Is it a sound coming from the speaker itself, or the enclosure or the cabinet.
Is it mechanical or is it being produced? Is there a port in the back of the sub that is too close to the back of the cabinet.
A shelf and a sub, for some reason that isn't working for me. Maybe on wheels (dolly) but on a shelf, that is a BAD idea..
If moving it fixes it. then move it.. Decouple the bass go from there. For all you know the shelf is moving back and forth at this point..
Regards