Why does the bass cut out when I turn up the volume?

If the subwoofer enclosure plays normally at low volume but stops playing when you turn up the volume, this is often because the amplifier’s protection circuit activates.

This may be caused by voltage drop, overheating or excessively low impedance, for example.

Common causes

Voltage too low
When the bass plays strongly, the amplifier’s current consumption increases.

If the battery, alternator or wiring cannot deliver enough current, the voltage may drop far enough for the amplifier to switch off.

Impedance too low
If the subwoofer is wired to a lower impedance than the amplifier supports, the amplifier may be overloaded.

It is particularly important to check impedance if the subwoofer has dual voice coils or several subwoofers are connected.

Overheating
The amplifier may switch off if its temperature becomes too high.

Check that the amplifier has sufficient ventilation.

Incorrect settings
Excessively high gain or heavy bass boost can contribute to overloading the amplifier.

How do I troubleshoot the problem?
First check whether the amplifier’s protect light comes on when the bass disappears.

Then check the power and ground connections and that the subwoofer’s impedance is compatible with the amplifier.

It can also be useful to measure the supply voltage at the amplifier while the bass is playing.

If the problem only occurs at high volume, avoid continuing to put the sound system under load until the cause has been identified.

Contact our customer service team or visit one of our stores for help.