Maybe you guys can help me. I'm looking at upgrading to a 5.1 AVR because I want to use the optical input for my HD-DVD player (HD-A2 currently connected via analog outputs). I'm planning on using my current satellite system with the new receiver, however the receiver only has an RCA input for the subwoofer. The sub I have now has left/right speaker wire running to the receiver. Is there any way of connecting that sub to the new AVR and still have it process the lower frequencies? I read a few things about connecting the sub to the l/r front speaker inputs, but I'm not sure that I understood correctly. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks

If the sub has an RCA jack or jacks (a powered sub) for input connect try connecting one of them to your receiver's sub out. Sometimes you may have to use a Y-connector to feed both the L and R inputs on the sub. If there is a gain control set it to about half and run your AVRs auto setup.

If the sub does not have RCA inputs, run your left and right speaker wires from the receiver to the matching speaker level-in terminals on the sub; keep the polarity consistent. Then run speaker wires from the left and right speaker level-out terminals on the sub to your left and right speakers (keeping the polarity consistent).

Set your receiver's setup menu to no sub.

The sub woofer's crossover will determine which frequencies are passed to your mains and which to the sub.

If the sub woofer is passive (no onboard amplifier) it may have a volume control that you can adjust for the best match with your mains.

If the sub is active, it will have an onboard crossover frequency selector and a gain control. You will have to experiment with both to get the best blend.

Trekguy,

Thanks for the response. The sub is passive, so I'll see if I can rig up that setup (may have to pull the sub box apart, but that doesn't worry me). I also saw a device in the car audio section that converts l/r speaker wire to l/r RCA outs, any thoughts on that?

Thanks

Trekguy,

Thanks for the response. The sub is passive, so I'll see if I can rig up that setup (may have to pull the sub box apart, but that doesn't worry me). I also saw a device in the car audio section that converts l/r speaker wire to l/r RCA outs, any thoughts on that?

Thanks
Are we confused on terminology or exactly how your sub is equipped? You said in your original post that the receiver had an RCA sub-in jack for the sub. I assumed that was a typo, as the usual case is sub out jack to send a line level signal to a powered sub.

The car audio devices are an effective means of converting speaker level to line level, but I don't understand how that will help you.

A passive sub has no amplifier and consists of a speaker driver and a crossover. Most passive subs have speaker level inputs and speaker level outputs. The on board crossover divides the incoming full range speaker level signal; passing the lows to the sub and the remainder to the mains.

A few subs only have speaker level inputs, and no matching speaker level outputs. This With this arrangement the sub is normally powered by an separate external amplifier. The sub may have its own crossover or it may rely upon an electronic cross-over upstream somewhere.

If your sub has speaker level inputs and no outputs it presents a challenge.

Do you have the make and model of your receiver, mains and sub? If you can check the maker's web site for the url of the user manuals.

It sounds to me like his current system is one of the HTiB varieties with the receiver powering a passive sub. This presents a problem, I would ditch the passive sub since you'd need to buy an amplifier to hook it up, better off just getting a real sub and real speakers.