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"Powered Subwoofer" Loudspeakers

CPSC Recall #96-105 — April 16, 1996

Recall Summary

Recall Number96-105
Recall DateApril 16, 1996
Remedy TypeRepair
Units Affected6,450

Where It Was Sold

Cambridge SoundWorks' nationally distributed catalogue
retail stores in New England and northern California
and Best Buy stores
sold the loudspeakers nationwide for between $599 and $700 beginning in June 1992.

Product

"Powered Subwoofer" Loudspeakers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C.- CPSC, Cambridge SoundWorks Inc., of Newton, Mass., is recalling 6,450 "Powered Subwoofer" loudspeakers that may overheat, causing the internal speaker cone to ignite. Cambridge SoundWorks has received four reports of the loudspeakers overheating to cause internal damage to the product only. The company and CPSC have received no reports of injury or property damage involving these loudspeakers. The loudspeakers are used in stereo and home theater sound systems to reproduce deep bass notes. Cambridge SoundWorks' nationally distributed catalogue, retail stores in New England and northern California, and Best Buy stores, sold the loudspeakers nationwide for between $599 and $700 beginning in June 1992. No other products offered by Cambridge SoundWorks are involved in this recall. Cambridge SoundWorks will provide consumers who purchased the recalled loudspeaker through the company's catalog and retail stores with a kit that includes two new fuses (one is a spare) and installation instructions to prevent the overheating of the loudspeakers. Consumers can repair the speakers in their homes by replacing the original fuse included with the loudspeaker with the new one. To intensify efforts in locating Best Buy customers who own the "Powered Subwoofer," Cambridge will offer a $30 rebate to Best Buy customers who will also receive a replacement fuse and installation instructions from the store. Consumers should stop using and unplug their "Powered Subwoofer" and call Cambridge SoundWorks at (800) 367-4434 for more information. They can also write to the company at 311 Needham Street, Newton, Mass. 02164, Att: Fred Pinkerton, Product Manager.

Hazard

The loudspeakers may overheat, causing the internal speaker cone to ignite.

Incidents & Injuries

Cambridge SoundWorks has received four reports of the loudspeakers overheating to cause internal damage to the product only. The company and CPSC have received no reports of injury or property damage involving these loudspeakers.

Remedy Instructions

Cambridge SoundWorks will provide consumers who purchased the recalled loudspeaker through the company's catalog and retail stores with a kit that includes two new fuses (one is a spare) and installation instructions to prevent the overheating of the loudspeakers.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.

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