I know there are many posts in here , but I didnt find one with my same problem..
I have a soundstream rubicon 302 amp.. 2 channel that is bridge to mono to power 1 jl 6w sub.. everything is hooked up correctly, and the amp gets power and the light does come on.. but the sub gets nothing.. after fiddling with some stuff i noticed the sub starting making noise.. but it was baffled and very faint.. someone please help me and let me know what to do? I already asked someone who said that it could be faulty RCA cables and loose wiring on the sub... I have a pioneer mp3 headunit WITHOUT sub preouts but that shouldnt matter.. ah.. help..

 

I know this may sound weird or you might have already checked it, but try switching the wires on your connections just incase you got the positive and negatives reversed. I had the same problem when I switched out my amp the other night. I turned it on but when i turned the volume up, i heard music but it was very distorted. I switched the wires on the back of my box (hooked up the "positive" to the "negative" and vice versa) and everything was fine. might be something to check

 

Check all the wiring and make sure it has a good ground.





jallamas

 

make sure there is no high pass filter enabled on the deck.

 

Before you begin the guide, I owned 5 different Pioneer CD Players. I never got the pre-outs to work with an amplifier. My cd players had sub-outs. Check pioneer manual for connection application for pre-outs.

Quick Guide to Troubleshooting Audio Amplifiers!

1. Disconnect all input and output leads.
2. Verify CD Player is working correctly.
3. Connect Power / Ground / Trigger (Remote) to amplifier. *Remote is another name for trigger

4. Turn to Ignition On and verify amplifier led if any are lit up.
5. Turn Ignition off. Check all adjustment *****. I suggest setting them all in the middle. Make sure the crossover on amplifier is set to LPF (Low Pass Filter).

6. Connect only 1 input channel to amplifier. Start with left channel. (RCA or Hi-Level Input.) Make sure polarity is correct. Matching the (+) and (-) terminals.

7.) Connect subwoofer to amplifier left channel output. Match (+) and (-) terminal to subwoofer terminals.

8.) Turn Ignition On and radio. Check subwoofer output performance.

9.) Try adjusting gain level between 25% to 75% of max gain level. NEVER adjust gain to maximum.

10.) If subwoofer performance is good, turn ignition off.
11.) Disconnect left channel input and output.
12.) Follow steps 6 - 10 again but instead of the left channel, connect to the right channel terminals.

14.) You have just verified the operational integrity of the amplifier. (Your amplifier is working properly.)

15.) Now, connect both Left and Right Channel Inputs ONLY. Check polarity and make sure they match. If mismatched, this will cause a 180 degree out of phase and will cancel the signal out. Thus, weak subwoofer operation.

16.) Connect the subwoofer to the left channel output while both inputs are connected.

17.) Turn Ignition on and check subwoofer performance.

18.) Follow step 16 again for the right channel output. Check gain to make sure it is between 25% and 75% of max gain level,

19.) If performance is good, then amplifier with both input signals are ok.
20.) Now, try connecting the subwoofer to the amplifier in mono mode. Make sure connections are made correct via reference to amplifier manual.

21.) Test subwoofer output. It should be ok.
22.) If not ok, turn off ignition.
23.) Goto the left input channel. Reverse the terminal wire connection. (Reverse the (+) and (-) connection.) You are reversing the phase of the left channel.
DO NOT do this for the right channel.

24.) Turn ignition on and check performance. If you still have weak sub output, then your amplifier has stereo to mono converter problem. I recommend checking mono connection again or just run sub output off of 1 channel. Or, replace amplifier.

 

go buy some RCA cables from a local walmart and run them to the amp. If its not the RCAs, then you can just return it without losing any money. Sounds like an RCA problem though OR the defeat feature of your radio is set on ON.

 

Don't forget to run the test I told you about last night on the RCAs before you go out buying more.