Weird set-up question

squall1

Ok, I have the RM6600 system wired as Polk's option 1. I just got the RT800i's for Christmas and want to know how to best integrate them into my system.

Should I wire them through the sub (speaker inputs) like Polk suggests, or should I bypass the sub and use the sub out on my reciever?

Oh, I have the pw250 for the sub, so I only have line level inputs, no LFE. Before I was wiring my mains through the sub I was using the sub out on my reciever to the line levels on the 250 with a y adaptor.

BTW, I'm going to get the 400i and upgrade the sub shortly, but I don't know how I should be wiring the the sub and the 800i's in the mean time...

Thanks!
Thad

juice21

either way is acceptable. since you've already run the speaker cable through the sub before, i would try it with the 800's AND try the LFE out, see which YOU like best. i have the 800's and i have my sub hooked up through the LFE out, and the 800's set to large, not that that's the way to do it, just for your reference...

juice21

welcome to the forum!

800's for christmas, that was a nice gift!:D

squall1

Thanks! I was certainly suprised!

I'll try both, but do you think it matters that I don't have a true LFE input on my sub and I'd be taking an LFE signal and sending it to the line level inputs?

I guess I'm not sure what the differences are between the LFE and line levels and how the sound may or may not be affected.

Also, am I bypassing my reciever's amplification by running the 800's through the sub speaker inputs or do they simply pass the current from the reciever through?

Thanks for the help!

juice21

Originally posted by squall1


I'll try both, but do you think it matters that I don't have a true LFE input on my sub and I'd be taking an LFE signal and sending it to the line level inputs?

i am not that familiar with the psw250, but if you run the LFE out from your reciever, you should be able to run it straight to either the left OR right line level input to avoid a double filtered signal (check your manual for which line level input to run the LFE cable into), but i think you would want to run it straight rather than a Y, if possible using the LFE out.

Also, am I bypassing my reciever's amplification by running the 800's through the sub speaker inputs or do they simply pass the current from the reciever through?

no, the current passes through. the sub takes the low frequencies, and lets the higher frequencies pass through to your 800's. rememer, you want to set your 800's to large, and subwoofer to no/off using this method.

Crank It Up

Originally posted by juice21


no, the current passes through. the sub takes the low frequencies, and lets the higher frequencies pass through to your 800's.

This is a point I have often pondered. Is it not true that ALL frequencies go to both the sub and then on to the 800's using this method?
I have been told by Polk that, electrically speaking, there is no difference between running from the amp to the sub speaker level in, then speaker level out to the mains vs. running a parallel set of wires from the amp to the sub and amp to mains. My understanding of this is that having both the speaker level in AND out on the sub are there for convenience, although this might give the impression that the sub speaker out terminal is a high pass filter output.

juice21

i did not say not ALL frequencies go to both the sub and mains, the sub crossover allows you adust what the sub receives and what it passes on to the mains. the original question was if wiring like that eliminates the reciever's amplification or if it passes through. it passes through. as for the sub/LFE out on many recievers, it is a pre-filtered signal set at 80 hrz cut-off.