Confused on Subwoofer hookup

RobCron

I am in the process of putting together a system and have purchased the components, but now face the daunting task of plugging it all together. As usual with me, I get hung up on details.

My confusion stems from reading the manual for my POLK Audio Speaker set (RM10), and specifically the subwoofer hookup. I read the articles on the Polk website that speak about " the case against the subwoofer output jacks" which makes a passionate case against using the subwoofer output jack. link to article on bassmanagement

I purchased a Pioneer VSX-1014TX receiver, a Samsung HLP-5067W HDTV, and the above stated RM10 Speakers.

Recvr manual states that "Crossover Network" defaults to 80Hz (THX), and "LFE Attenuator" setup to "no limiting".
Does this mean that I could use the sub out jack and not have to worry about the sub out being "low pass filtered". Polk Article suggests that I use the front speaker terminals instead and set the speaker setup to Large, to avoid both devices "low pass filtering". Will I have this prob with this recvr and RM10s. (with an exception if using a THX receiver - like mine).

I'm concerned with leaving a "hole" in my freq range in either case... HELP!

Also confusing, the recever has a single RCA type sub out jack, while the sub woofer has a left and a right set of line in jacks. Should I use a Y cable to connect this or just use the left or right jack.

Sorry to be so verbose, but I'm new to all this (last time I bought a TV or receiver was 15 years ago.) Now I'm pressed to hook this all up as the cable guy is coming early next week.

Thanks for any help you can give....

Rob

Dennis Gardner

This has been debated here for many years without any real solution. There are those in both camps.

I would go with the route that gives me the most flexibility and convenience. This happened to be with the sub-out in my instance since I can set the crossover on the fly with my remote. You may not find this works for you though.

Try both, calibrate carefully, and enjoy.

DG

aaharvel

Dennis is right. Use the Sub-Out Jack with an appropriate RCA/Co-aix cable and put all your speakers to "small" and sub to "yes".

Set your sub to 80hz. Your receiver's will be around 80hz as well. You might get a dip in 80hz frequency range but it will not be enough to notice. Velodyne even recommends in some setups to "stack" the sub crossover with the Receiver/Pre/Pro crossover to better gain control of certain bass frequencies. This hookup will prob. be just fine. rYou could use either one rca cable hooked from the receiver to the sub's left input jack- OR you could use a Y adapter like I do.

EDIT- Welcome to the forums btw.

olsonadr

I just go a set of rm6800 speakers yesterday, My old sony set of speakers had a sub woofer single input port. so just one single cable from sub out of receiver to sub on the floor. THis sub with polk has no such port. It does have a left/right pair of ports but i think my receiver only has a single sub out port. So how do i hook this thing up?

Dennis Gardner

Hook into the left input on the sub.

RobCron

Thanks for the replies....

I know I worry to much about this stuff sometimes, and all this confusion is worse because I haven't even hooked the thing up yet.... just reading all the documentation. (well not exactly true, I'm also crawling through my attic, drilling holes in my walls and running speaker cable, building cabinets to house all this stuff...)

What I'm taking from all this is that I invested enought to buy a good high end receiver that will let me adjust LFE and Crossover (Low Pass Filtering) suffieciently to utilitize the intended hookups properly.

I bought a good coaxial (RCA) cable and a Y adapter for it to hook up the monorual subwoofer output to both line end jacks. Probably not necessary, but can't hurt. I will then play with the hookups and speaker setups till it sounds good to me.

I'm getting tired of the theoretical and want to put the thing in practice. My TV is supposed to arrive today, and new digital cable tomorrow, so hopefully by Wed night, I'll be kicked back (probably passed out from being so tired) on my couch watching a movie....

Wish me luck and again thanks for the posts... it really does help.:)

HBombToo

Originally posted by RobCron

I bought a good coaxial (RCA) cable and a Y adapter for it to hook up the monorual subwoofer output to both line end jacks. Probably not necessary, but can't hurt. I will then play with the hookups and speaker setups till it sounds good to me.

I'm getting tired of the theoretical and want to put the thing in practice.


