OK, here's my embarrasing situation:

Have a "casual listening/watching" home theater installation recently completed. Thanks to installer incompetence/lack of owner oversight, I've ended up without a line level subwoofer cable running to my intended location. What I do have is extra speaker cables: a free four connector run.

Realizing that this is not optimal, but also that this is not an audiophile setup, is there any way to use speaker cable as a SW interconnect, by somehow connecting RCA connectors at either end? Or is there some arcane reason that this won't work? If it does work, any suggestions about a better way to add RCA connectors than just cutting an RCA cable up and soldering the ends to the speaker wires?

Your advice, or commiseration, appreciated.

You can give it a try, but don't be too optimistic. A speaker wire for a line level connection, especially a sub, will probably be susceptible to EMI/RFI and possibly hum.

If the speaker wire isn't tacked through the run in the walls, you can try attaching a subwoofer cable to the existing speaker wire(s). As you pull the speaker wire out, it will pull the RCA cable through.

Don't to it. An RCA cable should be composed of a center conductor and a braided or foil shield. Foil shields have slightly better EMI interference reductions, braided shields are physically stronger. If you use speaker wire you have a great chance of picking up interference. You will very likely hear a hum or hiss in your sub.

Just buy an RCA cord...Tartan Cable has them really cheap and they ship quick. Or get robbed at Best Buy or Radio shack. By the way, a subwoofer RCA cable is exactly the same as one channel of a stereo RCA audio cable. So if you're got one of those lying around it will work fine. It will be much easier than the hassle of chopping off an RCA end and soldering it to speaker cable. If you've got the ends to chop off that means you have a cable already...

Don't to it.He can at least try it! Not like it's going to self-destruct or anything. :rolleyes:


Just buy an RCA cord.......Um........... gee, don't you think he realizes this is an option?

Yeah, sivadselim is right. I didn't include enough detail, which is where the confusion came from.

My install involved running cables up through the wall, and then through a false ceiling beam across about 25 ft and then down through a wall into a cabinet. So, the idea of using the existing cable to fish through a new one is good but the long run and also the fact that I think that they did indeed staple cable in the beam makes that impossible. I'm just trying to avoid 1) calling an installer back to fish a new cable at ridiculous expense, or 2) leaving an exposed cable running across the floor, not good for spousal relationship.

I suspect you are all correct: I can just try it and if it hums then I'm stuck.

OK, here's my embarrasing situation:

Have a "casual listening/watching" home theater installation recently completed. Thanks to installer incompetence/lack of owner oversight, I've ended up without a line level subwoofer cable running to my intended location. What I do have is extra speaker cables: a free four connector run.

Realizing that this is not optimal, but also that this is not an audiophile setup, is there any way to use speaker cable as a SW interconnect, by somehow connecting RCA connectors at either end? Or is there some arcane reason that this won't work? If it does work, any suggestions about a better way to add RCA connectors than just cutting an RCA cable up and soldering the ends to the speaker wires?

Your advice, or commiseration, appreciated.................if it hums then I'm stuck.No, you're not necessarily "stuck".

An option, if you DO have enough speaker cable for 2 channels (you said a "free four connector run"), and your subwoofer has speaker-level inputs, is to use a speaker-level connection from your front channel speaker outs for the subwoofer connection. This would require that you set your receiver up as having NO SUB (which will default your front channels to LARGE) in order to reroute the LFE channel to your front channels. You can either leave the front speakers connected, as usual, to the front channel speaker outputs (in which case they will be run as LARGE) or, if your subwoofer has them and it high-passes them, you can use the subwoofer's speaker-level outputs in order to high-pass your front speakers. Depending upon which connection you use for the front speakers, you would use the subwoofer's adjustable low-pass to dial the subwoofer in to match either the natural roll-off of the speakers or the high-passed response of the front speakers. (And, yes, you CAN connect the front speakers and the subwoofer simultaneously to the receiver's speaker-level outputs.)

Another option, if you need a discreet RCA cable to run in-room, is something like THIS (http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1714). This is about the thickness of a nickle and can easily be hidden beneath the baseboard if you have carpeting. If you need more length, you can use an adapter to connect 2 (or more) together, but realize that the "joint" will be the diameter of normal RCA cabling.

Yet another option would be a wireless solution. This will cost you, though. But if this at all interests you, I can provide 2 or 3 links to some wireless solutions.



As far as attaching RCA ends to the cable, you can also buy RCA ends at Radio Shack, etc.. and solder them on instead of cutting them off of another cable.

