Wiring subwoofer parallel to speaker outputs

[ensitmike]

The first question is can it ever be done? What I’m talking about are splitting the speaker level wires and imputing them into the subs speaker level inputs.

The second question is I heard wiring things in parallel compounds the impedance of the components. Not sure if I worded that correctly but I want to make sure my setup would be ok.

the first setup is 8ohm speakers with a ksw-10 sub
The second would be 6ohm speakers with the same ksw-10 sub

running with adcom gfa-5200 and a gfp-565.

 

[lovinthehd]

Sure. That's what they're there for. Since the sub has its own amp, not a problem for impedance for your speaker's amp. The impedance of your speakers won't matter.

 

[ensitmike]

Sure. That's what they're there for. Since the sub has its own amp, not a problem for impedance for your speaker's amp. The impedance of your speakers won't matter.

great! Thanks for the quick reply.

so this is what I ended up with. All looks good?

 

[lovinthehd]

Picture doesn't tell me much.

 

[BMXTRIX]

What are the green wires for?

When wiring a subwoofer, it is typically best to just use the LFE output on the back of your AV receiver and wire it to the subwoofer. You will typically only have a single connection between your subwoofer and a proper AV receiver. Most often, coax cabling.

 

[ensitmike]

Sorry for the delay. Wasn't able to take better pictures till today.

I originally tried using the RCA "Line In" inputs on the subwoofer but I wasn't able to get a powerful enough signal out of the preamp. I was using the "Lab Out" connections for that.

What I have now is I used bare wire clamped into the posts that go to my subwoofer and banana plugs in the same outputs to my speakers.

(edit: also @BMXTRIX this isn't AV. It is a preamp / amp combo if that clears up the green wire confusion)

 

[lovinthehd]

Yeah probably not an ideal pre-amp for a sub, many 2ch rigs are like that. If you didn't have enough gain using both rca inputs on the sub the high level inputs would be the way to go. What particularly is that unit (make and model)?

 

[ensitmike]

Yeah probably not an ideal pre-amp for a sub, many 2ch rigs are like that. If you didn't have enough gain using both rca inputs on the sub the high level inputs would be the way to go. What particularly is that unit (make and model)?

Yea the RCA was barely audible. Is it ok having those "speaker in" wires connected like that to the amp?

The setup is an Adcom gfa-5200 and a gfp-565

 

[lovinthehd]

Thought that looked familiar, I have a GFP-555II I don't have the "lab" terminals, tho so wanted to look at your manual. Did you have the tone in and high filter disabled? That's one of the cautions of the lab outputs on p.7 of the manual....

The high level wiring is fine assuming they're all making good contact.

 

[ensitmike]

Yikes... I don't have the manual and couldn't find a pdf online. The good news is everything was disabled.

My first test was having the main output "norm" going to my amp and the "lab" going to the RCA inputs on my subwoofer. All toggles were disabled. With that setup I was barely getting audible output from the subwoofer.

The parallel setup I have now looks awful but sounds great. Just wanted to make sure I'm not going to ruin the amp in the long run with the unconventional wiring setup.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yikes... I don't have the manual and couldn't find a pdf online. The good news is everything was disabled.

My first test was having the main output "norm" going to my amp and the "lab" going to the RCA inputs on my subwoofer. All toggles were disabled. With that setup I was barely getting audible output from the subwoofer.

The parallel setup I have now looks awful but sounds great. Just wanted to make sure I'm not going to ruin the amp in the long run with the unconventional wiring setup.

It's actually fairly conventional for your gear....that's why those terminals are there Did you also try your regular main out to the sub just to see? But if you have it rolling with the high level inputs then just a matter of dialing it in as best you can.

 

[ensitmike]

It's actually fairly conventional for your gear....that's why those terminals are there Did you also try your regular main out to the sub just to see? But if you have it rolling with the high level inputs then just a matter of dialing it in as best you can.

I actually didn't, but it wouldn't be too hard to give it a try.

That said if doing a weird splice like setup at the posts is fine then I'm all for it because it sounds great. It was VERY satisfying to tune the sub to just below my speakers range. It just all comes together.

but hey, thanks for the help and advice!

 

[lovinthehd]

I actually didn't, but it wouldn't be too hard to give it a try.

That said if doing a weird splice like setup at the posts is fine then I'm all for it because it sounds great. It was VERY satisfying to tune the sub to just below my speakers range. It just all comes together.

but hey, thanks for the help and advice!

Working and happy can stop me in my tracks But sometimes I just gotta find out. Did you use the bypass terminals?

 

[ensitmike]

I didn't

So I read about those and it seems like they are a way of sending a pure signal to the speakers but I wasn't sure if I should use the bypass AND the main normal output at the same time...

Is that something I should try?

 

[lovinthehd]

I didn't

So I read about those and it seems like they are a way of sending a pure signal to the speakers but I wasn't sure if I should use the bypass AND the main normal output at the same time...

Is that something I should try?

I think you should get a copy of the manual. My usual go to source didn't have it (hifiengine.com, they had a service manual only) but you can view it (or sign up for download) among these sites https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=adcom+gfp-565+manual&atb=v136-1&ia=web

 

[ensitmike]

I think you're right haha. I did some digging before this and could not track it down. I might just email adcom. I'm sure they have it and wouldn't mind sending it my way.

 

[lovinthehd]

I think you're right haha. I did some digging before this and could not track it down. I might just email adcom. I'm sure they have it and wouldn't mind sending it my way.

Different Adcom these days and from what I've seen commented on they don't seem to support the original stuff. Worth trying....but internet has a lot of stuff

 

[PENG]

Yikes... I don't have the manual and couldn't find a pdf online. The good news is everything was disabled.

My first test was having the main output "norm" going to my amp and the "lab" going to the RCA inputs on my subwoofer. All toggles were disabled. With that setup I was barely getting audible output from the subwoofer.

The parallel setup I have now looks awful but sounds great. Just wanted to make sure I'm not going to ruin the amp in the long run with the unconventional wiring setup.

Really, you should double check both ends as your photo seems to show you have the right channel wired in reversed polarity.

 

[ensitmike]

View attachment 36191

Really, you should double check both ends as your photo seems to show you have the right channel wired in reversed polarity.

Ive been fiddling a lot and somehow it is correct now but you’re right At some point in my testing I screwed that up big time haha.

Thanks for pointing that out. Proof I need to slow down a bit.

 

[ensitmike]

Ok guys, I was able to track down the manual last night. I had two questions about these notes.

BYPASS: it states that I can bi-amp with bypass which is good news because that means I can run this line to my subwoofer. However, if I use bypass does that mean I cannot use TONE IN or CONTOUR on the main speaker outputs?

TONE IN: Tone In states that it reverses polarity of the main outputs (NORM & LAB). If I have speakers wired to these outputs do I need to wire red-to-black and black-to-red when using Tone In or are speakers made to work in reverse polarity so long as they are both reversed?