PSW10 LFE hookup?

bluetus04

Hi, I'm a newbie to home theatre systems and wonder how this should be connected. I just got the PSW10 (and other channels of course) and a Yamaha receiver. Unlike the other subs I've seen in shops, PSW10 does not have a LFE input, just L & R. How should I connect it? There's 1 RCA sub output from the receiver, but should I connect it to L or R on the sub, or does it matter?

I think there's a LFE input on all the other subs I've seen in the shops. Why's it not available on the PSW10??

Thanks!

jarros

That's odd, I thought the PSW10 had an LFE input. Oh well, the sub will still work for ya.

You should be fine using the sub output on the receiver. Get a Y-Adapter (one female RCA jack to two male RCA plugs). Just make sure you crank up the frequency cutoff all the way (to 200Hz or whatever), otherwise you'll be missing some frequencies in your overall system.

Another way to wire it would be to use the speaker level signals sent from the receiver's front channels. Hook them up to the speaker level inputs on the Sub. Then, connect your front speakers to the speaker level outputs on the sub. This will filter all the low frequencies from the front main speakers and send them to the subwoofer. This hookup method is known as the "Polk Way", and it provides a very nice blend between your front speakers and the subwoofer.

If you've got large front speakers, you'll probably want those low frequencies to go to the fronts as well as the sub. If this is the case, wire the speakers normally, set them to "Large" on the receiver, and make sure your subwoofer output on the receiver is set to "Plus" (normal sub outputs will provide the low frequencies for speakers that are set to small in your system. So, if you had the front speakers set to large and all the other speakers set to small, you would only get the bass frequencies from the surround and center channels. When it's set to Plus, the sub output will send low frequencies from all channels.)

Hope that helps. Let us know how it works out for you!

Jared

bluetus04

Hi Jarros, thanks for the info. Does the Y-adapter give me any benefit? I imagine that would feed the same signal to both R & L and probably give me higher volumn (or boost I would say since it's a sub), but would that make a big different?

Yes, I'm setting the cut-off to max (180 Hz I think) already and it seems to be working fine so far.

I haven't tried running the speaker wires to the sub, then to the speakers since I ran out of wires! Anyways, I'll probably leave it the current setup (receiver directly to front speakers) since I think the receiver should be doing a better job of spliting the frequencies than the sub's internal circuit (my guess).

BTW, I'm in BC as well. I'm in Coquitlam and just picked up the set from Coquitlam Future Shop yesterday. Very excited and will be watching tons of movies & music in the coming weeks!

okiepolkie

Some on the forum mentioned a 3-10db increase using the y-adapter on a subwoofer. I can't remember who said it though.

VR3

You get a 3db increase with a y splitter.

jarros

Originally posted by bluetus04
Hi Jarros, thanks for the info. Does the Y-adapter give me any benefit? I imagine that would feed the same signal to both R & L and probably give me higher volumn (or boost I would say since it's a sub), but would that make a big different?

Yes, I'm setting the cut-off to max (180 Hz I think) already and it seems to be working fine so far.

I haven't tried running the speaker wires to the sub, then to the speakers since I ran out of wires! Anyways, I'll probably leave it the current setup (receiver directly to front speakers) since I think the receiver should be doing a better job of spliting the frequencies than the sub's internal circuit (my guess).

BTW, I'm in BC as well. I'm in Coquitlam and just picked up the set from Coquitlam Future Shop yesterday. Very excited and will be watching tons of movies & music in the coming weeks!

Happy to help. Yep, your setup with a Y-splitter will definately work just fine. I can't remember where I heard it, but someone told me that it was better to have the sub handle the crossover settings. This will make the receiver's job a little easier by not having to re-route the low frequencies from the front chanels to the sub. It really shouldn't be a problem, though. That's basically how my system is set up and it's running perfectly!

Which other speakers did you get for your system? What receiver and dvd player are you using?

Jared

bluetus04

Judging from the response, I'll definitely go get a Y adapter when I have a chance.

I got the RTi8 as the front channels and a CSi5 for the center. Picked a pair of small ones for the surround, but I already forgot what's the model of them. Receiver is Yamaha HTR5760. I think the CSi5 is quite big for my setup. I originally wanted to get the CSi3 for the center, but they said they didn't have stock and would upgrade it to CSi5 same price, so I thought why not.

I'm using one of those cheap never-heard-of-brand DVD from London Drugs, but the system's already sounding quite amazing, so I'm thinking if I should get a decent good-brand DVD or maybe just a good CD player for music. What do you think? Would that make a big difference?

Thanks.