp/sub combo is a fairly standard socket. Therefore you'll be able to plug in a household AC/DC adaptor at the right settings, which will fix the above problem, if that is the problem!
Can be bought for under £10 from Argos, B&Q etc.

The power supply on the sub?

The volume will go up and down BUT it is not as loud overall as it used to be a few days ago - by a long way.

I am trying to get the manufacturer involved now as the seller is dancing around - getting me 'to do this and do that' before they will do anything

socrates

I have been sent a new sub by Creative - however still the same problem - the sub is not outputting the correct volume and is distorted.

Is this a Sound Card problem?

Or is is something else?

Hammyman

Have you checked the volume in Windows? If the volume is turned down in Windows, it'll be quiet out of the speakers.

Start with the simple things first.

socrates

Hammyman wrote: »

Have you checked the volume in Windows? If the volume is turned down in Windows, it'll be quiet out of the speakers.

Start with the simple things first.

It is definitely not that

almillar

Computers are complicated things, let's isolate the issue. Unplug it from your PC, and plug it into an iPod, or the headphone socket on a TV or anything with a headphone socket. Play around with the volume on the Creative AND whatever device is connected to it - are we now sure it's the Creative at fault?