8
SERVICE INFORMATION
If you think your Mackie product has a prob-
lem, please check out the following trouble-
shooting tips and do your best to confirm the
problem. Visit the Support section of our
website (www.mackie.com/support) where
you will find lots of useful information such as
FAQs, documentation, and user forums. You
may find the answer to the problem without
having to send your Mackie product away.
Troubleshooting
No power
• Our favorite question: Is it plugged in? Make
sure the AC outlet is live (check with a tester
or lamp).
• Our next favorite question: Is the
POWER
switch on? If not, try turning it on.
• Is the
POWER
LED on the rear panel glowing
green? If not, make sure the AC outlet is live.
If so, refer to “No sound” next.
• The internal AC line fuse may be blown. This
is not a user serviceable part. If you suspect
the AC line fuse is blown, please see the
“Repair” section on page 9.
No sound
• Is the input
LEVEL
control for the input
source or the subwoofer turned all the way
down? Verify that all the volume controls in
the system are properly adjusted.
• Is the signal source working (and making
union scale)? Make sure the connecting
cables are in good repair and securely con-
nected at both ends. Make sure the output
volume (gain) control on the mixing console is
turned up sufficiently to drive the inputs of the
speaker.
• Make sure the mixer does not have a Mute
on or a Processor loop engaged. If you find
something like this, make sure the volume/
gain is turned down before disengaging the
offending switch.
• Is the thermal protection circuit activated?
Make sure there is at least six inches of free
space behind the SWA1501.
Poor bass performance
• Check the polarity of the connections
between the mixer and the loudspeakers.
You may have your positive and negative
connections reversed at one end of one cable,
causing one loudspeaker to be out-of-phase.
• Try switching the
PHASE
switch on the rear
panel. This affects the polarity between the
full-range speakers and the SWA1501 and
may improve the low-frequency response.
Poor sound
• Is it loud and distorted? Make sure that you’re
not overdriving a stage in the signal chain.
Verify that all level controls are set properly.
• Is the input connector plugged completely
into the jack? Be sure all connections are se-
cure. It’s a good idea to periodically clean all
electrical connections with a non-lubricating
electrical contact cleaner.
Noise
• Make sure all connections to the active loud-
speakers are good and sound.
• Make sure none of the signal cables are
routed near AC cables, power transformers,
or other EMI-inducing devices.
• Is there a light dimmer or other SCR-
based device on the same AC circuit as the
SWA1501? Use an AC line filter or plug the
SWA1501 into a different AC circuit.
Hum
• Try disconnecting the cable connected to the
INPUT
jack. If the noise disappears, it could
be a “ground loop,” rather than a problem
with the SWA1501. Try some of the following
troubleshooting ideas:
• Use balanced connections throughout your
system for the best noise rejection.
• Whenever possible, plug all the audio equip-
ment’s linecords into outlets which share a
common ground. The distance between the
outlets and the common ground should be as
short as possible.
