Sunfire True Sub Constant Hum & Thump on Initial Signal

Does the subwoofer have the same hum when the input cables have been unplugged? Many input cables use very fine conductors, which often fail. A bad cable will often introduce a hum and prevent a signal from getting through. If the noise is still present without the input cable(s) connected, then repair options are limited. No schematics are available. There's a daughterboard that has been available, but its failure usually causes the system to die (short-circuit). The cost to repair the amplifier may be close to the cost to replace the entire sub.

Hi,
I had the same problem as this, the fix was quite simple and the hum never came back.

If you pull straight out on the sub amp's volume knob it will slide off, then to fix the hum, tighten the nut that is behind the knob on the potentiometer and your hum should go away. My hum went away and never came back after this fix. Hope this helps you.

How to isolate annoying background hum.

As long as the music or movie is playing, you can forget about it, at least until a quiet passage occurs, then there it is again: HUMMMMMMM! Be gone, bad hum, you think. But, like a bad odor at the back of the fridge, it takes some dogged persistence to track it down and eliminate it.

Hum is a constant low-frequency buzz, usually at about 60 Hz or 120 Hz, which results from voltage differences between true "ground" (what you'd get shoving a copper pipe into the ground) and the electrical "ground" of your receiver's chassis, the incoming cable-TV feed, or any video or audio components interconnected within your system, including powered subwoofers. When this voltage differential exists, it's called a "ground loop," and the hum it produces is darned annoying. You'll hear the hum mainly from the subwoofer because it's a low-frequency noise, but there will also be hum from your floorstanding front speakers or even compact bookshelf models.

First, try disconnecting your subwoofer from the coaxial sub cable from your AV receiver but leave the subwoofer turned on. Does the hum go away? If it does, then the ground loop is entering the system from your AV receiver and/or your cable-TV system set-top box (or satellite dish and decoder).

Disconnect the incoming TV-cable or satellite feed to a set-top box or to your TV and the A/V receiver. If the hum disappears (and you don't use a satellite dish) complain to the cable-TV company. They may know what you need and supply you with a ground-isolating transformer. If they don't know what you are talking about you'll need to order a video ground isolator and install it in-line with the TV cable before it enters your set-top cable-TV box. Axiom has special wide-band isolation transformers that will not interfere with any digital TV or HDTV signal. (N.B. You CANNOT use one of these with a satellite decoder box.)

Before you order one, you can try plugging your subwoofer into a different AC outlet in the room, ideally one that is not on the same circuit as your AV receiver and video equipment (TV, DVD player, sat or cable TV box, etc.) That may solve the problem. If it doesn't, see if the back panel of your sub has a "ground-lift screw". It will be labeled as such. Just remove it. That may remove the hum. If it doesn't and you have a standard cable-TV feed (not a dish), then order the ground-isolation transformer. (Axiom has special wide-band isolation transformers that will not interfere with any digital TV or HDTV signal.)
Axiom Audio Ground Isolator

If that still doesn't eliminate the hum, or if you use a satellite dish video feed, then you could try one of these from Radio Shack, which goes between the subwoofer and the coaxial cable from the receiver's subwoofer output.

With persistence, all ground-loop problems can be solved.

Hope it helped..

Have a nice day...

you have a ground loop issue you could purchase a ground loop isolator, jensen makes them for about 40 bucks.I have discovered that if you have cable tv, unplug the incoming cable in your cable box and see if hum disappears.

you may have a groung problem in the wireing of your home, buy a 110 ground tester at home depo and check your home wireing

It sounds like you are describing an earth loop problem. I won't go into detail in this post, but try an isolation test first. disconnect everything from the reciever except the sub and try connecting say a BATTERY powered mp3 player or cd player to minimise connections to the electrical mains earth. you could also isolate things by taking your sub to a friend's house and trying it on their system.
If it is an earth loop use a process of elimination to find out which two pieces of equipment causes the earth loop. then apply filtering.
you can buy earth loop isolation transformers for about AU$26 and I've used one on my sub myself. Theyhave RCA (phono)plugs on each end and they connect inline with the signal cable to the sub amp.

as for the thumping sound it might be the speaker protection circuitry cutting off the amp to protect the subwoofer speaker from damaged. This might be triggered if the earth loop sound is causing the sub amp to overload and clip.

Failing this there might be a dried out overheated electro capacitor in the amp circuit causing the hum. Hav a chat to your local electronics person, who should be able to spot it!
Hope this puts you on the right track
Happy Hunting!

Rita's Vintage Audio Repair is a Bob Carver Company & can repairs & updates Subs at a reasonable cost try calling them.

you must change light switch now with a new one-and grounding is very very important.

You need to check your ground connection. If there is a bad ground there will be feedback to the amp and it will just sit there and loop back with the Thump, Thump, Thump sound. I had to wire my amp's ground all the way back to the negative battery terminal. It was a pain but I have never had a problem since :)