Speaker wiring question

susan123 · January 2007

Carl333 - I am having the same problems you are when it comes to connecting my sub to my receiver I also have the RM6750 and my
receiver is VSX-816 - (I assume similar hook ups as yours)
Can you please explain to me how yours is presently hooked up
(by the Future shop guy) - and if you are pleased with the sound
also what type of cable did you use between the sub and the receiver
(Future shop sold me the Monster SubWoofer connection which obviously
doesn't fit)....your help would be great - I'm a real Novice with this stuff.

Sansui · January 2007

Carl333 wrote:

Hi Sansui, What does LFE to the sub mean? For Bass Management and for true surround, do I hook up a Y from the receiver to the L and R on the sub? I have all my speakers directly connected to the receiver right now. I'm thinking about tearing the whole thing apart and goint to BM once again.

tks

LFE means Low Frequencey Effect. Technically you have a hook up for that on your sub but when using bass management you don't need to concern yourself with it.

Turn off your amp first (better safe than sorry).

First of all remember, for all pair of speakers, "+" and "-" on your amp or your sub always connects to the "+" and "-" on your sub or going to other speakers directly.

Refer to page 6 (upper wiring diagram) of your RM6750 manual. Take the outputs from your amp (front left and right speakers only) and run them to your sub. Connect those wires to the lower four speaker connection terminals (labled "Speaker Level Input") on your sub.

Take the wires that are hooked directly to your front speakers and connect them to the top row of speaker terminals on your sub (labled "Speaker Level Output").

Set the "Low Pass (Hz)" on your sub to 150.

Take the wires for the back right and left speakers along with your center speaker wire and hook those directly to your amp. Again, "+" to "+" and "-" to "-".

Your sub and other speakers are wired and set to go. However you have to go into your amp and set it.

Turn on your amp.

Notice to the right of the top diagram on page 6 labled "Recommended Hookup"? That's what you want to set your amp to. I got to there on my amp by hitting "Setup" on my remote control and selecting "1. Sp Config"". Set the front and subwoofer like your manual suggests. Front right and left = Large and Subwoofer = No (or None). Also, while in that part of your amp's menu make sure that "Sourround" and "Center "are set to "Small". I also ended up setting "Crossover" in that same menu to "40".

Once you've done that, you should be set to go. Enjoy!

Carl333 · January 2007

Hi Susan, Would like to help you but it would be like the blind leading the blind. I'm so new to audio/visual and home theatre. I would suggest that you hook up your RM6750's as Sansui has suggested above and give it a listen. Concerning the sub connection to the receiver, I'm using a standard RCA cable to one of the line in's on the sub. I've been reading that connecting a Y to the sub out on the receiver at the other end of the RCA cable and attaching it to both line inputs on the sub will provide better results.

Sansui, or anyone else, would you suggest the above as well ?

tks

Carl333 · January 2007

Susan, You may want to read an article sent to me by Willow concerning Base Management. I can't catch much of its drift but it further amplifies reasoning for choosing Base Management vs. direct connection of your speakers to your 816 receiver.
http://www.polkaudio.com/education/article.php?id=19

Willow · January 2007

For one the guy at FS sold you a cable that will work susan if used in the right manner. That is plugging your sepakers directly to your receiver and not to your sub then to your receiver. As far as the Y cable, well I tried it and didn't do much for me. Carl if you really want to try it, PM me your add @ home I think I have one lying around I'll send you..free.. But I do suggest the mehtod of going to your sub then to your receiver.

"Small Satellite/Subwoofer Systems, Like The Polk RM Series
Connect the subwoofer to the Front Left & Right speaker level or preamp level outputs, set the Fronts to "Large" and Sub to "Off." Resist all temptation to use the subwoofer output jack--please. " as per Polk Audio.

Willow · January 2007

As well do yourself a favor and order this:

http://www.polkaudio.com/education/hthandbook.php

I did and it was one of the best things I did. Lots of info !

Carl333 · January 2007

Willow, I rewired speakers as suggested by Polk using BM. OH YES! I hear the difference. My fronts were set to small so I'll change that and tks for the tip on the manual. On order.

Rgds

Kipper10 · January 2007

Such a delight to see other neophytes struggle with their A/V set-up. I too had problems this past few weeks, particularly with the sub. So I wrote to Polk tech support and their response is a little different to what has been posted on this thread:
"Newly purchased RTi8/CSi5/PSW10 (free with the RTi8)/Pioneer AV Rec
VSX-1016TXV-K"
Q1. "You don't recommend the sub-out jack from the receiver. As this is
a single jack, while the sub has two inputs (L/R) presumably this is not
an option?"
A.1 On a modern day receiver you may use the sub out jack.
Q.2 "I will be bi-wiring the front speakers. Therefore, I cannot use the
front L/R receiver speaker outputs for the sub. Correct?"
A..2 Well, you still can but this will be a moot point if the "sub out" method is used.
Q.3 "As the receiver is THX, it would appear that this option should be turned
off according to your site. This begs the question: why pay for THX at all?"
A.3 THX is a certification for performance, however it is not necessary for an audio piece to function flawlessly without THX certification.

So it looks like Polk consider the sub-out route acceptable (I used sub-woofer cable with Y adapter).
Have no idea what A.3 means.
Still playing with set-up and will be for some time!

Speaker wiring question

Comments