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Bose Subwoofer Not Working (How to Fix)

Living room with soundbar and subwoofer

Bose has long been a leader in the speaker industry, providing high quality products for home, personal, and business use. Unfortunately, even the best products can experience issues from time to time. 

A Bose subwoofer not working is usually caused by poor or not secured connections. Inspect the cords and cables of the Bose subwoofer to ensure they are not frayed or damaged, and are securely connected. 

Replace any damaged or frayed cords/cables you find as soon as possible. Replacement cables can be purchased directly from the Bose website, as well at various electronic stores found both online and off. 

Once you have confirmed the cords are not damaged and are connected, try resetting the speaker by unplugging the device’s power cord from the power outlet. Wait 60 seconds and then plug the power cord back into the outlet and try to turn the speaker on.

Bose Subwoofer Not Turning On

Soundbar speaker system with subwoofer

When the Bose subwoofer refuses to turn on, it quickly turns your one enjoyable speaker into an oversized paper weight that is just taking up space. Before you chalk it up as a loss, consider the following troubleshooting options that may just fix your Bose subwoofer.

When your Bose subwoofer won’t turn on, the first thing to try is to reset the bass module. Resetting the base module takes only a few seconds and can help to quickly fix some problems, such as glitches that can impact the speakers’ ability to function properly.

To reset the base module, disconnect the Bose subwoofer from the power supply and wait 30 seconds. After the allotted time has passed, reconnect the Bose device back to the power supply and try turning the speaker back on.

You should also check to ensure the Bose software and firmware is updated on the subwoofer. Outdated software and firmware can lead to several issues, including preventing the device from turning on and functioning properly.

If, after all of that, you still cannot turn on the Bose subwoofer, the last option is to contact Bose technical support. Depending on what the problem is and when you purchased the Bose product, your device may still be under warranty, which means you could potentially have the problem fixed or the product replaced without paying anything out of pocket. 

Bose Subwoofer Not Pairing/Connecting

confused woman standing

While Bose is typically a reliable brand, one issue that many of their subwoofers seem to have is difficulty pairing or connecting to other devices. While this problem can occur on just about any make or model of subwoofer, Bose has several models, including Bose 500 subwoofer, Bose Smart Soundbar 900, Bose F1 Subwoofer, and Bose Bass Module 700, with this known problem. 

If your Bose subwoofer isn’t pairing or connecting, try pressing the SoundTouch button on your Bose remote control. Then press and hold down the 7 button until the connection indicator on the subwoofer blinks white.

The indicator light will glow white and you will hear a tone from the speaker one it has connected. You should also try to reset the device by unplugging it from power for a minute and then plugging it back in. Once the subwoofer is turned on, try reconnecting the device by following the above pairing and connecting steps. 

Bose Subwoofer Not Loud

Black subwoofer below the flatscreen tv

Bose module 500 has a much lower sound than the 700 module, which aimed to correct the issue with the previous subwoofer not being loud enough. With that said, however, many Bose customers have voiced their concerns about several of the company’s subwoofers not being loud enough. This problem is typically found in modules 300, 500, and even 700. 

If your Bose subwoofer isn’t loud, try to first restart the device. If that doesn’t correct the problem, your next course of action is to adjust the subwoofer’s tone controls. This is done in the Bose music app. 

Open the Bose music app and click on the Audio button. Locate the Soundbar section, where you will see the option to adjust the bass and the treble for the device. Use the + or – buttons to move the bass and treble levels up and down. If you have a Bose bass module (or subwoofer) connected to a soundbar, you will see the ability to turn the speaker level of the Bass module up and down. Use the + button to turn the speaker level up.

Bose Subwoofer No Power No Status Light

confused man standing

Bose speakers typically have an LED status light that alerts you when something is wrong. When this light is off, that typically means there is no power to the device or the Wi-Fi function is turned off or disabled.

When your Bose subwoofer has a no power or no status light, the issue would be that the device isn’t properly plugged into its power source, or the speaker is not connected to Wi-Fi. The first thing to check is that the Bose subwoofer is plugged into the power outlet.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on July 2, 2022.

This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 07/02/2022

If the Bose subwoofer is plugged in, the next course of action is to restart your internet router. This can be done by unplugging the router from power for 60 seconds. Then plug the router back in and allow the device to completely boot back up. Once it is up and running, try to connect the Bose subwoofer to Wi-Fi. 

Keep in mind that each model of Bose subwoofer will have its own meaning as to what the indicator lights tell you. Make sure to familiarize yourself with your model of Bose speaker and what the lights mean. This information is typically found in the owner’s manual, as well as on the Bose Product Finder page. 

Bose Subwoofer Making Popping Noise

Black subwoofer below the flatscreen tv

A Bose subwoofer that starts to make a popping noise is not only annoying, but it can be frustrating as well. Especially if you’re not sure what could be causing the issue. Thankfully, in most cases, the popping noise is due to simple interference.

If your Bose subwoofer is making a popping noise, the issue is typically caused by wireless interference. Make sure that the bass module is located near your soundbar and that it isn’t blocked by furniture or walls. Try moving the bass module to a different location closer to the soundbar.

Another option is to reset the Bose subwoofer by disconnecting it from the power supply for  60 seconds. Once the minute has passed, reconnect the speaker to power and test the sound.

If it is still making a popping noise, reach out to Bose customer support for further assistance. The issue may be an internal one that you cannot fix. If this is the case, the Bose customer support will have to assist you in finding a Bose repair technician to address the problem. 

Things To Consider For To Avoid Problems With A Bose Woofer

confused man standing

Purchasing a Bose woofer is an investment that can provide you with a lifetime of enjoyment. While Bose is a well-respected brand, you still want to do your due diligence to select the right speaker for you and your needs. 

The best thing to consider to avoid problems with a Bose woofer is to read product reviews on various websites. These reviews are left by consumers just like you who own a Bose product. They can help give you a better understanding of what to expect with that model of Bose woofer.

This article and its contents are owned by Ready To DIY and was first published on 07/02/2022

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on July 2, 2022.

Reviews not only help you figure out which speaker to purchase, but they also let you know which ones to stay away from. If you know someone, such as a friend or family member, who already has a Bose subwoofer, ask them if you can test out their speaker. This can give you a better idea of how the speaker operates. 

Once you have taken the leap and purchased the Bose woofer, make sure to register the device with Bose. Registering the device helps to ensure you are informed of any potential updates to the firmware and software that the device may need, as well as activates your warranty and alerts you to any recalls that may occur for that device.

Registering a Bose product takes only a few moments and can be completed on the Bose website. You will, however, need the serial number of your Bose device before you can begin the registration process. 

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How to Connect Bose Soundbar to TV

ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on July 2, 2022.

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