The Art of Field Destroying a Subwoofer

At Entertainment Pros, we occasionally need to replace a product that fails under warranty. Sometimes this entails removing the defective product and shipping it back, but other times, it isn't feasible to return a large or heavy item to the manufacturer. To ensure people aren’t misleading manufacturers for free merchandise, we are tasked with taking pictures of the defective product showing the serial number and then destroying the failed piece, again providing pictures of the now defunct (and non-resellable) electronics.

Making Field Destruction Fun

We have provided previous field destruction videos and posts, and this is an area where we like to have a little fun. In this case, we chose another approach to annihilate a defunct subwoofer. I was planning a trip to a remote shooting range and decided to let the subwoofer "ride shotgun."

Plan A: Explosive Intentions

My initial thought was to utilize Tannerite, which consists of two inert ingredients that, when combined and subjected to a high-velocity projectile (such as a bullet traveling faster than 2,000 feet per second), create an explosion. When I consulted the range officer, he loved the idea but was unsure of the safety issues, so we shelved that plan (I always have a backup plan) and moved on to Plan B.

Plan B: Firepower Overload

Destruction by massive firepower. We set the offending subwoofer at the 100-yard mark of the range with a suitable dirt backstop (safety first). Donning the necessary protective equipment (eye and ear protection), the range officer declared the range "hot" (ready for safely discharging firearms).

Using a .458 SOCOM rifle, I sent 325 grains of copper-coated lead projectiles towards the failed electronic piece as punishment for giving up before its slated end-of-life. The first several rounds decimated the actual speaker itself, punching holes through the driver, voice coil, and magnet.

Death by Lead Poisoning

After the range was declared "cold" (firing ceased, and it was safe to approach the target area), we walked up to survey the damage and take a few pictures. We then returned to the firing line, the range was declared "hot" again, and everyone assisted in rendering the subwoofer completely "useless and unsellable."

After likely 100 rounds from a variety of firearms, the subwoofer was officially decommissioned. A few more pictures were taken from different angles to showcase the resultant destruction—just in case anyone was interested.

A Lesson for Next Time

I do wish I had made a video instead of just taking still-life images, but maybe next time…

I hope this made someone smile or at least provided a little entertainment for your day!

Thank you for your continued support,
Chip from Entertainment Pros

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