Newbie Q: which way to connect subwoofer to receiver?
Frank Riley
the manual for my receiver (Onkyo TX-DS696) and also the manual for my
subwoofer (Polk Audio PSW250). I can't figure out which is my best option.
The manual for the subwoofer gives 3 options:
1) running the L/R front outputs of the receiver into the subwoofer, and
then from the subwoofer to the L/R front speakers
2) hook up the subwoofer to the receiver's SUB-OUT port (the manual
recommends against this)
3) connect the receiver's PRE-OUT (if it has one) to the subwoofer.
Now, the manual for the receiver says to use the PRE OUT SUBWOOFER jack to
connect to a subwoofer with a built-in power amplifier. Is this the same as
number 3) in the subwoofer manual?
It seems to me that both 1) and 3) will work, but the subwoofer manual
indicates that 1) is the preferred method of connecting the subwoofer. Is
this correct? Why is 1) better than 3)?
Benjamin Frick
"Frank Riley" <fhr...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns90EFEE2B9F70...@24.1.240.74...
> Pardon my ignorance, but this is my first home theater setup. I'm reading
> the manual for my receiver (Onkyo TX-DS696) and also the manual for my
> subwoofer (Polk Audio PSW250). I can't figure out which is my best option.
>
> The manual for the subwoofer gives 3 options:
> 1) running the L/R front outputs of the receiver into the subwoofer, and
> then from the subwoofer to the L/R front speakers
I take that to mean you should connect the L/R front SPEAKER outputs on the
receiver to the 'high-level' speaker inputs on the sub, and then from the
sub out to your front speakers. All connections w/speaker wire, and the sub
handles the low end rather than your front speakers. (how much low end
removed from the fronts depends on where you set the crossover frequency on
the sub!)
> 2) hook up the subwoofer to the receiver's SUB-OUT port (the manual
> recommends against this)
Why do they recommed against it? The 'sub-out' is generally where the LFE
(low-frequency effects) information for 5.1 playback is sent, so you want to
have that routed to your sub one way or another if you want surround sound.
Some receivers allow you to do this (by their own bass management functions)
without using the sub-out, you should check if yours does.
> 3) connect the receiver's PRE-OUT (if it has one) to the subwoofer.
This is the same as #1, but you are sending the signal from the L/R channels
of the receiver at line-level rather than 'high-level' (speaker level). RCA
JACKS, not speaker wire. Definitely recommended over #1, if your receiver
has those pre-outs (#1 is only for receivers w/o preouts).
> Now, the manual for the receiver says to use the PRE OUT SUBWOOFER jack to
> connect to a subwoofer with a built-in power amplifier. Is this the same
as
> number 3) in the subwoofer manual?
No, it's the same as #2 in the sub manual.
You might heed their suggestion, but listen, it really comes down to this:
Do you want your main (aka front) speakers to reproduce bass (defined as say
everything below 80 Hz) or do you want your sub to do it for them? Letting
the sub handle the bass might be better if you have small mains or even just
ones that have weak bass. Using option #3 from the sub manual is in effect
filtering off the low frequencies sent to the mains (via the sub's
crossover) and letting the sub handle them. This can open up more of your
receiver's power to drive the mains (possibly better sound, i.o.w.). Find
out where your mains start to roll-off in low-frequency response (check the
manual, or the website specs) and match the sub's crossover frequency
roughly to that. Yes you can buy a test disc with low freq. sweeps and
match your sub to your mains that way, but above all listen and play with it
until things sounds right on both music and home theater. Oh, and if you
want to hear LFE stuff on HT you have to configure your receiver's bass
management so that you send it your mains (as you not connecting the sub to
the 'sub-out' in this scenario) Complicated enough?
The other option is #2 from sub manual, connecting the sub to the sub-out.
This is what I am doing. This allows you to send the LFE straight to the
sub and to run your mains full-range, if they are speakers with good
low-end. Again, play with the bass management in your receiver's setup
menus. It will probably let you choose 'small' or 'large' mains. If your
mains do not extend to say 40 Hz, choosing 'small' will effectively do the
same thing as option 3 in the sub manual (by rolling of the low-end sent to
them). The two options are very similar, it comes down to which crossover
(the sub's or the one built into the receiver) sounds better to your ears.
Cheers,
Benjamin Frick
Chicago, IL
Frank Riley
"Benjamin Frick" <bfr...@21stcentury.net> wrote in
news:9k8dup$g88$1...@bob.news.rcn.net:
>
> "Frank Riley" <fhr...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns90EFEE2B9F70...@24.1.240.74...
>> Pardon my ignorance, but this is my first home theater setup. I'm
>> reading the manual for my receiver (Onkyo TX-DS696) and also the
>> manual for my subwoofer (Polk Audio PSW250). I can't figure out which
>> is my best option.
>>
>> The manual for the subwoofer gives 3 options:
>> 1) running the L/R front outputs of the receiver into the subwoofer,
>> and then from the subwoofer to the L/R front speakers
>
> I take that to mean you should connect the L/R front SPEAKER outputs on
> the receiver to the 'high-level' speaker inputs on the sub, and then
> from the sub out to your front speakers. All connections w/speaker
> wire, and the sub handles the low end rather than your front speakers.
