Connection to a PSW505

Kona Kid

OK, so please understand that I am an audio nincompoop. I don't know a pre-amp from a postage stamp. But I need help. I have a PSW505 and a Yamaha RX-V565 receiver, and I need to know how to connect them. The receiver has one terminal which is labeled "Subwoffer Pre Out - For connecting a subwoffer with a built in amplifier". The receiver install manual has no other info in it about the subwoffer.

The PSW 505 has 3 connection conventions. The Speaker In has terminals to add 4 wires -- which doesn't deem to fit my receiver. Then there is a 2 plug deal called Line In (Filtered). That seems to have one plug too many. Finally. there is a one plug connection called LFE In (unfiltered). Is the LFE In the correct connection for my receiver?

And exactly what kind of cable to I need to ask for?

Thanks to anyone who helps me!

phocion

Depends on your other speakers. If you have large front speakers, using the pre-out with sub turned to "on" might reduce your overall dynamic range. If you have small satellite speakers, you might use the sub pre-out to save your small speakers the really low frequencies that they can't handle.

If your main speakers are sufficiently beefy, I would turn "off" the sub in your receiver settings and go audio out (your receiver bottom center) to line in (filtered on the 505) with a pair of RCA cables. If you have small speakers, I would set the sub to "on" in the receiver, and run a single rca cable between the subwoofer pre-out and then get a 1 female to 2 male RCA adapter, and plug that into the filtered line in on the 505.

You could plug in a single RCA between the receiver pre-out and the 505 LFE in, but then you have 2 devices that are setting the frequency limitations, and I found that my 505 sounded better over the filtered line with the y adapter. Your mileage may vary.

Kona Kid

Hey Thanks. I have a pretty beefy Bay Audio center speaker, a pair of Polk RC85i wall speakers and 2 pairs of Polk RC80i ceiling speakers. So I will try your suggestion about turning "off" the sub in my receiver settings and using a pair of RCA cables to the line in (filtered). Would you guess that my speakers are beefy enough for this?

phocion

I don't have a lot of in-wall speaker experience, but try it out, and if the mains sound off when playing low bass, then you can consider moving to the "sub on" management provided by the receiver.

My guess is that their response to low frequencies will be directly related to how well they are mounted, and what sort of backing material exists in the wall, but that is just a guess.

cnh

Welcome to Club Polk!

The PSW 505 is a 'self-powered' sub with a 300 watt internal amp. You should connect to the Yamaha using a single sub cable from the Yamaha Sub-out (pre-out, or LFE out..whatever it is called back there) to the LFE in or 'unfiltered' in on the PSW 505. That's the simplest and best way to deal with the sub and the AVR. The rest of your speakers should be wired to the appropriate wire inputs on the Yamaha, set the speakers for SMALL all around, set the Yamaha's LFE (sub) crossover to 80 hz. and run the YPAO surround auto set-up on the Yammie. You should set your sub volume to about 12 o'clock before you run YPAO--and may need to tweak that up or down depending.

Hope this helps some!

Good Luck.

cnh

comfortablycurt

Use the subwoofer pre-out from your Yamaha to the LFE input on the PSW505.

All you need is a 75 ohm coaxial cable.

Personally, I wouldn't even bother with the speaker level connections and "sub off" method that phocion suggested. Odds are that you'll get much better results using an LFE connection method, and controlling the subs crossover/level settings in the receiver.

One thing to remember, is that you should turn the subs internal crossover as high as it will go. You receiver will be taking care of the crossover point, and turning the subs internal crossover all the way up ensures that it will be completely out of the signal path, and won't create what's known as "double filtering".

phocion

The polk user manual for the 505 details the connection methods that I described on page 4. Note that using the sub-out and lfe-in

is not recommended for use with compact sub/sat systems.

and 2 of the three suggested hookup methods involve turning the sub off on the receiver while feeding the full range signal to the sub.

I still suggest trying all three methods, to see which one works best for you.

PolkClyde

cnh wrote: »

Welcome to Club Polk!

The PSW 505 is a 'self-powered' sub with a 300 watt internal amp. You should connect to the Yamaha using a single sub cable from the Yamaha Sub-out (pre-out, or LFE out..whatever it is called back there) to the LFE in or 'unfiltered' in on the PSW 505. That's the simplest and best way to deal with the sub and the AVR. The rest of your speakers should be wired to the appropriate wire inputs on the Yamaha, set the speakers for SMALL all around, set the Yamaha's LFE (sub) crossover to 80 hz. and run the YPAO surround auto set-up on the Yammie. You should set your sub volume to about 12 o'clock before you run YPAO--and may need to tweak that up or down depending.

Hope this helps some!

Good Luck.

cnh

I don't have a receiver. a pre-amp, Adcom gpf 750.the way I have my 505 set up is main out #2, from pre-Amp, to sub input. Is this the best way to set it up? it sounds good,but I want to get the best sound I can.