Hooking Up Two Subs

team_canada

I know this has probably been asked a hundred times before but.....

I just purchased two 8" JBL PB8 powered subs, 100 watts max each, phase control, crossover control, volume control, etc.. Wanted to try this setup without breaking the bank and got an amazing deal at Future Shop on boxing week that could not be beat. Purchased both for $29.99 each, total $68.98 taxes in and a eight, yes, eight year extended warranty for an extra $20 for both subs. These subs are regular $250 each. Not high end by any means but a great opportunity to try out this configuration.

Anyways, what is my best option:

A - Do I us a y-adapter at the sub out from the receiver and connect the subs that way or,

B - Should I connect one sub to the receiver and connect the second sub to the first sub? Both subs have a L & R line in.

If option B is the best way, how do I go about making the proper connection?

There us also a LFE connection. What is this for?

Thanks for any help....

michael_w

Just run a y-splitter from the sub out or lfe output on your receiver.

Check out the manual on the jbl's as to which input to use... one is probably unfiltered and one utilizes the crossover on the sub amp.

gwsolace

wow, amazing deals. You can beef up your center channel, run speaker wire for the center channel from the receiver to the sub, and then from sub to speaker. Most subs have both rca inputs and speaker wire inputs.

That should make a dramatic difference to the center channel. The other can either beef up the surround channels, although with 7.1, thats 4 speakers to implement, might be hard. Otherwise, run the Y adapter from the receiver.

team_canada

michael_w wrote:

Just run a y-splitter from the sub out or lfe output on your receiver.

Check out the manual on the jbl's as to which input to use... one is probably unfiltered and one utilizes the crossover on the sub amp.

Yeah, I looked in the manual. There is no mention of the LFE, it is just shown in the picture and I checked it out on the back of the sub. They only show connecting the sub to the amp via the L&R line in which I beleive is the connection that uses the crossover on the sub. Is it better to use the receivers's crossover or the subs crossover?

dale 442

How does one hook up a sub to the center channel out of the receiver?
The center out of the receiver obviously has only one channel where the sub input seems to want a left and a right channel?

Do you use the right channel input of the sub and the right output of the sub and run up to the center channel speaker?

TIA,

Ferres

If your reciever has pre-outs(usually used for adding power amps) you can run the Subs throuh the fronts and rear pre-outs, set all speakers to large and set the reciever to 'no' subwoofer.

Place one sub at the back but not facing the other sub.

aaharvel

use a Yadapter for 1sub, Sub-Out Jack, all speakers set to small. The LFE jack is to by-pass the sub's crossover. I don't use the LFE jacks. When the sub's crossover is bypassed, it plays full range and sounds like my worst nightmare. I take Velodynes recommendation which isn't popular but it works. Use both crossovers and cascade them. It works- and your Sub isn't putting out anything 120 hz or over. It stays in the 80hz range and below where it belongs.

gwsolace

using speaker wire, connect the speaker wire from the receiver to the sub, this will us the sub's built in crossover, then from the sub, run speaker wire to the center speaker. most subs have speaker wire input and outputs, my actually has right and left channels, an polk psw 250, just use one of the channels. this will have a sub dedicated just to the center channel, where most of the audio of 5.1 resides

team_canada

aaharvel wrote:

use a Yadapter for 1sub, Sub-Out Jack, all speakers set to small. The LFE jack is to by-pass the sub's crossover. I don't use the LFE jacks. When the sub's crossover is bypassed, it plays full range and sounds like my worst nightmare. I take Velodynes recommendation which isn't popular but it works. Use both crossovers and cascade them. It works- and your Sub isn't putting out anything 120 hz or over. It stays in the 80hz range and below where it belongs.

O.k., so y-adapter from the sub out on the receiver. Run two sub cables off this adapter to each sub, use a y-adapter at each sub to connect via the subs left and right line in. Is this correct?

aaharvel

no... i was thinking just use the y-adapter for one sub only (Sub-out into the Left & Right inputs of the sub). I don't see the point in using 2subs but just experiment you might like it.

team_canada

aaharvel wrote:

no... i was thinking just use the y-adapter for one sub only (Sub-out into the Left & Right inputs of the sub). I don't see the point in using 2subs but just experiment you might like it.

Yeah, that's the plan. I wanted to try this type of set-up. Do you know anything about downfiring subs. The JBL's I purchased are built this way. They will be placed on carpet. Is it a good idea to place say a piece of ceramic tile or plastic under the sub, like having it on a hardwood floor? Will this provide better sound?

aaharvel

sorry- i can't help you with that one. Someone else chime in..

team_canada

aaharvel wrote:

sorry- i can't help you with that one. Someone else chime in..

I started a new thread asking the question as this thread may not get a response as it has nothing to do with what I am asking.

Thanks for your input though! I was hoping that by using two subs I would get a fuller low end for HT. My 10" Polk does the trick but for the price I paid for the two 8" JBL's I could not go wrong.