> (how much low end removed from the fronts depends on where you set the
> crossover frequency on the sub!)
That's correct.
>> 2) hook up the subwoofer to the receiver's SUB-OUT port (the manual
>> recommends against this)
>
> Why do they recommed against it? The 'sub-out' is generally where the
> LFE (low-frequency effects) information for 5.1 playback is sent, so
> you want to have that routed to your sub one way or another if you want
> surround sound. Some receivers allow you to do this (by their own bass
> management functions) without using the sub-out, you should check if
> yours does.
I suppose because it requires more configuration? I would have to figure out
if the sub-out on my receiver has a low pass filter or not, and hook into
the sub at line-level if it does not or the sub's LFE input if it does.
Also, would this affect sub output in stereo mode?
This question is related to your last sentence. Shouldn't LFE always be
routed by the receiver to the front L/R outputs (pre-out and speaker) if I
have subwoofer set to none?
>> 3) connect the receiver's PRE-OUT (if it has one) to the subwoofer.
>
> This is the same as #1, but you are sending the signal from the L/R
> channels of the receiver at line-level rather than 'high-level'
> (speaker level). RCA JACKS, not speaker wire. Definitely recommended
> over #1, if your receiver has those pre-outs (#1 is only for receivers
> w/o preouts).
>
>
>> Now, the manual for the receiver says to use the PRE OUT SUBWOOFER
>> jack to connect to a subwoofer with a built-in power amplifier. Is
>> this the same as number 3) in the subwoofer manual?
>
> No, it's the same as #2 in the sub manual.
I guess the distinction between pre-out and sub-out is what got me here
since my receiver has the pre-out wording on the sub-out.
> You might heed their suggestion, but listen, it really comes down to
> this:
>
> Do you want your main (aka front) speakers to reproduce bass (defined
> as say everything below 80 Hz) or do you want your sub to do it for
> them? Letting the sub handle the bass might be better if you have
> small mains or even just ones that have weak bass. Using option #3
> from the sub manual is in effect filtering off the low frequencies sent
> to the mains (via the sub's crossover) and letting the sub handle them.
> This can open up more of your receiver's power to drive the mains
> (possibly better sound, i.o.w.). Find out where your mains start to
> roll-off in low-frequency response (check the manual, or the website
> specs) and match the sub's crossover frequency roughly to that. Yes
> you can buy a test disc with low freq. sweeps and match your sub to
> your mains that way, but above all listen and play with it until things
> sounds right on both music and home theater. Oh, and if you want to
> hear LFE stuff on HT you have to configure your receiver's bass
> management so that you send it your mains (as you not connecting the
> sub to the 'sub-out' in this scenario) Complicated enough?
This somewhat makes sense to me. Since the manuals for my sub and speakers
(Polk RM6600) recommend doing it this way (line-level) or speaker-level
(correct term?), I think I'm going to stick with it. I'm supposed to set the
front speakers to large and the subwoofer to none, which makes sense since I
want the 2 front channels plus LFE to go through the L/R outputs, correct?
Could you explain how this gives more power to drive the mains?
> The other option is #2 from sub manual, connecting the sub to the
> sub-out. This is what I am doing. This allows you to send the LFE
> straight to the sub and to run your mains full-range, if they are
> speakers with good low-end. Again, play with the bass management in
> your receiver's setup menus. It will probably let you choose 'small'
> or 'large' mains. If your mains do not extend to say 40 Hz, choosing
> 'small' will effectively do the same thing as option 3 in the sub
> manual (by rolling of the low-end sent to them). The two options are
> very similar, it comes down to which crossover (the sub's or the one
> built into the receiver) sounds better to your ears.
My main concern is having the sub work for all modes (Dolby Digital, Pro
Logic, Pro Logic II, DTS, and Stereo. did I miss any?). Will doing option 1
or 3 achieve this?
Thanks much for your comments!
Alex Rodriguez
says...
Lousy manual. I can't see why setup 2 is ok for the larger powered subs
in their line by not ok for the 250. I would say option 2 is your best
bet.
-----------------
Alex __O
_-\<,_
(_)/ (_)
Scott D. Freedman
I have a did receiver (hk avr510) and powerd front mains with built in subs.
paradigm 70p its a tweet /6.5 combo on top driven by the receiver and a
pair of long throw 6.5 powered by an internal amp. the amp can get ist
signal from the regular speaker inputs or from a rca input. it does not
have an xo..
currently I have my dd setup and logic 7 m and c setup no sub full size
mains direct lfe to mains.
so I take the signal from the speaker inputs. the speakers can use BOTH
speaker and rca inputs simultaneously. ie mains as large and lfe to rca
output and lfe output to the sub input. it will sum the inout signals.
or I can se teh mains to small and feed more signal the lfe and just use
the lfe .
whats best.
--
Scott D. Freedman ---------- scott_f...@yahoo.remove.com
alpine audiocontrol orion mbquart and polk in a 92 accord coupe
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"Frank Riley" <fhr...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns90EFEE2B9F70...@24.1.240.74...
Allen
recommends "against" this)
Through the Manual away, and connect the Sub Woofer to the Sub-Out port!
Set "Receiver" center channel to "small" and Sub Woofer to Yes!
Allen...