subwoofer no good with dj mixer?
booker
Posts: 13
Hi.
It goes like this: I recently bought a new receiver, a polk sub, and some speakers to go with a turntable/mixer set up. running the dj mixer into the receiver i get sound, but no bass, even with the subwoofer. The subwoofer works, however, when i plug an ipod into the receiver. It's only with the dj mixer (regardless of which channel i plug it into) that fails to register with the subwoofer.
Can anybody tell me why? Or what I need to do to get bass, because even with this fancy stereo receiver i get no bass, and that's disheartening.
Bassless,
booker
It goes like this: I recently bought a new receiver, a polk sub, and some speakers to go with a turntable/mixer set up. running the dj mixer into the receiver i get sound, but no bass, even with the subwoofer. The subwoofer works, however, when i plug an ipod into the receiver. It's only with the dj mixer (regardless of which channel i plug it into) that fails to register with the subwoofer.
Can anybody tell me why? Or what I need to do to get bass, because even with this fancy stereo receiver i get no bass, and that's disheartening.
Bassless,
booker
Post edited by booker on
Comments
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what mixer? i presume you've checked the eqs (and kills if it has them). have you tried various channels on the mixer? have you run the mixer through something else (sounds like it's an issue with the mixer rather than the receiver)
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You mention turntables. Are you using the phono inputs? If you're using line inputs with a turntable, you're not getting the proper equalization (records need bass boosted and treble cut back).-Eric
-Polk Audio -
it's a denon x300. i've run rca cables from the *booth out* into the back of the receiver--the *cd in* and others. but nothing.
i haven't run the mixer through anything else. what would you suggest?
thank you. -
it doesn't have a phono. it has an aux, cd, video, etc, but no phono.....i picked the cd channel just for the hell of it, really.
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i see. thanks for your help!
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hi again. so i got the phono preamp you recommended. now i have a new question. on the preamp there is space for one r/l output and one r/l input. i know that the sound system (in this case the receiver) goes to the output. my question is about the input. how do i plug my dj mixer into the r/l input? do i need to designate a channel on the back and get a pair of rca cables to go from the mixer to the preamp?
that's the only idea i have.....
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hi again, again.
I got my hands on a receiver with a phono switch, and yes the sound quality is *much* better. but still no bass from the subwoofer.
any suggestions?
thanks again, again. -
is the subwoofer hooked up to a LFE - subwoofer output on the receiver? also in the menu of most all receivers.. you have to go and turn on the subwoofer output. which receiver are you using?PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin: -
i have the subwoofer plugged into the subwoofer ouput on the rear of the receiver, which is a denon mth dra-397. i went through the basic set up functions but didn't find anything that told me i had to turn the subwoofer on. i'll go back and check, though. thank you.
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no such luck. i have speaker sections A and B. the regular speaks are A and the sub is B. there's simply nothing coming out.....i have the subwoofer plugged into the subwoofer ouput on the rear of the receiver, which is a denon mth dra-397. i went through the basic set up functions but didn't find anything that told me i had to turn the subwoofer on. i'll go back and check, though. thank you. -
If your sub is hooked up this way, make sure one set of the speaker wires are not reversed. If so, they'll cancel each other out and give you no bass. Try unhooking ONE set of speaker leads and see if it makes any difference.
Second, make sure the sub's volume is not turned all the way down or the unit is not on standby mode.
Third, if your receiver has A & B switches, 1) make sure the receiver is set to "A & B". If the main speakers shut off when in A & B, you'll have to wire the sub differently.-Eric
-Polk Audio -
If your sub is hooked up this way, make sure one set of the speaker wires are not reversed. If so, they'll cancel each other out and give you no bass. Try unhooking ONE set of speaker leads and see if it makes any difference.
Second, make sure the sub's volume is not turned all the way down or the unit is not on standby mode.
Third, if your receiver has A & B switches, 1) make sure the receiver is set to "A & B". If the main speakers shut off when in A & B, you'll have to wire the sub differently.
thanks for the advice. so the sub is indeed occupying *B*. I confirmed by switching off A, at which point faint music was coming out of the sub. But very, very faint, and with no bass whatsoever. Turning up the volume on the receiver helped a little (the volume on the sub is up all the way, all ready) but not much--just distant, flat music.
sigh... -
could it have to do with the fact that i'm trying to bass-up turntables? is the signal too low, perhaps, so I need some kind of preamp directed to the subwoofer?
i'm pulling my hair out at this point. -
I thought most mixers cut low end on the booth side of the outputs. I have a Gemini mixer that definately does this. Why aren't you using the regular outputs from the mixer?
How do you have the turntables hooked to the mixer. Active line or phone pre?
And what kind of stuff do you have. Turntables? Mixer? Subwoofer? Is the sub powered or not? We kind of need all the info.
It sounds like you need to look at the wiring of the mixer to me. -
I thought most mixers cut low end on the booth side of the outputs. I have a Gemini mixer that definately does this. Why aren't you using the regular outputs from the mixer?
How do you have the turntables hooked to the mixer. Active line or phone pre?
And what kind of stuff do you have. Turntables? Mixer? Subwoofer? Is the sub powered or not? We kind of need all the info.
It sounds like you need to look at the wiring of the mixer to me.
i have the cords running from the booth out on the mixer to the phono on the receiver; and the turntables are each into phono1/line1 and phono2/line2 on the back of the mixer.
the receiver is a denon dra-397
the mixer is denon is X-300
the sub is polk--ps110. and it is powered.
i hope that information helps. i appreciate your help. -
oh, and the tables are vestax pdx-2000 mkII.
thank you. -
Here is the manual for your reciever. Didn't know if you had it or not.
DRA-397 Owners Manual
Looking at page 4. It shows a sub output on the back just below the audio preouts. Is that the one you are using?
If so you may need to adjust the volume level for the subwoofer channel. See page twelve for instructions on how to do this. It is the same asIt has a sweep of -12db to +12db. If it is set to -12db you will have no sound. I would set it somewhere in the middle say 0db which is actually 50% volume.
You said the sub has no sound. How about the rest of the speakers? Do the regular speakers sound the same when you use the mixer as they do with an Ipod?
OK now the mixer. On the back panel do you have the Phono input switches set to PH or LN. These should be set to PH for the turntables. I would also suggest using the main outs and not the booth outs. The mains usually sound better. Not sure why but they usually do.
Nice DJ tables by the way. Good strong motors in those Vestax. -
thanks for you message. i am using the receiver with the subout just below the audio. i tried fiddling with the volume on the sub and the sub volume on the receiver (and have it up all the way) but the sound is still minimal. the rest of the speakers (bose) are fine. slammin in fact. just no subwoofing..... i haven't been able to try the receiver on any other channel because the ipod function doesn't seem to be working properly, which makes me wonder *bad receiver*....
i set the mixer to phono rather than line and it created all kinds of distortion (so i switched it back over)--but kicked the power up loads. is that...normal?
thanks so much for walking me through this!
