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Polk PSW-108 with M-Audio AV-40

theonealextheonealex Posts: 3
edited June 2019 in Subwoofer Hookup & Bass Management
Hello, I am trying to pair my new Polk PSW-108 with a set of M-Audio AV-40 desktop speakers. Everything is powered on and I have an RCA cable connecting the AV-40 "Line" channel to the PSW-108 "Line In" channel. I am playing music by connecting an AUX cable from my computer to the "Aux In" port on the AV-40 speakers. What am I doing wrong?


Polk PSW-108 Back Panel

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M-Audio AV-40 Back Panel
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Comments

  • F1nutF1nut Posts: 45,600
    edited June 2019
    Those are input RCA jacks on your speakers. There is no way to connect a sub to those speakers. Time to punt.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • theonealextheonealex Posts: 3
    F1nut wrote: »
    Those are input RCA jacks on your speakers. There is no way to connect a sub to those speakers. Time to punt.

    Could I do AUX -> Subwoofer RCA "Line In" and then Subwoofer "Speaker Level Output" to speaker RCA?
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  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 9,468
    edited June 2019
    Correction, there is no way to connect that particular Polk PSW-108 subwoofer to those speakers, unless you use a preamp with a dedicated subwoofer pre-out. Since you are using your PC's sound card as a preamp, there is no subwoofer pre-out available in this case.

    In your particular use case, with powered "studio" monitors like those, you'd need a "studio/professional" subwoofer with inputs/outputs like this:

    BXSUB_back_web_1200x750_00.jpg

    You'd run your 3.5mm to RCA L & R RCA cable from your PC to the unbalanced input connector on the subwoofer, and then 1/4" TRS balanced cables from the subwoofer to the TRS inputs on your AV-40s.

    I would return the Polk sub and get one that has the ins/outs that you require.
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  • ClipdatClipdat Posts: 9,468
    theonealex wrote: »
    Could I do AUX -> Subwoofer RCA "Line In" and then Subwoofer "Speaker Level Output" to speaker RCA?

    Nope, because the AV-40s are expecting a line level signal, not a speaker level one.
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  • theonealextheonealex Posts: 3
    Clipdat wrote: »
    I would return the Polk sub and get one that has the ins/outs that you require.

    Done. I'll just wait until my speakers are ready for an upgrade as well. Then I'll make a more intelligent purchase :)

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  • rooftop59rooftop59 Posts: 7,028
    You could split the output from your computer and run into both the speakers and the sub and then blend the subwoofer in using the crossover dial, but that would be cumbersome and not the best sound quality.
    Living Room 2.1: Dynaudio Contour 1.3mkii; Martin Logan Grotto sub; Musical Fidelity A308; Marantz SA 14S1; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room HT: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology SM450; Definitive Technology LCR2000; Definitive Technology StudioMonitor350; Mirage Nanasats; Sub - HSU VTF-2 MK5
    Master Bedroom
    Cambridge Azur 551r; Definitive Technology promonitor 800; ACI Titan Subwoofer
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  • DaveHoDaveHo Posts: 3,004
    edited June 2019
    There is a way. A little convoluted for my taste, but it'd work. 3.5mm to l/r rca from the sound card. Plug an rca splitter into each of those rcas. Then run cables from the splitters to the speakers and sub.

    I think that's what rooftop was suggesting.
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  • DaveHoDaveHo Posts: 3,004
    To add, you'd need to control volume via the sound card. Not the AV 40s front mounted control.
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  • F1nutF1nut Posts: 45,600
    edited June 2019
    I like my answer. Time to punt.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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