2 ways for sub hookup - which one beter?

waterbourn

So the small instruction booklet I got with my Polk speakers shows two ways to hook up the sub. I hooked it up by just using the speaker out hookups on the sub and running those wires to the AV (FR and FL). So the AV has two sets of wires running to the FL and FR.

The other way is the run the FL and FR to the speaker in on the sub and then run wires from the speaker out on the sub to the AV.

Is one of these methods better than the other? Or do the perform the same?

The sub also has a phase switch that can go to Norm or Rev.. I am not sure what this means and can't find a good description?

danger boy

Personally, i've never been a fan of either way of wiring the speakers and subwoofer that way.

here is what i have always done for the past 10 yrs now.

I hook up the speakers from the receiver/amp LF, center, RF, etc. then using a long RCA subwoofer cable. I run that from the receiver's subwoofer output to the subwoofer input. so on the back of my subwoofer I am not using any speaker wires.. just that one RCA subwoofer cable. simple, clean and it saves on speaker wires running all up and down, back and forth from your subwoofer.

good luck and enjoy your new set up.

waterbourn

ah.. so your saying use the "Line In" on the sub with a white/Red L/R cable. And this will work also? That would be much easier. I wonder why they don't just recommend that to begin with ??

And any info on the PHASE switch?

McLoki

Depends on your speakers and electronics as to which one will sound better. With speakers that will play down to about 80hz or lower going into an AVR - the subwoofer cable (no speakers wires) usually works the best.

If you are using a stereo reciever (rather than an AVR) the speaker wire method may be the only one that works.

WIth an older AVR that does not have adjustable crossovers in it - either one may be better than the other- you will have to try both and find out.

The biggest difference between them is using the speaker wire method sends a full range signal to your front speakers (and play bass from your speakers AND the sub below the subs crossover setting). Using the LFE out on an AVR is an actual crossover and will send below the crossover to your sub and above the crossover to your speakers - this will "lighten the load" on your AVR as it will not have to reproduce the bass frequencies in your main speaker as well as potentially protect your front speakers from trying to reproduce deep bass frequencies at high levels.

Either way will work - the speaker wire method is recommended since it will work in almost all instances - it just may not sound the best in some....

waterbourn

The receiver I am using is the Onkyo 805 and the speaker system is the Polk RM6880. Do you think the sub wire will work OK with this setup and with good results?

This is a very helpful forum. Thanks for the responses.

McLoki

I would think so, yes. But you will have to set your crossover pretty high. (start around 150hz and try up and down one or two settings from there to decide what sounds best)

Michael

Kex

Another advantage to the Sub Out/Line In hookup method is those Low Frequency Effects are better for Home Theater this way, and you get the full benefit of the 0.1 special effects channel in 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound.

If the 805 has some form of auto-calibration, using a microphone, it will probably suggest a crossover point of some description to start from. You could try adjusting up or down from that point to see what crossover point you prefer.

McLoki

When fronts are set to large and sub to no or off, the .1 (LFE) channel is sent to the front speakers.

spaceace414

The 805 does have a calibration system and it works pretty well. I did mine with some minor modifications and it sounds great.

Kex wrote: »

Another advantage to the Sub Out/Line In hookup method is those Low Frequency Effects are better for Home Theater this way, and you get the full benefit of the 0.1 special effects channel in 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound.

If the 805 has some form of auto-calibration, using a microphone, it will probably suggest a crossover point of some description to start from. You could try adjusting up or down from that point to see what crossover point you prefer.