You could also get an unpowered subwoofer, throw an amplifier in your rack and use the speaker cables as speaker cables.

Another option, if the speaker wire doesn't work out, is to just fish in a new shielded cable yourself. Sounds like it wouldn't be that hard in your case, and a fish tape isn't too expensive even for a 1-time use. Might even be able to rent/borrow one...

Many thanks to all of you for great ideas.

whoru99: I suspect you're right, but my handyman skills are so poor that I've been banned at home from all projects involving electrical cabling, drywall, making holes in things, etc. Discretion may be the better part of valor here.

skernes: not a bad idea! I actually have a couple old receivers sitting around. I guess I'd run a line from the SW out to the second amp, then run the SW off a single channel from there?

sivadselim: again, all of your input is really appreciated. Running speaker level cabling to the SW is indeed the easiest solution it would seem, although my front speakers will not run at Large well. But again, it's far from a high end install and it's used mostly for non critical listening so that would work OK.

skernes: not a bad idea! I actually have a couple old receivers sitting around. I guess I'd run a line from the SW out to the second amp, then run the SW off a single channel from there?You'd run you receiver's line-level subwoofer out into an input on the receiver. It shouldn't matter, but you might as well use a Y-splitter to split the sub out into 2 inputs (i.e. R/L of the CD input) since you have 2 channels worth of speaker cables running to the subwoofer.


sivadselim: again, all of your input is really appreciated. Running speaker level cabling to the SW is indeed the easiest solution it would seem, although my front speakers will not run at Large well. But again, it's far from a high end install and it's used mostly for non critical listening so that would work OK.I know it would mean running speaker cabling from your sub to the front speakers, but if the sub has high-passed speaker-level outputs, you could use those to high-pass your speakers. Of course, your speakers probably will run full-range, you may just have to be a bit careful with your levels. What speakers are they? Provided your subwoofer's crossover (variable low-pass) can be adjusted high enough to reach up to your speaker's low-end capability you should be OK as far as covering the frequency range.



Of course, both of these methods assume you have speaker-level inputs on your sub.

Or... open your wallet, have someone install the proper cabling and do right. ;)

You can always attempt a wireless solution, like this:
http://www.amazon.com/ButtKicker-BK-LINK-RF-Wireless-System/dp/B00080Q7M2

yes you can just solder RCas on it, but as suggested it will probably have noise on the line. Going the passive sub route is a good idea, or pull the right wire. but solder away and see how bad, if at all, the buzz is. You might be able to turn up the preamps sub out really high, and then turn the sub down and that will minimize the line noise, and it may be acceptable to you. If not, move on to plan b and c.

Going the passive sub route is a good idea.............But no one is recommending that. Only using a receiver/amp to provide a speaker-level signal. I think he already has his sub.

You can always attempt a wireless solution, like this:
http://www.amazon.com/ButtKicker-BK-LINK-RF-Wireless-System/dp/B00080Q7M2

http://www.audioengineusa.com/w1_home.php

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Phonic-W5-Wireless-Speaker-System?sku=631024


And there are others, too. It is a pretty common need nowadays.

Yeah... except my suggestion is half the price and specific to LFE/Sub application(s). :p

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Frequency range: 5 to 350 Hz

10-4, good buddy

I'm in the rockin' chair. That's a 10-99 with a 10-100 to follow... catch ya on the flip-flop.
We got ourselves a convoy!

Ratman: after the kitchen/family room renovation, I could open my wallet but nothing would come out.

But--the Buttkicker idea might just fit the bill. Never realized how many ways there would be to address this. Thanks again!

Nah... I hear ya.

Good suggestions all, but not optimal. As you said, kludge.

Try the RCA's connected to the speaker wires. Can't hurt, right?

Other than that, your options are very limited for better results without additional cabling and amps (or sub?). Shame that all this is due to the lack of one stinkin' RCA cable. :)

I think that wireless solution seems to be the effortless and cost effective solution.

One option might be to convert the unbalanced rca connector to balanced - use the speakers wires to carry the balanced signal - then convert it back to single ended at the sub. It would not be perfect, since the speaker wires is probably not a twisted pair, or shielded, but would be better than just soldering an rca jack on to the speaker wire.

Two of these would do the job (one at each end)
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CleanBox/

You don't really need two channels, but that is the only one I could quickly find.

Just solder the RCA connectors on the speaker wire and use a line level input. It will probably work fine. Subwoofer hum doesn't come from a lack of shielding.