Best way to link a subwoofer into my audio setup?

[PaulWog]

I'm running a 2.0 system right now with my computer, and I'm interested in getting a subwoofer.

I'm currently sending an optical digital signal to a DacMagic Plus, and then from there I use the Marantz PM-6004 amplifier. I'm using Kef Q300 bookshelf speakers.

Normally there's a subwoofer preamp out or something like that. But there isn't in this case. So I'm not sure how to add a subwoofer without splitting a signal and degrading audio.

 

[markw]

To connect a sub to your Marantz amp, it appears you have no choice except to use speaker-level connections. Make sure whatever powered sub you purchase has both a right and left speaker level input.

Don't worry. It won't hurt your sound.

 

[PaulWog]

To connect a sub to your Marantz amp, it appears you have no choice except to use speaker-level connections. Make sure whatever powered sub you purchase has both a right and left speaker level input.

Don't worry. It won't hurt your sound.

I'm confused. Which device would have this? The DacMagic Plus, or the Marantz PM-6004?

I'm not sure what part of these devices is the speaker-level connection. Googling isn't really helping much. I get information about what a speaker-level connection is, but no visual.

Pretty straight-forward and simple... but I'm not managing to put 1 and 1 together here.

 

[markw]

"this????

I'm confused. Which device would have this?

What device has speaker level outputs?

hint: Marantz PM-6004?

Perhaps you should consult the instruction manual of the sub you wind up with. It really doesn't get much simpler than this.

 

[Adam]

Hi. "Speaker-level" connections refers to the connections that use speaker wire, like the ones that you use on the Marantz to connect to your Q300 speakers. The RCA connections are sometimes called "line level" connections.

You want something in your system to direct lower frequencies to the subwoofer and the higher frequencies to your bookshelf speakers. Because your setup currently doesn't have anything that will do that, you can have the sub do it. In order for the sub to do that with your other equipment, you'll use the speaker connections. Basically, you'll connect the speaker wires from your Marantz to the sub, then connect speaker wires from the sub to your bookshelf speakers. The sub will filter the low frequencies out for itself and pass on the other frequencies to your bookshelves.

The sub would have speaker wire inputs, speaker wire outputs, a crossover dial (that you'll use to set which frequencies go to the sub and which go to your bookshelves), and a volume (or "gain") dial. An example is shown below.