PSW505 wiring choices

supernukes

Ok GUYS cmon there are a million PSW505's out there would somebody pls help out so I don't have to try every single variation.... Right now I have the sub conected via double sheilded rca cable from sub out on back of dolby pro logic receiver to unfiltered input on sub.....sounds very good but have to drive a full volume for best effect. Also have a PSW150 connected via speakers wires which then run to front RT55's. I know I am a pig but I want more especially for HT. would running speaker wires to the 505 instead of the 150 make a big enough difference in input signal to let the 505 really release its full potential.......

Tbone289

I would recommend trying all the connection schemes to find what sounds best to you:

1. Sub out to unfiltered (you've tried this)
2. Sub out to filtered - left channel (turn low pass filter up all the way if you're using a crossover within the receiver)
3. Sub out to filtered, with "Y" cable (this would increase the volume from the sub, by connecting to L and R channels)
4. L&R channel out from receiver (speaker wire) to speaker-level inputs on sub

I've never had a ProLogic receiver with a "sub out". Does the "sub out" have a low pass filter (crossover) control on the receiver?

supernukes

the receiver does not seem to have a control for sub out but it is clearly low frequency only.....I brought it out of retirment do to a rebiting of the audio bug....it is a heavy duty 150 watts at .08 % x 5.... and to control most features I have to use video out (composite no less) to see so I will look again and see It would be perfect if it had a pre amp out size control.......so I guess my question is as a general rule do people have greater success with pre amp out to sub or speaker level ...as far a output?

Tbone289

That's why I was asking about the "sub out" actually. I've always had better luck hooking up with speaker level, with the exception of a home theater setup with LFE. Since there is no LFE with ProLogic, I would use speaker level ins/outs and use the low-pass filter on the sub. This should work well with RT55's--they have good bass response, so running them full-range like that could be at your advantage.

amgala

What make and model is the receiver?

supernukes

I did hook up 505 with speaker level input and then to RT55's and yes great improvement...I am stillusing sub out to run PSW150. So here is another stupid question can I run second set of speaker out ("B") to 150 . Ok here is my model but be warned it is a weird one....even pioneer does not seem to have much on it.....If I did not still have the user manual I would not believe this was the correct model ...VSX-D705S it seems to be one of the last real audio power amps before video became so important...Its 165 watts per channel 20-20 @8 ohms .05% its dynamic power is 450W @ 2 ohm and 330W @ 4ohm
So I guess my question is will it cut real world power to run one sub (and front speakers) off speaker "A" and the other sub off speaker "B" and not use sub pre out at all.

Tbone289

Actually, since the speaker-level inputs on subs are high impedance (like 20K-60K Ohms, vs 4-8 Ohms for mains), you can just run your PSW150 off the "A" outputs also. Since the impedance is so high, the amp will see a load minutely higher than your mains (RT55's), even though you're running the RT55's, PSW505 and the PSW150 off the same output.

I should also mention that connecting both a subwoofer's speaker-level inputs and main speakers directly to a speaker output of an amp/receiver is exactly the same as connecting the sub speaker-level inputs to the output of the amp/receiver, then connecting the mains to the output of the sub. The amp sees the same load either way, so use whichever connection method is most convenient for you, or allows the shortest speaker cabling.

supernukes

TY Tbone289.....If this was your system with RT55's as your front speakers would you just run them full frequency and not let the sub filter out lows....They seem to me to be perfectly capable of handling bass just fine.?? And I will try the PSW150 hooked to speaker level output.....and If anyone cares the PSW150 sounds much more musical than the PSW505...or should I say when it plays by itself the bass is seemless and essentially perfect...BUT for HT the 505 has more kick and can take the sound effects better (much) than the 150.....having both seems to be perfect...just have to have a significant other that will let you have two big boxes in living room (yes I am a lucky man)...

Tbone289

Yes, I would run the RT55's full frequency and adjust the low pass filter(s) on the the sub(s) to blend with the mains. You said that you are now running speaker-level to the PSW505, then speaker out from the 505 to your mains, correct? If so, you are running the RT55's full frequency. The speaker-level out of the sub is just a pass-through, and the low pass filter will not affect the frequencies passed to your RT55's. This is why it is labelled "low pass filter", rather than "crossover"--it will only affect the upper rolloff frequency of the low frequencies passed to your sub. Since the RT55's have good bass response, you will want to set the LPF in the lower end of the range.

If you had a 5.1 HT system with LFE, rather than your Prologic setup, I might suggest otherwise.