Sega Sub woofer discovery.

[Mr20to5]

Hi guys.

Today I got round to taking my seat assembly to pieces to address the sticking runners, by all means check that thread out too as I'm asking for advice there too. (Ever the noob!)

Anyway as I wrestled the seat base free, look what I found......

So onto the real reason for this post. Because you educated knowledgeable peeps are probably wondering where this post is heading?

I NEVER KNEW THAT I HAD A SUB WOOFER!
Why? Well, because I have never heard it nor felt it's rumbling roar.

So I'm guessing it's my next fix it up task.

But as I feel that I cannot post without asking for help, here's my questions;

1. Is there a way to check it's working. I don't mean the obvious listen test, something more technical?
2. Am I missing something obvious with a volume control somewhere? In the coin tower there is only controls for front and rear?
3. If I removed it is there another way I can test it out of the machine?

So many questions never any time.

Thanks again.

Neil

 

[Vamino]

Quick and dirty way to test if a speaker is working is to connect two wires to the speaker and then touch each wire to both the + and - on something like an AA battery (One wire on + and the other wire on -), keep one of the wires connected and if when connecting and disconnecting the other wire it makes a scratching noise, then you know the problem is elsewhere.....it wont tell you if the sub is knackered though, just that some sort of noise should be able to emit from the cone.

The volume for the front speakers (or could be the rear on Scud) should also be connected to the sub circuit, I've had a few problems with subs and it's mostly the sub has blown. I've managed to fit a larger cone inside a woofer but it's not pretty.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380887091032

But.....I think this speaker may be more suitable but I havn't tried it:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231206393573
Vamino2015-01-26 19:28:08

 

[Mr20to5]

Hi Vamino and thanks for your time on both this and my other thread.

I do appreciate your help.

I'll see how I get on and duly report back.

Neil.

PS. Who doesn't like a little bit of quick and dirty. ....

 

[Outrun2]

Yes, Scud Race is a proper Model 3 Sega racer so came with the full compliment of speakers

If you don't think you're getting sound from the sub you could check the wiring - sometimes the wires get snagged under the seat unit if the plastic drag chain is missing. I've seen this a few times, but have never had a broken speaker - maybe I got lucky?

Also worth checking the amp - can't remember if Scud uses the 4 channel amp or a couple of 2ch amps. Either way it should have a smaller low pass amp which is required for the sub to function.

If you have the 4ch amp you may want to check the jumpers on it. Take a few photos so we can have a look..

 

[Mr20to5]

Outrun 2, you talk a lot of sense, unfortunately for me, most of it is in a language I don't understand!!!!!!!!

Pictures speak a thousand words so more than happy to take these and post but I will need some help as to where to point my camera!

As for the wires, I've just had the seat assembly removed and taken apart to fix another fix and the wires were okay, so I can rule that out.

Camera at the ready.

Neil

 

[Outrun2]

Photobucket appears to be down for me at the moment, so I can't show you what I mean.

Just lift up the base lid (hinged bit with seat attached to it) and take a photo of what's under there.

Then unscrew the footplate and lift that out and take some pics of what's under there. It's quite heavy so go easy - you don't want to drop it on the gubbins underneath!!

 

[Mr20to5]

No worries, I've had all the boards out for cleaning and such like so all the footplate and base are off anyway.

I'll put up the generic photos tomorrow morning and await further direction and instruction.

Every day still a school day.

Neil

 

[Vamino]

Photobucket appears to be down for me at the moment, so I can't show you what I mean.

Just lift up the base lid (hinged bit with seat attached to it) and take a photo of what's under there.

Then unscrew the footplate and lift that out and take some pics of what's under there. It's quite heavy so go easy - you don't want to drop it on the gubbins underneath!!

For whats it's worth, my Scud Twin has 2 separate amps....and the twin me and Paul split had 2 amps as well....basically the same setup as my Sega Rally 2. Even a Daytona 2 deluxe I acquired had 2 separate amps.

 

[Vamino]

.......but have never had a broken speaker - maybe I got lucky?

I blow up my own subs thank you very much, you just don't turn them up loud enough mate!

I've got a higher powered sub amp from a D2 deluxe to install, but that's for another day in another thread.

 

[Mr20to5]

Good morning gents.

As promised here are the photos for you to disect.

If at all possible I would love to learn what each board/thing does. I know about the board at the back which displays the error codes and I know about the servo board that powers the ffb. (no prizes for guessing why!)

But all the rest are an enigma.

Looking forward to enlightenment.

Neil ]

 

[Outrun2]

From left to right

============

Big metal box - Model3 Step 1.5 game board stack.

Board sat on top - Digital Sound Board (DSB1)
Smaller box next to board stack - PSU (for board voltages) - looks like it's OK

From top left, down

==============

Drive board
Sound amp
Sound amp

Low pass amp

From top right, down

===============

Transformer

???

Servo motor board

I don't have a Model3 driver and I'm not a Model3 guru so tricky for me to help any further with anything more specific.

 

[Mr20to5]

Outrun2, thanks again for your post.

I appreciate the heads up with what's what.

PSU definitely looks "ok".

You name two sound amps, front and rear, but then also a low pass amp?

Can someone please tell me what the low pass amp is for.

If the sub woofer is ran from one of the sound amps and both my front and rear speakers are working then is this pointing towards a new speaker?

Thanks again.

Neil

 

[obcd]

Isn't the subwoofer ran from that low pass amp?

It only passes the lower frequencies of the audio spectrum to the subwoofer speaker.

That speaker cone is 2 heavy to follow the higher frequencies.

 

[Outrun2]

Yes, the low pass amp is for the sub woofer. It should get hot during use- if it's working..

 

[Mr20to5]

Yes, the low pass amp is for the sub woofer. It should get hot during use- if it's working..

Hi guys,

Back again with time to look into this. Can I just ask which part of the low pass amp should get hot as there is no heat sink on this board? Also is it safe to touch during use or should I switch it off first?

I'm taking the seat base off again to sort something else so will also try the battery/wires test on the speaker.

Thanks in advance.

Neil

 

[Outrun2]

There should be a decent sized heat sink on the low pass amp - the board with the brown.. ermm.. board! It's just out of view in the photo.

It should get warm to touch after only a few minutes use. Safe to touch the heat sink while it's on but I wouldn't prod the components with a screwdriver while it's on

 

[Mr20to5]

Outrun2, thanks again for your post.

Played for a couple of hours today in between doing lots of bits and bobs outside.

Anyway, good news is that the heat sink did indeed get nice and warm. So with that ruled out I'll remove the seat base again and investigate the speaker further.

Until next time. ..

Neil

 

[Mr20to5]

Hi guys,

As an update then. With the amp's heatsink, erm, heating up, I took to removing the sub woofer assembly from under the seat.

The plastic casing was annoyingly glued together, not sure why or if I need to replicate this once all screwed back together?

Anyway, here's what I found. ....

The bits on the second photo were all the shredded bits that once formed the speaker cone.

New one on order, so in the words of Ant and Dec. ...

Let's get ready to rumble!

Neil

 

[Mr20to5]

Hi guys,

Final update just to tidy this thread up.

New subwoofer arrived as below.

All fitted and now working.

Thanks for the advice and the eBay link.

Neil

 

[Outrun2]

Cool, did it fit into the case without any fettling?

Would be nice to get a link to where these can be bought..