The line-level and high-level inputs are two different ways of sending the signal to the sub. The line-level input will already have the higher frequencies filtered out, but the high-level inputs won't. The line-level is the best choice, but if it isn't working (as yet to be determined), then you might have the option of hooking it up using the high-level inputs.
If you have the sub set to automatically turn on when it gets a signal, but that isn't happening, then that means that the signal being sent to it isn't high enough to trigger the auto-on.
A few questions below, some of which reference your owner's manuals for the
Pioneer and the
Athena:
1. Are your speakers set to "S" (i.e "small")? See page 30 of the manual.
2. What is the crossover frequency setting on your receiver (100 Hz, 150 HZ, or 200 Hz)? See page 30 of the manual.
3. What is the crossover frequency setting on your sub (the knob on the back of the sub)? See page 3 of the manual.
4. Is the subwoofer set to be on in your receiver's menu? See page 30 of the manual.
5. What is the LFE attenuator setting on your receiver set at (0 dB, 10 dB, or ** dB)? See page 31 of the manual.
One way to check if the issue is with the amp in the subwoofer or the signal being sent to the sub is by plugging another component (such as a CD player or DVD player) directly into the sub to see if any sound comes out. Let's hold off on that for now until we step through some of the other possibilities (which are quicker to check, I think).