Wish me luck and again thanks for the posts... it really does help.:)

You got it Rob.

Welcome

HBomb

louthewiz

Both of my subs have L/R line level and speaker level inputs , I always used to just hook up 1 (like Dennis quoted) and I thought it was all fine and dandy . And then one day one of the Y adapters went bad (only one sub was working) and I said well since I was going to pick up a new one the next day I hooked up both cables to the first sub and what I got was a 3-5 DB boost in the sub ,so then I did the same with the second sub and the same thing happened again so I was missing so much more bass and performance by only using 1 input so my advice is if you are only using 1 input on your sub use both and see what happens.:D

Dennis Gardner

It is 3 db louder at any given volume except max volume. Your sub driver and amp can't play louder simply because it gets more signal. One or the other will distort, it will just happen at a lower volume setting.

You get the same volume boost by turning the sub knob higher, or boosting the sub setting in the receiver, same difference.

Dennis Gardner

repeat.

louthewiz

Maybe I need to clarify I noticed a significant difference on the subs output with out touching the gain/volume and even if I did raise the gain it still would not give the same output with both sides being fed, And I am no newbie when it comes to home theater gear I have been in the game since 1995 when the first pro logic receiver and LD was made by pioneer and this experience happened many years ago.:cool: :cool: :cool:

Dennis Gardner

I agree with you on your findings, you are correct that +3db is available by increasing the input voltage. (within the range of the amp)

My comments were simply to insure that someone didn't think they could supercharge their powered sub into creating more top end performance. It isn't that simple.

I use the Y cable method on both inputs to insure that "A" signal will get to the sub. Nothing like losing your whole sub output due to a cable working loose. This way I only lose 3db!:D And this has happened to me.

Cheers,

DG

louthewiz

Yeah I understand what you mean by feeding it voltage to both the left and right inputs, and isn't it funny how we discover things by surprises.:)

schwartznick@ho

I have a situation that needs some expert advice. I am trying to hookup a Audio Source subwoofer to a HTR5790. The problem is that the receiver doesn't reconize that a subwoofer is connected, even checked that the subwoofer is "on" on the manual setup. The rest of my speakers are Polk and they work great. Any other line outs can I use? I have a total of 6 speakers. Thank you.

jingoboy_78

RobCron wrote: »

I am in the process of putting together a system and have purchased the components, but now face the daunting task of plugging it all together. As usual with me, I get hung up on details.

My confusion stems from reading the manual for my POLK Audio Speaker set (RM10), and specifically the subwoofer hookup. I read the articles on the Polk website that speak about " the case against the subwoofer output jacks" which makes a passionate case against using the subwoofer output jack. link to article on bassmanagement

I purchased a Pioneer VSX-1014TX receiver, a Samsung HLP-5067W HDTV, and the above stated RM10 Speakers.

Recvr manual states that "Crossover Network" defaults to 80Hz (THX), and "LFE Attenuator" setup to "no limiting".
Does this mean that I could use the sub out jack and not have to worry about the sub out being "low pass filtered". Polk Article suggests that I use the front speaker terminals instead and set the speaker setup to Large, to avoid both devices "low pass filtering". Will I have this prob with this recvr and RM10s. (with an exception if using a THX receiver - like mine).

I'm concerned with leaving a "hole" in my freq range in either case... HELP!

Also confusing, the recever has a single RCA type sub out jack, while the sub woofer has a left and a right set of line in jacks. Should I use a Y cable to connect this or just use the left or right jack.

Sorry to be so verbose, but I'm new to all this (last time I bought a TV or receiver was 15 years ago.) Now I'm pressed to hook this all up as the cable guy is coming early next week.

Thanks for any help you can give....

Rob

Hi Rob,

I had the same issues with my RM 6880 HT system.Dennis is right just connect both the ways and see what works the best for you.I first connected the sub by using the speaker level inputs ..But I again rewired the setup with the RCA and I am using a Y splitter..IT sounds great and I am not feeling much difference between the two setups.I am now doing the RCAs as I dont nedd to run wires all over..So try it out for yourself and see which one works for you..

Good luck