SVS Subwoofer whine - is it normal?

[Ttimms]

Hi all, I've bought a used SVS Micro 3000 and I've noticed a faint whining sound when near to the subwoofer. I've emailed SVS and they've said it's normal to hear a whine when near to the subwoofer however I'm seeing conflicting reports online that this is NOT normal.

This is what it sounds like:

SVS Whine.mp3

Shared with Jumpshare

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The whine itself doesn't bother me (I have tinnitus anyway!) and it can't be heard more 1m away but I am little concerned that the subwoofer could still be going bad. The store have said I can return it but I'm very happy with the subwoofer itself and would've liked to have kept it. Can anyone chime in on this?

 

[MingChops]

Not much to add but I bought a new SVS 3000 Micro a while back and it too had a whine, as it was for a nearfield/desk setup I could hear it, but regardless of if you can hear it or not I consider it totally unacceptable (I sent mine back as I bought it new).

No other sub I have owned (Arendal, REL, BK) have exhibited this, when I had mine and started looking in to it, it came apparent it was all a bit too common on SVS. I'd never buy another.

 

[Ttimms]

Not much to add but I bought a new SVS 3000 Micro a while back and it too had a whine, as it was for a nearfield/desk setup I could hear it, but regardless of if you can hear it or not I consider it totally unacceptable (I sent mine back as I bought it new).

No other sub I have owned (Arendal, REL, BK) have exhibited this, when I had mine and started looking in to it, it came apparent it was all a bit too common on SVS. I'd never buy another.

Nearfield I can imagine it would be annoying. I sit about 6ft away and can not hear it.

I've never had an SVS in the past but I have owned a BK Gemini II subwoofer. I had humming and whining problems with that and had to have it repaired a few times. I eventually sold it.

 

[IanForumUser]

I noticed some noise with my SVS 3000 Micro, which I would characterise as "coil whine" or "digital hash". High in pitch and low in level, but absolutely audible to me with 3 metres of the device. I was on the verge of returning it, but discovered a post somewhere (Reddit I think), which suggested plugging a load into the USB socket on the back of the sub. I used my cellphone as the load and within a few seconds the noise abated. Tested multiple times: noise on power up, eliminated by load on the USB socket. I now leave the sub powered up as a result, which isn't ideal as I am conscientious about reducing power consumption where possible.

 

[egellings]

Switching power supply noise, either mechanically caused by a vibrating magnetic component in the switching power supply itself, or else from HF noise on the supply's output voltage, would be two possible causes.

 

[Ttimms]

I noticed some noise with my SVS 3000 Micro, which I would characterise as "coil whine" or "digital hash". High in pitch and low in level, but absolutely audible to me with 3 metres of the device. I was on the verge of returning it, but discovered a post somewhere (Reddit I think), which suggested plugging a load into the USB socket on the back of the sub. I used my cellphone as the load and within a few seconds the noise abated. Tested multiple times: noise on power up, eliminated by load on the USB socket. I now leave the sub powered up as a result, which isn't ideal as I am conscientious about reducing power consumption where possible.

Plugging a load into the USB does indeed stop the whine.

 

[Ttimms]

I have found this post on Reddit of someone who purchased the new Micro 3000 Revolution model which is whining/buzzing and SVS have told them it's normal. So it appears SVS have still not fixed this problem with the new series. Although it doesn't bother me personally I still think this is unacceptable for a $999 or £1,150 subwoofer.

https://www.reddit.com/r/hometheater/comments/1sw2gm5/svs_3000_micro_buzz

 

[IanForumUser]

I have found this post on Reddit of someone who purchased the new Micro 3000 Revolution model which is whining/buzzing and SVS have told them it's normal. So it appears SVS have still not fixed this problem with the new series. Although it doesn't bother me personally I still think this is unacceptable for a $999 or £1,150 subwoofer.

https://www.reddit.com/r/hometheater/comments/1sw2gm5/svs_3000_micro_buzz

Agree so much with this - just fix it SVS! These ASR, Reddit and other forum comments will be found by prospective buyers and could put some of them off a purchase, and for no reason other than "mechanical sloppiness". Wonder if the load on USB socket addresses the problem in the new model?...

 

[Kvx]

Plugging a load into the USB does indeed stop the whine.

I have the exact opposite issue with an SB 3000 Revolution. Everything is fine when there's no load on the USB port but if I use it to power a wireless subreceiver coilwhine sets in.