Hooking Up a 2nd Subwoofer

[Simon2150]

Hi all! Just wanted to get some advice as to what the best way to hook up a 2nd sub. Here's what I have:

Receiver Sony STR SE-501
5 matching JBL speakers (model not important)
and the match HTiB Sony Subwoofer SAW WMS 230

Back of my receiver looks like this:


My 2nd sub I want to hook up is a velodyne vx 10. Back of sub looks like this:


I currently have my sony sub hooked up through the audio out(sub out) from my receiver and into the sony sub. I want to hook up the velodyne as a 2nd sub and wondered if getting a Y cable was advisable and using the mono rca plug in the back or hook up the main speakers to the sub and then take a 2nd set of wires and take them out of the sub and into the receiver.

What's the best way to get optimal sound knowing all of this?

Also, what about placement of the 2nd sub, should it be near the rear speakers or still in the front by the mains. Either way, by the mains or rears, the sub would be near a wall corner.

Thanks for the advice!!

[cneely8]

>wondered if getting a Y cable was advisable

This works just fine.

About placement, you have two general options- together or apart. together leads to more volume but apart can lead to smoother overall room response.

Two subs can also introduce other problems, like frequency cancellations and such. Basically, blow $3 on a y-splitter and experiment to see if you like the results. Have an SPL meter and Avia disc ready to run sweeps. Run them with your main sub only, with your new sub only, and again with both subs on, to see if the overall effect of both at once measures better, worse, smoother, bumpier, whatever, than using just your main sub.

[Simon2150]

cneely, is there any advantage or disadvantage of hooking up the second sub through the mains? Also, since my sub only has 1 rca (mono) output to go into the back of a sub and my other sub is already connected that way, would splitting that 1 rca mono connection and then using the split to hook up 2 subwoofers, by hooking them up both mono be okay? or is better to hook up the 2nd sub through the mains?

Any one else provide guidance?

[Limber]

You should avoid using the speaker-level connections, for several reasons.

a) The subwoofer won't even be receiving the subwoofer channel... it will get the signal for the front left & right channels instead.
b) You won't be able to independently adjust its volume separately from the mains without rotating the dial on the back panel.
c) The signal arriving at the speaker terminals of the receiver has been processed and then amplified, generating some distortion and frequency loss, whereas the signal reaching the RCA subwoofer output has not.
d) Using the speaker connection means that the main speakers are connected in series to the subwoofer. The sub will introduce a low-frequency cut-off into the signal sent to your main speakers, so the signal won't be full-range. It may also introduce distortion or other impurities into the signal sent to the main speakers.


Keep it simple, forget the speaker connections, and choose one of two options.

a) Plug a Y-splitter into the receiver's Subwoofer OUT, then connect each sub to the Y-splitter. Should work fine, technically.
b) Simply replace the Sony subwoofer with the Velodyne instead. Its better, and keeping the Sony in the loop will probably just muddy up the mid-bass, making things sound worse. You certainly won't get more deep bass. I'd experiment with this option, as it will probably yield the best results.

[Simon2150]

great info Limber! Much appreciated! I thought about using just the velodyne b/c it indeed produced a crisper bass sound while the sony was not as clear. however, i figured I 'd use both of them since I have them. I've completely upgraded everything so far in my HT with the only remaining piece to upgrade is the receiver, but I am a SLOW upgrader due to budget. So in the mean time, I just thought it'd be cool to have both hooked up. So, I will stay away from the speaker level connections.

will hooking up a l and r rca cable be more beneficial than just using a mono cable? In other words, I will get a Y splitter and split the sub out from the receiver and use the mono cable to my sony sub for one connection, then get a Y cable (all male connectors) and hook the one end to the receiver and the other 2 ends into the l and r rca jacks on the back of the velodyne, would that be ideal or is using a mono connection to both subs okay?

[Limber]

Hey, happy I could help out, Simon. As for your question, stick with a mono connection to both subwoofers. While the Velodyne does have L/R inputs, that feature is for people who want to enhance the bass for other stereo channels (typically the mains) by connecting the sub to a receiver's pre-outs, so that smallish speakers can get some help down below. The subwoofer channel is mono to begin with, so there's no benefit to splitting the signal. Probably a bad idea anyway, since you'll reduce the signal strength by using a 2nd Y-splitter, and sending the Velodyne duplicate signals might mess up it's performance by changing its frequency response adversely.

[sorvino123]

Hello, im a bit of a novice the, so if you are so kind as to help, please be specific. I recently purchased a pokes sound bar. It has five channels incorporated into one sound bar. They recommend two hook up the subwoofer or off the left and right mains and not the receiver. I also purchased a used VELODYNE ULD 15 that I won two hookup. On the ULD amp there is no location for speakers. I believe it has RCA jacks for pre amp and amplifier. Needless to say I am very confused. I would appreciate it if someone can tell me " and please be specific" hello to hook up my ULD two a Polk sound bar. I also have a second question. After purchasing a sound bar, although I really like the sound, I did not get good surround. I found out later it is the call is it is in a large room. So I disconnected the surround channel from the sound bar, and it did two rear speakers. This seemed to work pretty good but I am now using my five channel sound bar for only a center and left and right main. My question is is there a way to incorporate the two surround speakers on the sound bar that are not in use. I would like to add them to my left and right main. My thought is I would get a more powerful left and right channel. Thanks Peter

[ScSpeedy]

I have a question I have a Paradigm PDR 12 subwoofer should I get another PDR 12 or something else to go with with like a sunfire sub?

[sivadselim]

Originally Posted by ScSpeedy

I have a question I have a Paradigm PDR 12 subwoofer should I get another PDR 12 or something else to go with with like a sunfire sub?

Mixing subs can be problematic. Matching subs is advisable.

[ScSpeedy]

I can't find another PDR 12 for sale so I was looking for another sub that will work together. I rather not replace my current sub since it works very well. What would be a good choice to go with the PDR 12?

Thanks

[ScSpeedy]

Is the Y SPlitter just any RCA to RCA Male to two Male Splitter nothing Fantasy? Sorry but the Dumb Question.

Thanks