Newbie with Sub question.

[judah]

Newbie here needing some help with a Yamaha sub.

I have a Yamaha 100w YST-SW216 sub. The sub's inputs are 2 RCA's. One is for mono, and/or both are for splitting. (Here's the link to the owners manual.)

You can see the manual at abtelectronics.com/images/products/PDF_Files/ystsw216_manual.pdf

I am hooking the sub to my PC via M-Audio Fast Track Pro. The Fast Track Pro has 4 outputs. 2 TRS 1/4" jacks and 2 RCA's. (both outputs are mirrored, I get sound out both when both are connected.) Here's a link. m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackPro-focus.html

I also have two Yamaha studio monitors. (HS-50M) I currently have the monitors connected to the Fast Track Pro via 1/4" TRS Cables.

The Freq. response of the sub is 25hz-180(-10db).

My questions are...
How do I connect the sub to the Fast track pro? I am assuming via RCA. If so, mono or dual?
Since I'm probably sending full range into the sub, do I need a crossover? If i do need a crossover, can I get use an inline RCA one like "FMOD Crossover Pair"? And if so which one? 150 hz or 200 Hz Low Pass from Parts Express? Thanks in advance, and praise the Lord.

 

[mike c]

it should be connected via dual rca. i believe that subwoofer has a low pass crossover which means it won't play the high frequencies. but your monitors will still play full range.

http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/av/products/ht/sw216.html

depending on how low your mains go, you might want to set the crossover around 80hz so it won't be localizable and you'll feel the bass coming from your monitors.

 

[judah]

Should I use a Y-Splitter into a mono, or run them dual into both Sub inputs?

 

[mike c]

dont use a Y splitter into mono (that might damage the input on the subwoofer)

put the left rca into the left rca input on the subwoofer and the right rca into the right rca input on the subwoofer.

 

[judah]

I just bought a THX Sub interconnector from Amazon. I should then cancel it. What recommendation for cable do you suggest?

 

[TLS Guy]

connections

Connect a left RCA out to the left split input. Connect a right RCA output to the right split input.

I looked at the frequency response graph. The high low switch sets the crossover to about 80 Hz on low and about 120 Hz on high. Look at your speaker manual and see what the F3 point of your speakers are. The high low switch should be set to the setting as close as possible to the F3 point of your main speakers.

 

[mike c]

I just bought a THX Sub interconnector from Amazon. I should then cancel it. What recommendation for cable do you suggest?

a simple red and white rca cable that's free with most home video appliances will do. you won't hear better SQ with more expensive cables.

and if your subwoofer has RCA outputs, like TLS guy says, you can connect your monitor to the highpass outputs on the subwoofer. (again, cheapy rca cables will do)

 

[TLS Guy]

Mains full range

I would run your mains full range. Use RCA cables to go from your USB device to the split inputs.

 

[judah]

The sub's manual says the the "L" is the mono jack for use with a mono cable. The only way I could see using both jacks, is if I had an amplifier with a "Split Subwoofer" like they show on page 4 of the manual. That is why I bought from Amazon a single Sub interconnector. I was going to connect it from just one (either red or white) from my Fast Track Pro into the mono jack of the sub. Also, I thought about picking up a FMOD 200 hz crossover, because I don't trust that the sub's high/low switch is indeed a "crossover." After reading the manual throughly, it seems more like an adjustment switch for volume.

Will what I want to do, work?

P.S. What are the advantages of using dual R/L, over just one mono input/output?

 

[mike c]

The sub's manual says the the "L" is the mono jack for use with a mono cable. The only way I could see using both jacks, is if I had an amplifier with a "Split Subwoofer" like they show on page 4 of the manual. That is why I bought from Amazon a single Sub interconnector. I was going to connect it from just one (either red or white) from my Fast Track Pro into the mono jack of the sub. Also, I thought about picking up a FMOD 200 hz crossover, because I don't trust that the sub's high/low switch is indeed a "crossover." After reading the manual throughly, it seems more like an adjustment switch for volume.

Will what I want to do, work?

P.S. What are the advantages of using dual R/L, over just one mono input/output?

if you only use one of the red or white cables, you won't get the bass information from the other one you did not use because those are discrete left and right channels. unless your pc sound thingy had a discrete LFE output, use the red and white cables.

the 80hz and 100hz switch is for the HIGHPASS output.

the crossover dial is for the LOWPASS of the subwoofer itself.

 

[TLS Guy]

Look at page 8 of you sub manual

You have it wrong. Look at page 8 of the sub manual. The RCA outs of your USB device will be the same as a Yamaha DSP output. Connect as I told you. Do not use a mono cable to the USB outputs, as then you likely will listen to dual mono and not stereo.

Now go to page 14 of your manual and look at the graph. That clearly shows that your sub has a good crossover with a selection of two turnover frequencies.

That graph shows exactly what a crossover does. Do not use two crossovers. Not only is it a waste of money, but it will make things worse and create all kinds of phasing problems.

I have been an audio buff for over 50 years. I design speakers, active and passive crossovers and build them. I can steer you right on this hook up

 

[mike c]

The only way I could see using both jacks, is if I had an amplifier with a "Split Subwoofer" like they show on page 4 of the manual.

http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/av/english/sub/YST-SW216_e_UB.pdf

the wording is wrong - i don't know why they call it split subwoofer, but follow the wiring diagram on page 4 (using one subwoofer)

 

[judah]

You have it wrong. Look at page 8 of the sub manual. The RCA outs of your USB device will be the same as a Yamaha DSP output. Connect as I told you. Do not use a mono cable to the USB outputs, as then you likely will listen to dual mono and not stereo.

Now go to page 14 of your manual and look at the graph. That clearly shows that your sub has a good crossover with a selection of two turnover frequencies.

That graph shows exactly what a crossover does. Do not use two crossovers. Not only is it a waste of money, but it will make things worse and create all kinds of phasing problems.

I have been an audio buff for over 50 years. I design speakers, active and passive crossovers and build them. I can steer you right on this hook up

There is nothing on page 14 of the manual. On page 10 there are some graphs. Are those the ones you are talking about? Also I bought some FMOD Crossover Pair 200 Hz Low Pass for the USB Audio device (FTPro). Are these ok to use? (They look like long RCA jacks)

Thanks and Praise the Lord for all the help guys. Hope I'm not a burden.

 

[TLS Guy]

Use standard RCA cables

The graphs are page 14 of the pdf manual, but I see there is a 10 written on the page, so it would be page 10 of your manual. It is the top graph you need to look at. That tells you you do not need another crossover or low pass cables.

It is the hook up diagram page 8 of th pdf file (page 4of you manual), that is your correct hookup. Use ordinary bog standard RCA plugs and cables. Keep it simple.