2.1 System - Subwoofer not outputting audio

[Ix3000]

Hey all,

I'm trying to set up my first 'decent' system. I'm shooting for a 2.1 system and have all components purchased and installed, but I'm unable to get audio from my receiver to my subwoofer. My front speakers are working great! It's just the subwoofer that's currently the issue.

My receiver is a Denon AVR-S540BT 5.2-Channel A/V Receiver, front speakers are Klipsch R-51M, and the subwoofer is a Dayton Audio SUB-1200. As mentioned above, the front speaker setup was very straightforward. However, the subwoofer arrived today and I can't get this thing to work.

I've got RCA cable plugging into the Denon AVR Subwoofer Pre-Out in Position 1, then going to the Dayton Sub, plugged into Mono-R. I tried to use the Auto setup, and during the speaker test phase, the subwoofer would make no sound. After some google-fu, I read up on some settings. I've gone into the Denon setup: Subwoofer set to Yes, Front Speakers set to Small, and Bass set to LFE + Main. I've also tried multiple combinations of Front Speaker: Large, Bass: LFE + Main, LFE, etc. Per Dayton manual, I've set the Crossover to max.

I then checked the RCA cord, it's working fine. Then I checked the sub: I unplugged the RCA from the AVR and plugged it straight into my phone and played some music. The subwoofer was playing audio through the phone. I'm out of ideas regarding the Denon settings, so now I'm wondering if this AVR has a defective Subwoofer Pre Out? I'd love to test this, but I don't have access to another subwoofer.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

 

[BMXTRIX]

That totally sounds like a Denon issue. If you have the subwoofer hooked up and are in the test menus of the Denon where it plays audio back through the various speakers in your configuration per the manual, and you hear test audio from your front left/right speakers just fine, but then when it gets to the subwoofer output and you don't hear ANY rumble at all, something screwy is going on.

I haven't heard of this issue before, but you should be able to move the RCA cable from one output to the other on the Denon to ensure that neither works. You can also likely try either RCA input on the Dayton, though I don't expect much there. Make sure the volume on the sub is set to a reasonable level - at least halfway. Make sure that the test tone is sitting near 0dB on the Denon, but that shouldn't be an issue.

Change out to another RCA cable if you haven't done so already.

These are all just random ideas though. This is a new one on me. I would call out the subwoofer before the Denon 9 times out of 10. But, if you've tested the subwoofer directly by just hooking up a known good source, then that really does rule that out as the issue. Likewise, it can show that the RCA cable is good. Make sure you are using the same RCA cable that you test as good for all your testing (or test a few cables from a known good source). You don't want the cable to be the issue.

 

[Ix3000]

Thanks for the reply.

The RCA cable should be fine since I was able to get signal from my phone to the sub. I was definitely trying every combination possible between Denon sub outputs, and Dayton inputs. Lastly, I was also switching sound modes in the Denon receiver, but nothing seemed to work. I reached out to the store I purchased the product from, and they're recommending a factory reset, so I'll try that as soon as I can to see if that works.

One thing I did note, was that there was an audible 'buzz' when the RCA was plugged into the sub to the receiver, but not from sub to phone. I wonder if this is indicative of a hardware issue?

I'll keep this thread updated in case anyone has this issue in the future.

 

[lovinthehd]

Your phone has an rca output? Buzzing on the cable might indicate a defect. First try a soft reset (unplugging the unit from power for a while) before a hard/microprocessor reset.

 

[Ix3000]

Oh wait... this cable is 3.5mm Audio to 2 male RCA, which is why it goes from phone to sub... I'm guessing a 3.5mm jack is not supposed to be plugged into the Subwoofer Pre-Out.

 

[lovinthehd]

Oh wait... this cable is 3.5mm Audio to 2 male RCA, which is why it goes from phone to sub... I'm guessing a 3.5mm jack is not supposed to be plugged into the Subwoofer Pre-Out.

Not without an adapter....

 

[Ix3000]

Cooooool. Cool cool. I guess this is probably the case. I've got a subwoofer cable arriving tomorrow.

 

[nbk13nw]

Are you in Pure or Direct mode?

 

[Ix3000]

Good question - I'm unsure. I'll report back when I get home.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Also, it sounds like a setup issue of the receiver. Go through the instruction book and see how to get the sub to work
when you have a stereo CD. Onkyo calls it double bass then the lows also go to the sub.
Denon will have a different name. If you cannot find it in the manual, call Denon as am sure they hear this frequently and know exactly
where you need to go in the setup menue.

 

[DIY Junky]

try speaker level adjustment test signal and see if you get sub to fire

 

[BMXTRIX]

Oh wait... this cable is 3.5mm Audio to 2 male RCA, which is why it goes from phone to sub... I'm guessing a 3.5mm jack is not supposed to be plugged into the Subwoofer Pre-Out.

Wait... You plugged a 3.5mm mini jack into a RCA connection???

Yeah, that won't work. You just need a RCA to RCA cable. That's it.