Facebook
Google
GitHub
Linkedin
Our stalwart Klipsch RPW10 powered sub has gone silent: not even a power-on thump or hum. The power indicator LED is lit, though.
After confirming line-level signal to the amp and the fuse is not blown, I removed the amp from its mount with the plaintive hope of spotting something obvious. There's no odor of burnt electronics, no bulging or burst caps, no smoked resistors, seemingly no cold solder joints, lifted pads or yucky traces. Visually, the board looks OK.
Klipsch, to their credit, hosts a forum on their website, and within I found a dead thread begun by a fellow who seemingly took up t'shooting RPW10 boards as a hobby, even going so far as posting a few videos to YouTube. But I wasn't able to get to a resolution with these resources.
I don't have an oscilloscope. Following the example of the aforementioned thread, I used my DMM to read ~5.6vDC across the two large resistors (w/volume at min.); and ~26.3vDC across the pair of voltage regulators (see image, below). I see normal cap drain-down to zero volts when measured across those same voltage regulators when I cut power to the board. The values at these test sites—as well as the fact that the fuse does not blow at power on—suggest this Klipsch RPW10 amp is not a lost cause. But that's as far as I get without a set of schematics a/o better guidance.
I completely get that the Klipsch RPW10 is an older, inexpensive model sub. I totally understand that the Klipsch makes a newer inexpensive model sub. It bothers me on a neural level to summarily toss out a thing without attempting repair. Some broken thirty-cent doodad is staring back up me. I just need to find it. Anyone have experience with the venerable the Klipsch RPW10 sub amplifier?
Optionally, if you are an electronic necromancer and interested in performing a laying-of-the-hands on this amp, I will gleefully deliver it from my bench to yours. Just lemme know...
After confirming line-level signal to the amp and the fuse is not blown, I removed the amp from its mount with the plaintive hope of spotting something obvious. There's no odor of burnt electronics, no bulging or burst caps, no smoked resistors, seemingly no cold solder joints, lifted pads or yucky traces. Visually, the board looks OK.
Klipsch, to their credit, hosts a forum on their website, and within I found a dead thread begun by a fellow who seemingly took up t'shooting RPW10 boards as a hobby, even going so far as posting a few videos to YouTube. But I wasn't able to get to a resolution with these resources.
I don't have an oscilloscope. Following the example of the aforementioned thread, I used my DMM to read ~5.6vDC across the two large resistors (w/volume at min.); and ~26.3vDC across the pair of voltage regulators (see image, below). I see normal cap drain-down to zero volts when measured across those same voltage regulators when I cut power to the board. The values at these test sites—as well as the fact that the fuse does not blow at power on—suggest this Klipsch RPW10 amp is not a lost cause. But that's as far as I get without a set of schematics a/o better guidance.
I completely get that the Klipsch RPW10 is an older, inexpensive model sub. I totally understand that the Klipsch makes a newer inexpensive model sub. It bothers me on a neural level to summarily toss out a thing without attempting repair. Some broken thirty-cent doodad is staring back up me. I just need to find it. Anyone have experience with the venerable the Klipsch RPW10 sub amplifier?
Optionally, if you are an electronic necromancer and interested in performing a laying-of-the-hands on this amp, I will gleefully deliver it from my bench to yours. Just lemme know...
Last edited:
