help with speaker inputs on amplified subwoofer..

[Q-StiX]

hi, i have a amplified subwoofer, and it has places to hook up speakers, but when i hook up a set, they dont work... i tried with another sub, and other speakers too... im sure its something easy, im new to the newer style subs... thanx!

 

[Adam]

What is your subwoofer make and model?

 

[Pyrrho]

You should tell us the models and how you have hooked things up. With a powered home theater subwoofer, one needs to hook it up to the receiver via speaker wires to use the speaker level outputs on the subwoofer.

 

[markw]

If you used a line level (RCA Jacks) for your input, speakers connected to it's "speaker out" jacks won't work. HT subs don't have amplifiers for anything except the internal subwoofer itself.

They will, however allow you to "pass through" power from your receiver/amplifier to your main speakers, assuming you've used the speaker level inputs to begin with.

Don't feel too bad. Many people are so used to "2.1" computer systems that do everything that they mistakenly assume it carries over to HT.

 

[Q-StiX]

klipsch sw450 both subs have the same inputs, but the sw450 is the main 1.. thx

 

[Q-StiX]

If you used a line level (RCA Jacks) for your input, speakers connected to it's "speaker out" jacks won't work. HT subs don't have amplifiers for anything except the internal subwoofer itself.

They will, however allow you to "pass through" power from your receiver/amplifier to your main speakers, assuming you've used the speaker level inputs to begin with.

Don't feel too bad. Many people are so used to "2.1" computer systems that do everything that they mistakenly assume it carries over to HT.

lol, my last receiver had raw wires for everything, was fool proof lol... now i have a yamaha rx-v573 and a sw450 subwoofer. thanx for the reply!

 

[markw]

Strangely enough, looking at that subwoofers owners manual, that subwoofer doesn't even have speaker outputs, just speaker inputs.

You might want to get used to checking the owners manuals for your equipment for gte correct connections in the future

 

[Adam]

I see your problem. The SW-450 doesn't have anywhere to hook up speakers. It has speaker-level INPUTS (that you'd connect to the speaker outputs on your receiver), but no outputs. Mark's comments apply to your Klipsch, and that's why I asked which model you have. It will not power a set of speakers.

You're much better off using the line-level (RCA) subwoofer output on your Yamaha connected to the line-level input on the Klipsch, and then directly connecting your speakers to your Yamaha.

EDIT: I see that Mark and I posted at the same time.

 

[LiveJazz]

You're much better off using the line-level (RCA) subwoofer output on your Yamaha connected to the line-level input on the Klipsch, and then directly connecting your speakers to your Yamaha.

I've never not used a sub this way. Which started me wondering, what is the advantage in running the speaker level inputs/outputs through the sub? My sub has them but I never even gave it a second thought. Does it help dial in the crossover or something, or is it only for when you don't have an amp with a dedicated sub out?

 

[ImcLoud]

This happens a lot, people think the speaker level inputs are outputs and will power speakers... I blame bose for this...

As far as speaker level inputs vs line level, I had a sub that wouldn't play loud with line level {tried a few different preamps}, but I later found the problem, you need to put a Y and feed line level inputs to both left and right on the sub, it makes a difference... I later added splitters to all my subs and the sound improved on all of them, I wish they put that in the instructions...

 

[markw]

I've never not used a sub this way. Which started me wondering, what is the advantage in running the speaker level inputs/outputs through the sub? My sub has them but I never even gave it a second thought. Does it help dial in the crossover or something, or is it only for when you don't have an amp with a dedicated sub out?

Not all subs are used with AVR receivers, nor do all electronics offer access to a preamp out signal.

People with two-channel setups spring immediately to mind here. I'm one of them.

Plus, in this configuration, many subs will filter out the lows from the main speakers. Not really a very flexible situation but it's there if one chooses to avail themselves of it.