Denon AVR1906.....subwoofer connection?

[JKnPA]

I bought this receiver last month and its very impressive!
I have one dilema though! The only 'subwoofer' connection is on the preamp output, and my present subwoofer does not have an amplifier!
If I buy another 'SW' with an integrated amp, how do I make the connection? Do I use the 'speaker in'( R/L) or the 'LFE' input jack?
* Can someone explain how the 'low freq' for the subwoofer output is generated? Does it come from all the channel inputs, or just the front channels? If its too complicated to explain..... a link would be great!

Great forum..... Thanks......

 

[brendy]

Just go from the sub/lfe out on the receiver to the line level input on the sub.The sub output is determined by the bass mangement settings of the receiver.

 

[JKnPA]

SW output jack......

The 'SW' preamp is a single jack........ see link below
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-ikkq59yc0lZ/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=10420&id=morephotos&pi=2&i=033AV2106B&display=XL

The 'line level' input has two jacks....... how do I go from a single preamp out to the twin 'line level' jacks?
Would it be better to connect to the 'LFE' single jack on the 'SW' ?
see link below......... example.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-dg89t7SETH9/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=12300&id=morephotos&pi=2&i=107PSW12B&display=XL
Can you elaborate more on the generation of the 'low freq' that forms the 'subwoofer' signal!
Thanks....

 

[MDS]

See this current thread for the difference between right and left line level inputs and the single LFE input: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25052

The low frequency signal comes from a variety of places and exactly what frequencies make it to the sub is dependent on the receiver's bass management settings as stated above.
- 'LFE' actually has a specific meaning; it is the ".1" in a Dolby Digital or DTS track and contains frequencies no higher than 120 Hz.
- Even if you aren't playing a DD or DTS track, there is bass and that too will be sent out the receiver's subwoofer pre-out jack. The bass management settings determine which frequencies go to the sub and which go to the other speakers. There is a primer on bass managment on this site that you might want to read.

 

[JKnPA]

MDS....... thanks...

MDS,
Actually that was one of the first threads I read here today.
That is what prompted my two questions, because the 'low freq." bandwidth reception seems very complicated to me.
So how should I connect my receiver to that particular speaker in my above link? Should I just connect my receiver to the 'LFE' input with a RCA connector, or should I split the receiver pre-amp output to the 'line input' connectors(2).
I have all my receiver speakers(5) set to 'small'.
I'll look for that other article..........
* Ok.... I found it..... excellent article.
This is my first 'Real' receiver, so all this 'bass management' is new to me. I just want to connect the new 'SW' properly so I can enjoy most of the 'Bass' range!
John

 

[mnnc]

I bought this receiver last month and its very impressive!
I have one dilema though! The only 'subwoofer' connection is on the preamp output, and my present subwoofer does not have an amplifier!
If I buy another 'SW' with an integrated amp, how do I make the connection? Do I use the 'speaker in'( R/L) or the 'LFE' input jack?
* Can someone explain how the 'low freq' for the subwoofer output is generated? Does it come from all the channel inputs, or just the front channels? If its too complicated to explain..... a link would be great!

Great forum..... Thanks......

The soundtrack has a discrete .1 channel known as the lfe channel Low frequency effects. You would connect powered sub from sub out of recvr to the subs left and right input using a y splitter. A short rca terminated adaptor that has one female end for sub cable to go in to and then two male ends to connect to sub. This is known as line level vs speaker level. Speaker level would involve using spkr lines from amp/recvr to sub and then more spkr lines from sub to mains. A real mess. In addition you can set subs crossover to max/highest and control what frequencies are sent to the other spkrs by using the recvrs crossover point which controls what freq's are sent to sub. Example...set recvr's x-over point to 80hz. All freqs below 80hz are sent to sub. This takes strain off of amps from having to produce lower bass and lfe's which are power robbing. The amps(amps in recvr)can easily handle the 80hz and higher which are going to the main 5 spkrs or 6 or 7 spkrs depending on your setup. Set all speakers to small regardless of size in recvr's setup menu. You will be able to choose crossover point as well. 80 hz is a good point or 60hz if you can with your unit. Anything higher than 90 and the bass starts to become directional or in other words, you can locate it's source of origin. You don't want that. Also with most spkr's 80-60hz produces a nice blend where the lower bass limit of the spkrs starts and the sub takes over from there producing the true lower freq's that it is designed to specifically do and the mains can't do as well without strain.

 

[JKnPA]

Mnnc........ splitter

Ok.......... If I use the 'splitter' I can connect to the R/L 'line inputs'.
That means the 'SW' x-over filters are also a factor, because you/others have said set them to max.............. correct?

'LFE' input...... if I use this input(single cable from receiver- SW), the
'SW' has no-filtering and the receiver(Denon) controls all the 'bass management'............ is that correct?
If that is so............ I think that would be a good starting point for me!
* Denon ..... all speakers set to 'Small'.
'X-over'.......... set to 80 Hz.( default)

Any comments would be appreciated...............
John

 

[MACCA350]

Ok.......... If I use the 'splitter' I can connect to the R/L 'line inputs'.
That means the 'SW' x-over filters are also a factor, because you/others have said set them to max.............. correct?

'LFE' input...... if I use this input(single cable from receiver- SW), the
'SW' has no-filtering and the receiver(Denon) controls all the 'bass management'............ is that correct?
If that is so............ I think that would be a good starting point for me!
* Denon ..... all speakers set to 'Small'.
'X-over'.......... set to 80 Hz.( default)

Any comments would be appreciated...............
John

JKnPA, You've nailed it right there, and all in the one day

'SUBWOOFER' preamp out on the receiver --------->'LFE IN' input on the sub.

Set all speakers to 'small' and start with the receivers crossover at 80Hz, as you said this is a good starting point, then adjust from there to what makes you happy

As you said, the Polk Audio PSW12's 'LFE IN' input is unfiltered, therefore no need to adjust the crossover on the sub and the receiver will control the crossover point, all you need to do is set the volume levels for each channel and you're done, for now

As a side note, and don't stress about this for now, but as you tinker and become accustom with your setup, you may find peaks in you bass. This is due to placement and effects of the room on those low frequencies. There is a wealth of knowledge here at Audioholics that can help you if the bug bites and you wish to get the best out of you setup, see here under 'Loudspeaker Positioning And Calibration'

Enjoy, cheers

 

[JKnPA]

Macca350............. right

Thanks..... I'm just trying to get on the right 'track' to start with.
I need a 'subwoofer' to start with, so I'll look for one that has an 'LFE' input. I'll look at that link...........
Of course an important factor is our own 'hearing range'.
If we can't hear those 'low freq' ranges, it doesn't make that much difference............... LOL...........

I thank ALL of you who have posted.......
John

 

[MACCA350]

Thanks..... I'm just trying to get on the right 'track' to start with.
I need a 'subwoofer' to start with, so I'll look for one that has an 'LFE' input. I'll look at that link...........
Of course an important factor is our own 'hearing range'.
If we can't hear those 'low freq' ranges, it doesn't make that much difference............... LOL...........

I thank ALL of you who have posted.......
John

You can use a sub with the L/R low level inputs and just hook up just one of the inputs to your receiver then set your subs crossover to max(also many subs have a bypass switch to bypass the crossover completely). So you don't need to restrict your choices to one that has a specific 'LFE' input.

Also remember that we can hear down to about 20Hz(and still feel below that) and room and placement issues can effect the entire frequency range, but more noticeably in the mid-bass and very noticeable in the bass region 100Hz down. And trust me a well eq'd bass region makes a huge difference, it just depends on what you will accept and how far you want to go.

cheers