Denon Receiver Subwoofer Not Working? Here’s How to Fix!

Is your Denon Receiver subwoofer not working, and are you looking for a way to fix it? We have the solutions for you.

It can be quite hard to determine if your Denon subwoofer is not working. Subwoofers usually produce bass tones giving a bit more oomph to your music.

It’s possible that it does not get the signal from your receiver through faulty wiring, or your receiver is not configured properly.

If this is your case, we got you covered.

To get your Denon subwoofer to work, crank up the volume. The subwoofer can go into standby mode, and if it does not detect the right signals, it will not produce those bass sounds. Next, you want to check the settings on your receiver, like switching your speakers to Small or Large mode.

Let’s first look at the many causes that will stop your subwoofer from working before attempting to fix it.

What Causes Subwoofer Not Working with Denon Receiver

There are several reasons why your Denon subwoofer will not work.

It could be a wiring or power issue where the subwoofer does not get the proper signals from your receiver.

Take a close look at the cables and wires that connect your Denon system. If the subwoofer is not working, it’s likely disconnected or not getting enough power.

1. Connectivity Issues

Damaged or faulty cables can cause your subwoofer not to work properly. Loose or wrong connections are also a culprit to look out for.

2. Subwoofer On Standby

Your receiver will have a light indicator to tell you if it’s on standby.

However, subwoofers may not have these notification lights, and if you do not give it enough volume, it will simply not work.

3. Not Enough Power

Subwoofers use up a lot of power that allows them to produce the strong low tones they are known for.

If your power cables or wall outlets are damaged, it may not have enough power to turn on your subwoofer.

4. AV Not Configured Correctly

Your AV will have many components connected to it. If it’s not configured correctly, certain settings will prevent your subwoofer from turning on.

These are the problems that can impact your Denon subwoofer. If you are having a hard time getting it to turn on, it’s likely from these causes.

Let’s now proceed to fix it.

How to Fix Denon Receiver Subwoofer Not Working

Before you do anything else, we recommend turning your Denon receiver and speakers off.

Unplug it for at least two minutes, then turn it back on again. This quick power cycle can do wonders and save you a lot of time if it resolves the issue.

If your subwoofer is still refusing to work, we can now move on to more advanced solutions:

Solution #1: Check Connections Between Speakers and Subwoofer

Sometimes the issue can be as simple as a damaged cable or loose connection. AV receivers like Denon rely on physical connections to link the subwoofers, speakers, and other devices.

It can be difficult to keep track of all these wires and cables. You can even knock some of these off while cleaning or rearranging the speakers.

If you have not checked the connections in a while, it’s about time you do. It may be the solution you are looking for.

Here’s how to check the connections of your Denon receiver:

1. Tighten the connections on your subwoofer.
2. Make sure the subwoofer input and output cables are in the right connectors.
3. Inspect the wires and cables for defects.
4. Watch out for signs of wear, tear, and damage.
5. Replace damaged wires.

Tip: Make sure to perform a quick test after reconnecting or replacing wires.

Solution #2: Check the Power Outlet and Cables

Faulty power cables, wall outlets, and even power strips can cause your subwoofer to stop working.

Generally, subwoofers require a decent amount of power. If your power components are not up for it, your subwoofer will simply not work.

Here’s how to check your power installation for your Denon receiver and subwoofer:

1. Make sure your subwoofer is plugged into an active power socket.
2. Plug your subwoofer to a different wall outlet that you know works.
3. Check your subwoofers fuse is not blown out.

Pro Tip: If your subwoofer has a standby LED light, check it to see if it is receiving power.

Solution #3: Slowly Turn Up the Volume

Subwoofers can come with a standby feature. It’s a handy function that turns off your subwoofer if not in use.

It can surely save you power and extend the life of your components. In this case, your subwoofer will only start to work once it receives a strong enough signal from the receiver.

If the signal does not reach the threshold, your subwoofer will not sound off.

You want to increase that signal and get it to go over that limit so your receiver will put your subwoofer in active mode.

Here’s how to wake your subwoofer:

1. Check if your subwoofer is powered properly.
2. Start playing audio from your receiver that your subwoofer connects to.
3. Once you hear sound coming from other speakers, turn up the volume.
4. Turn up the volume until you hear your subwoofer start to produce sound.

Note: Play a file or music that will trigger your subwoofer to produce audio.

Solution #4: Configure Your Denon Receiver to Adjust Output

You can control your subwoofer using your Denon receiver’s settings. The threshold set for your subwoofer may be too high.

If this is the case, you want to lower it, so your audio reaches it and activates your subwoofer.

Here’s how to change your subwoofer output:

1. Press Option on your remote.
2. Choose Receiver options and press Enter.
3. Select Subwoofer from the menu items
4. Turn on the Subwoofer output option.
5. Change subwoofer channel volume to -12.0 dB to +12.0 dB.

Note: The default value is 0.0 dB. Setting it to a lower output level ensures that your subwoofer fires no matter what audio comes on.

Solution #5: Set Speakers Settings to Small

Speaker settings can also play a role in why your subwoofer is not working. Since receivers can connect multiple types of speakers, you can configure it in many different ways.

For example, if you do not have a subwoofer, you can configure your receiver, so it bypasses it.

The problem starts with connecting a subwoofer, and you’re on the same settings. It will not play your subwoofer.

If this is your case, you will need to change the speaker settings, so it routes bass tones to your subwoofer instead of your regular speakers.

Here’s how the speaker settings on your Denon receiver:

1. Go to your receiver’s settings menu.
2. Choose Speaker config.
3. Set your speakers to Small.
4. Play music or audio to check if your subwoofer is working.

Alert: The small speaker config means that a particular speaker will divert low-frequency audio away from it and to your subwoofer. 

Large means that some bass tones will be sent to that specific speaker.

Solution #6: Change Your AVR Settings to LFE + Main

Other than your speaker configuration, different settings on your Denon receiver can stop your subwoofer from working.

The particular setting, we want to look at is LFE or low-frequency effects. It controls what signals go to your subwoofer.

You may think it’s the same as Solution #5. However, it’s independent of it.

Here’s how to set your subwoofer mode to LFE + Main:

1. Open your receiver’s Settings.
2. Go to Subwoofer Mode.
3. Select the LFE + Main option.
4. Play music or audio that offers a strong bass to check.

Note: Certain configuration combinations will stop your subwoofer from working. Ex. if you set your speakers to Large, then Subwoofer Mode is on LFE.

These solutions will help you get to the bottom of your issue with your Denon subwoofer not working. However, it’s also possible that none of this will work.

If this is your case, you want to consider hardware faults, and your equipment will need repair. Contact Denon support for more advanced help.

Read Next: How to Fix Denon Receiver Bluetooth Not Pairing?

Bottom Line

Now that you know the reasons and fixes for your Denon receiver subwoofer not working, it’s time for you to take action and perform these solutions.

These are simple solutions that do not need any technical expertise at all.

You can always contact Denon if you are still experiencing more issues than we described.