I just unearthed an old set of RM6200 Polk 5.1 speakers with the PSW250 subwoofer and want to hook it up to a Sony STR-DE845 receiver but am unsure what would be the best way.

The owner's manual says I should run the wires from the left and right front speaker outputs of the receiver to the speaker level inputs of the sub then connect the front satellites to the speaker level outputs of the sub. This could create a lot more wires then I wanted to deal with, particularly if I end up positioning the sub on the other side of the room.

Alternatively, I notice that subwoofer has L and R line in jacks and the receiver has two subwoofer audio out jacks but they are not labeled L and R. Would I be better off connecting the sub to one of these jacks using an RCA Y-cable or perhaps just a single coaxial audio cable from the receiver to the L input of the sub or is this not recommended?

Any advice you guys can give me on this would be greatly appreciated. I'm eager to get my home theater all setup but want to make sure it's done properly. Unfortunately I don't have all that much experience in this field but I know the people on this forum do so I hope you can help me. Thanks in advance.

Just run a single RCA cable from one of the Subwoofer outputs on the AVR to either the left or right Low Level inputs on the sub. You can use a Y to connect both inputs on the sub, but it's not necessary.


edit: I just looked at the sub's manual. You should see an LFE input near the line level inputs. Instead of connecting to the left or right LL input, connect to the LFE input.

Just run a single RCA cable from one of the Subwoofer outputs on the AVR to either the left or right Low Level inputs on the sub. You can use a Y to connect both inputs on the sub, but it's not necessary.


edit: I just looked at the sub's manual. You should see an LFE input near the line level inputs. Instead of connecting to the left or right LL input, connect to the LFE input.

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I do not have an LFE input on my sub. I believe that option is only available on the PSW350 and PSW450 which happen to share the same owner's manual as my model. Considering the lack of LFE input do you still agree that using either the left or right input on the sub will give me better results than a Y cable or the factory suggested method?

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I do not have an LFE input on my sub. I believe that option is only available on the PSW350 and PSW450 which happen to share the same owner's manual as my model. Considering the lack of LFE input do you still agree that using either the left or right input on the sub will give me better results than a Y cable or the factory suggested method?Though some will debate it, very few, the factory method is normally used when you only have a 2 channel receiver. Polk is the only manufacturer I know of that recommends this set up even in a 5.1 system.

The only benefit from using a Y that I have found is when the auto on circuit is not sensitive enough. Using a Y will split the signal from the receiver, send it to both inputs, then summed in the sub. This is how I have my sub hooked up and always have. Many people have auto on issues, but I never have. I just chalk it up to connecting both inputs. Could just be a placebo effect, but it works for me.

Though some will debate it, very few, the factory method is normally used when you only have a 2 channel receiver. Polk is the only manufacturer I know of that recommends this set up even in a 5.1 system.

The only benefit from using a Y that I have found is when the auto on circuit is not sensitive enough. Using a Y will split the signal from the receiver, send it to both inputs, then summed in the sub. This is how I have my sub hooked up and always have. Many people have auto on issues, but I never have. I just chalk it up to connecting both inputs. Could just be a placebo effect, but it works for me.

Thank you so much for your advice. I have one further question if you don't mind. Would this coaxial audio RCA cable from monoprice be my best option if I want to run the cable up through a drop ceiling to the other side of the room.
Also, I thought I read somewhere that it is not recommended to position the sub on the opposite side of the room from the TV, receiver, etc. Is there any truth to that opinion?

Sorry, here is the link to monoprice.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10236&cs_id=1023603&p_id=3976&seq=1&format=2

Sorry, here is the link to monoprice.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10236&cs_id=1023603&p_id=3976&seq=1&format=2Any of the cables on the page you got this from will be good. They have a 50', so don't get one that is too short. You can also custom make one fairly easily with coax and RCA connectors if you wanted to run it in wall. You could pull the cable, then terminate the ends.

Also, I thought I read somewhere that it is not recommended to position the sub on the opposite side of the room from the TV, receiver, etc. Is there any truth to that opinion?I have never heard that and I can't think of a reason that would be true. It could be a legacy opinion from a time when the electronics didn't have phase or distance adjustments, but there are only around 6 billion people on Earth that know more about this stuff than I do. Sub positioning should be based on the room acoustics and listening position, not the location of the TV.

Thanks for all your suggestions ransac. You've been a big help!

I have the same sub and a similar question. My current receiver, an old Yamaha Pro-Logic, doesn't have a sub out. I do the same as described above (LF and RF into sub inputs and then LF and RF from the sub LF and RF outputs to the satellite speakers on the wall. When I replace the receiver soon, is it better to run a line from the receiver's sub out port and "Y" into the analog L and R inputs, or just the L or R? Should I then skip running the front speakers through the sub and just directly from the receiver to the speakers? If I just continue the set up as I have it, will it affect the new digital surround sound output? I really don't want to upgrade anything else at this time and want to use the speaker set up have.

.........a legacy opinion................:D Yes! I love it. Great new term.

When I replace the receiver soon, is it better to run a line from the receiver's sub out port and "Y" into the analog L and R inputs, or just the L or R?One or the other should be fine. Why you might want to use both is described in some posts, above.


Should I then skip running the front speakers through the sub and just directly from the receiver to the speakers?Probably. Although this can depend upon how big your satellites are. In some instances it may actually be best to connect things the way Polk recommends. Their recommendations, although not really appropriate for standard-sized speaker setups, may actually be best in certain satellite speaker situations.


If I just continue the set up as I have it, will it affect the new digital surround sound output?No. You can leave it set up just like you have it but you will want to set the new receiver up as having NO SUB. This will instruct the receiver to redirect the LFE channel (the .1 channel) into the front channels. With this setting (NO SUB) the front channels will default to LARGE, which is fine, as the subwoofer's speaker outs will high-pass the front channel satellites. But you will want to set the other channels' sizes to SMALL with an appropriate crossover setting for the other satellites' sizes.

:D Yes! I love it. Great new term. I don't want to say something is incorrect when, at the time the opinion was formed, it was appropriate. So it was correct at one time, therefore it is a 'legacy opinion'. A lot easier to spell than 'anachronistic advice'.:)