banana plugs recommended?

Zock
Zock Posts: 5
edited December 2011 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Just got a new receiver (Denon AVR 891) and until I can afford new speakers will hook up my Polk RM6000 and PSW202 subwoofer. Should I use banana plugs? Will I have any problems using the wiring scheme recommended by Polk, i.e., connecting RF and LF to the speaker level inputs of the subwoofer, etc.. Thanks. I feel a little out of my depth with this new receiver.
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited December 2011
    Banana plugs will work fine ...... but sometimes they dont
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2011
    Banana plugs are uber convenient and they work just fine. I've yet to read of a failure but I'm sure someone in the world has experienced something awful and utterly life changing when it comes to a simple metal plug.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • rebuy
    rebuy Posts: 695
    edited December 2011
    Lololol
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  • Glowrdr
    Glowrdr Posts: 1,103
    edited December 2011
    banana.jpg
    65" Sony X900 (XBR-65X900E)
    Pioneer Elite SC-37
    Polk Monitor 70's (2)
    Polk Monitor 40's (4)
    Polk Monitor CS2
    Polk DSW Pro 660wi
    Oppo BDP-93
    Squeezebox Duet
    Belkin PureAV PF60
    Dish Network "The Hoppa"
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  • Zock
    Zock Posts: 5
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for the welcome and advice.
    My manual for the speakers says (in caps): DO NOT USE THE "SUBWOOFER OUTPUT" OR LFE JACK ON YOUR RECEIVER TO CONNECT THE SUBWOOFER.
    The explanation given for this instruction is that the subwoofer has a low pass filter built in and that the subwoofer "outputs on most receivers also contain a fixed low pass filter."
    The subwoofer jack on the receiver is labeled PREOUT. Not sure what that means but I'm guessing from your advice that it means that the subwoofer jack does not have a low pass filter.
    Thanks again!
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  • Zock
    Zock Posts: 5
    edited December 2011
    My manual for the speakers says (in caps): DO NOT USE THE "SUBWOOFER OUTPUT" OR LFE JACK ON YOUR RECEIVER TO CONNECT THE SUBWOOFER.
    The explanation given for this instruction is that the subwoofer has a low pass filter built in and that the subwoofer "outputs on most receivers also contain a fixed low pass filter."
    The subwoofer jack on the receiver is labeled PREOUT. Not sure what that means but I'm guessing from your advice that it means that the subwoofer jack does not have a low pass filter.
    Thanks again!


    Keiko wrote: »
    Especially when one shears off his binding posts. :redface:



    Zock, welcome to CP. Banana plugs are a convenient method for quick connect/disconnect. Although you don't necessarily need them, they are nice. Your Denon AVR has subwoofer preouts, so you can use a single cable connection from the receiver to the sub instead of using the speaker line levels. This is a much easier and cleaner install for your sub and the method I would recommend.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2011
    Dude....it's trying to keep you from double filtering. I'm not sure when a subwoofer manual became the tome of connections when it comes to another component in the system.

    If you don't have any subwoofer or LFE options on your AVR, then stick to speaker level connections for the best signal and performance. If you DO have that capability, you use the AVR as your subwoofer adjustment and crank the settings for xover on the subwoofer all the way up.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Zock
    Zock Posts: 5
    edited December 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Dude....it's trying to keep you from double filtering. I'm not sure when a subwoofer manual became the tome of connections when it comes to another component in the system.

    If you don't have any subwoofer or LFE options on your AVR, then stick to speaker level connections for the best signal and performance. If you DO have that capability, you use the AVR as your subwoofer adjustment and crank the settings for xover on the subwoofer all the way up.

    Thanks, I think I understand what you're advising.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited December 2011
    I'm a dual banana guy myself.
    Keiko wrote: »
    Banana plugs are a convenient method for quick connect/disconnect. Although you don't necessarily need them...
    They are borderline essential for a couple amps I own. Very tight spacing makes terminating bare, heavy gauge wire problematic.

    Zock,
    Put that late model Denon in control and max out the sub's x-over frequency setting per doro's instructions.

    Calibration-wise for the Denon, I'd suggest you set speakers to "small" with cross-over at 85 Hz for starters and experiment (up and down) from there.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
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