Hooking up Sub to pre-outs

dipiazza

How would you all reccomend i do this?

I am running a Teac A-1D integrated, and it has a set of pre outs. Would it be best to run a sub with a pair of RCAs, 1 Left and 1 Right all the way to the L&R imputs on the sub, or should i use a Y cable to take the L&R channels into 1, and then run a single cable off that to the sub?

-Jake

Skynut

I would not combine my left and right channels into a y-splitter. This just sounds like a bad idea.
I would either run the left and right rca cables all the way to the sub or use the lfe output and a splitter to the sub.

dipiazza

The teac has no LFE output or Xover, but i see you would go with seperat cables...

unc2701

don't combine L&R with a y cable. You need an isolation transformer to do that properly.

RuSsMaN

That's funny, is everyone smoking the wacky weed today?

Combine away, if you aren't running stereo subs, don't worry about stereo bass. Signal Cable and Audioquest both make a decent RCA Y cable, for not a lot scratch. Get a single decent interconn to make the rest of the trip.

Just throwing that one out, it IS ok to do. Me, I'd just buy a single (long) pair of decent interconns and call it day.

Skynut

RuSsMaN wrote:

That's funny, is everyone smoking the wacky weed today?

Combine away, if you aren't running stereo subs, don't worry about stereo bass. Signal Cable and Audioquest both make a decent RCA Y cable, for not a lot scratch. Get a single decent interconn to make the rest of the trip.

Just throwing that one out, it IS ok to do. Me, I'd just buy a single (long) pair of decent interconns and call it day.

Is it truely ok to combine a stereo signal into a mono signal?
I just thought the processor would not like to see the positive left and positive right make contact.

unc2701

Skynut wrote:

Is it truely ok to combine a stereo signal into a mono signal?
I just thought the processor would not like to see the positive left and positive right make contact.

ITS RISKY! Ok, this is coming from some live sound applications, but it probably applies to some preamp (pre out) designs- you can damage gear combining left/right preouts. Seriously- just get a pair of 600 ohm 1:1 isolation transformers from radio shack, wire oneside of each to the left and right preouts, then combine wires from the other side.

dorokusai

RuSsMaN wrote:

That's funny, is everyone smoking the wacky weed today?

Combine away, if you aren't running stereo subs, don't worry about stereo bass. Signal Cable and Audioquest both make a decent RCA Y cable, for not a lot scratch. Get a single decent interconn to make the rest of the trip.

Just throwing that one out, it IS ok to do. Me, I'd just buy a single (long) pair of decent interconns and call it day.

You know a Y-Cable is a gateway interconnect right?

madmax

I would never use a Y connector to combine the signal at the pre output. It may be forgiving for awhile but it is a good way to fry one of the outputs. If you run dual cables to the sub it would be ok because each of the sub inputs is somewhat isolated from each other.
madmax

dipiazza

wow, lots of disagreement here.

the only reason i wanted to go with one cable is simply for price sake, and being able to run a single one out to my sub. It seems that either way could work though.

unc2701

Let's put it this way: some of us think that you could bake your gear using a Y cable on the preouts. An extra cable doesn't cost much... so why risk it?

ironmike86

The rca cable? You can run a rca cable put a y at the sub attach another cable from there? Or a y on a preout. Never heard of frying your gear with a y from sub out?

Skynut

ironmike86 wrote:

The rca cable? You can run a rca cable put a y at the sub attach another cable from there? Or a y on a preout. Never heard of frying your gear with a y from sub out?

It is not a problem with a y from the sub out it is a problem with hooking up the left and right pre/outs to a y that combines them into one signal.

RuSsMaN

So who has blown something up, seriously? I've never had an issue, and do the same thing frequently with mono amps (old tube gear).

unc2701

When I was in a band our keyboard player fried a midi module doing that. We didn't feel like rugging the amp with multi inputs, so he just used a Y- to combine the L&R. About two minutes later, *PFOOOF*. I suspect that anything with output transformers will be safe, but a lot of SS gear will be susceptible.

dorokusai

Russman - I guess they've never heard of or seen a shorting bar.

dipiazza

Well thankfully this was all resolved.... heh.

I dont really see how it could "fry" the pre-outs but, going 2 RCA isnt that big of a deal.

wire

dipiazza wrote:

How would you all reccomend i do this?

I am running a Teac A-1D integrated, and it has a set of pre outs. Would it be best to run a sub with a pair of RCAs, 1 Left and 1 Right all the way to the L&R imputs on the sub, or should i use a Y cable to take the L&R channels into 1, and then run a single cable off that to the sub?

-Jake

Frik
Just use a good Y cable out of your left or right channel pre out . The Y will go to 1 to amp and 1 to Sub .
Try and use a good Y jack (1 male and 2 female ) , so you dont lose to much signal and good inter connects .
Ive been doing this with my Carver CT-17 since i got it new and nothing has fried .