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My JL Audio sub is dead. What exactly happened?

So at my wife's request, I hooked up a Roku to my main system. Roku is a device for internet streaming movies and tv. The connection between the Roku and my preamp, a Meridian G68, was a 12 foot optical cable.

The first night, I hook up the Roku and it works perfectly.

The next night, I move some cables around, then I hook up the Roku again, exactly the same way as the previous evening. I get picture but no sound. Weird. I pondering what I might have done wrong when out of the speakers... POP. POP! POP!!!

Uh oh.

I dive for the amps, switch them off. The POPs stop immediately. But...

Now there's a TERRIFYING HIGH PITCHED PULSATING NOISE coming from somewhere in the room. I finally realize it's coming from the sub, a JL Audio Fathom 113. I dart across the room, switch it off.

I stand frozen, savoring the final moments of the fantasy that maybe things aren't that bad.

Here are some questions in no particular order...

1. I suspect the amp in the sub is fried. Does that sound right?

2. Where did those POPs come from? Could a damaged optical cable do it? Or maybe the optical cable wasn't fully seated?

3. Do I really have to ship this 150 pound sub to Florida? Or do you think there's any chance of finding someone local to fix it? (I'm in L.A.) The sub is out of warranty, btw.

4. I tried to take the panel off the rear of the amp (I know, lethal voltages inside) with the thought that maybe I would just bring the amp portion of the sub to someone local to fix. I removed about 12 screws from the rear panel and still it doesn't budge. Why can't I open this thing?

If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears. If not, thanks for reading.

Bryon

P.S. The rest of the system appears to be fine.
bryoncunningham
statman's avatar
statman
285 posts
 
Polar993,

If they are on "backorder" how is the company shipping out any new product? The problem with your request of "borrowing" another owners box doesn't guarantee what shape it will return in. Are you paying for that box to be returned to the original owner? You receive the "box", then you ship it to Florida, and then it returns to you. You then will have to ship it back to the original owner? Who pays if the box is damaged? Do you understand my point? Unfortunately I think you may have to wait it out until the replacement boxes arrive. It took me one time to learn to always save my original boxes. Be persistent with them maybe they'll send you one. 
polar993
6 posts
 
Hey Statman,

I certainly have thought about the potential damage to a box from that I may borrow from someone.  The multiple shipping transfers (getting the box to me, me sending my sub down to JL, JL sending my sub back to me, me sending the box back to its owner)....the box could certainly get damaged. 

What I can commit to is purchasing a new box from JL ($82) whenever they become available, and I would give that box to whomever was so kind to lend me there’s. That would be the least I could do for such a big favor. 

What I’m trying to do is save time. My sub has been out of commission for two weeks so far, and I have a big party planned at my house in about a month. I REALLY want my sub back by then and anything I can do to save myself some time to get my sub repaired and back to me, is what I want to do. 

The new boxes at JL will arrive sometime in the future....they just don’t know when. JL knows that I am trying to find another box to borrow, and they also know that regardless of whether I am able to find a box to borrow, I will be buying a new box from them. I will give that brand new box to the lender if their box gets damaged. 

Hope this explains my situation. 

Anyone out there willing to help me?

-Tom
polar993
6 posts
 
Statman,

To answer your question about how JL is able to ship new product....they have boxes for their new production. They do not have any “spare” boxes to sell to customers needing them for repair or other transit purposes. 

This is what JL has told me. I’ve been speaking with Shane from JL who has been very helpful and transparent with me. 

-Tom
rkim
1 posts
 
I've a similar issue - as of recently, my out-of-warranty Fathom 113 no longer turns on and I'd like to check if the capacitor is the issue.

However, I'm running into problems at step 1 - how do I get the housing on this thing off? I took off the 16 wood screws but nothing is giving way.

Would very much prefer to test for an easy DIY fix before shipping this monstrosity out for repair!

Thanks in advance!
spinaker01
491 posts
 
Use a hairdryer to gently heat the periphery of the backplate where it has the gasket seal underneath. After a couple of minutes going around, you should be able to lift it from the cabinet. 
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