subwoofer to monitor connection

[amorphousform]

I have m-audio bx8a studio monitors and my friend just gave me a polkaudio PSW350 subwoofer. i dont have a reciever, im running it through a mixer connected to my computer, i run out of the mixer's master output (red/white RAC) into the subwoofer into the unfiltered LFE input on the sub(have tried the filtered LINE IN also) and then from the sub's speaker level output terminals into my studio monitors trs input. according to my research and common sense, this would be a correct connection because the sub should split the frequencies and send the high frequencies to my monitors. Instead, the sub gets all of the signal and sends nothing out to the monitors.

am i doing something wrong? i have not tried the speaker level input because it seemed unnecessary. any help would be appreciated. thank you.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum, amorphousform!

With every sub that I've seen, you need to use the same type of inputs as you use as the outputs. The sub isn't built to take a signal in through RCA and then output it through the speaker-level outputs.

Does you PC have multi-channel output (i.e. the ability to output left/right front and a subwoofer signal)? A lot of them can. If so, you could run the subwoofer signal directly from the PC, or possibly through your mixer. You would use the PC software to control the bass management. That's what I did for a while.

 

[Phil Taylor]

I agree with Adam - the reason you are getting nothing out to your speakers is that the sub's amp is for the sub only - there is no power output to the speaker terminals as those are for passing thru the audio if you use the speaker level inputs.

 

[amorphousform]

so basically i have to connect into the level inputs and out of the level outputs, thanks a lot ill go make the cables tomorrow, thanks for the suggestion about the computer program too, ill use that if i have too but id like for the speakers and sub to work independantly of the computer as to make my mobile djing less problematic.

 

[Phil Taylor]

There will still be no power out of the line level outputs either as the sub's amp is only for the sub speaker. You will need to amp the line out before it reaches your other speakers.

 

[Adam]

There will still be no power out of the line level outputs either as the sub's amp is only for the sub speaker. You will need to amp the line out before it reaches your other speakers.

Phil, his monitors are powered, so he's good.

 

[Phil Taylor]

Oh - OK - then he should be good to go... sorry didn't realize those were powered monitors - my bad.

 

[markw]

You might not want to use those unfiltered LFE inputs on the subwoofer. These "LFE inputs" bypass the sub's internal crossover and you will have no control over the low-pass functions on the sub. You'll be running the sub full range, which will not sound too good.

These inputs are fine fine when the crossover is set by the AVR providing the LFE signal sets it but I don't think your mixer can provide that functionality.

You can, however, send a full range signal to the other line-level input. The sub's internal crossover will send what it needs to the sub and everything else out to the powered speakers.