New Subwoofer, Having Connectivity Issues

[Nickum32]

Alright, I have an Onkyo TX-SR304 5.1 channel receiver, and I just bought a new subwoofer to go with it. My only problem here is that my subwoofer only has RCA inputs, and none of the RCA ouputs on my receiver seem to want to send it any signal. Also, the only subwoofer output my receiver has is a single purple RCA-style plug. I only have two audio sources plugged into my receiver, both of which are digital optical, if that makes a difference, but I have also tried using RCA in, and then trying my RCA outs to my sub, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. Any and all help is appreciated!

 

[Nickum32]

Also, I have tested the sub on other sources, it is confirmed working.

 

[markw]

Sounds like you should be using that purple RCA plug on your receiver to connect the sub.

If that doesn't do it, check the receiver's setup, particularly the speaker configuration area, to assure the sub is, in fact, turned on. Your owner's manual can be helpful here.

Unloke stereos of old, very few receivers are truly plug and play anymore.

 

[highfigh]

Alright, I have an Onkyo TX-SR304 5.1 channel receiver, and I just bought a new subwoofer to go with it. My only problem here is that my subwoofer only has RCA inputs, and none of the RCA ouputs on my receiver seem to want to send it any signal. Also, the only subwoofer output my receiver has is a single purple RCA-style plug. I only have two audio sources plugged into my receiver, both of which are digital optical, if that makes a difference, but I have also tried using RCA in, and then trying my RCA outs to my sub, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. Any and all help is appreciated!

Did you read the manual and set up the inputs and speakers the way they need to be? You need to turn the sub output on and configure the speakers so they get the signal they need.

 

[Nickum32]

I have already done that. But the thing here is that the receiver does not have to know that there is a subwoofer. As far as the receiver knows, it is just sending the exact same audio signal it is receiving through this RCA out, and the crossover on my sub amp is taking care of the rest. My problem is just that no signal is coming out of the RCA out.

 

[MDS]

But the thing here is that the receiver does not have to know that there is a subwoofer. As far as the receiver knows, it is just sending the exact same audio signal it is receiving through this RCA out, and the crossover on my sub amp is taking care of the rest. My problem is just that no signal is coming out of the RCA out.

Page 34 of your manual. This receiver works the same as all other receivers.

You need to go into the speaker config menu and set subwoofer to Yes. Set all other speakers to Small and set a xover frequency (80Hz is generally good). Connect a single cable from the subwoofer pre-out on the back of the receiver to the line level input on the sub. If the sub has a switch or specific input (often labeled 'LFE') that disables the sub's internal xover, then flip that switch or use that input.

You cannot use any other analog out, such as tape out, to feed the sub if the source devices are connected digitally because the receiver will not convert the digital input signal to analog and sent it out any of its analog outs.

 

[Nickum32]

Alright, I did all of that, but atm I don't have a subwoofer cable. If I bought one, and plugged it into the sub out on my receiver, and plugged it into either the red or white RCA input on my subwoofer amp, I would get sound. My question now is, would that work, in other words, can a subwoofer cable be plugged into an RCA jack?

 

[ahblaza]

Alright, I did all of that, but atm I don't have a subwoofer cable. If I bought one, and plugged it into the sub out on my receiver, and plugged it into either the red or white RCA input on my subwoofer amp, I would get sound. My question now is, would that work, in other words, can a subwoofer cable be plugged into an RCA jack?

Yes that should work, the RCA jacks are white and red colored, one is usually labeled low level input, if not try the white RCA input, you can use any sub cable (monoprice.com) from the receiver's sub out (purple RCA) to your sub's line level (RCA) input. Hope this helps, let us know.

 

[markw]

sigh...

You can use any interconnect with RCA plugs on the end as a "subwoofer cable". All a "subwoofer cable" is an interconnect with a fancy label.

You said you connected it in your first post. What did you use for that?

 

[Nickum32]

In my first post, I used a standard red/white RCA cable, plugged the white end into the sub out for my stereo, and the other white end into the white input on my sub amplifier, nothing. Tried it again with the settings MDS suggested above, again nothing. I just ordered a Subwoofer/Digital Coaxial interconnect from MonoPrice.com though, crossing my fingers on that.

 

[Islewind]

As you've already been told, a different interconnect for the sub will make no difference at all. If it has RCA plugs on both ends, that's enough to make it work. Try these steps again, in sequence:
1. Ensure your sub is plugged in to the wall, turned on, and that you have a single RCA cable running from the purple output on your receiver to the input on your sub.
2. Go through your receivers setup again, and make sure that you both select the sub as present and that you press "ok" or otherwise confirm that setting
3. Ensure that the sub level, low pass, and lfe switch (if present) are properly set.

Unless something is broken, it's going to be one of those steps. Double check each one.

 

[Nickum32]

What I have neglected to mention up tothis point is that this is an automotive subwoofer, with a PC power supply giving it the DC power. I figured that should not make a difference, as the audio signal to the sub is the same either way, as long as it comes through an RCA cable. But I have tried all of those steps, and nothing works. My feeling on this though is that my receiver is probably faulty, since it has never been proved working in the past.

 

[markw]

Have you ever run this subwoofer/amp setup off an AC power supply before?

If not, try it off another unit, say the sudio outs of a CD player, tuner, TV, whatever. Obviously, it won't play the full range but it should at least make some noise.

 

[highfigh]

What I have neglected to mention up tothis point is that this is an automotive subwoofer, with a PC power supply giving it the DC power. I figured that should not make a difference, as the audio signal to the sub is the same either way, as long as it comes through an RCA cable. But I have tried all of those steps, and nothing works. My feeling on this though is that my receiver is probably faulty, since it has never been proved working in the past.

What you neglected to mention is exactly what you should have posted first.

A PC power supply is nowhere close to being enough for a car stereo power amp.

 

[Nickum32]

That is not the issue here though. I only have a 500w max (250w RMS) sub with an amp matching those numbers. The subwoofer is confirmed working. In fact, I have it running off of a branch off of one of the RCA lines going between my computer and my receiver, using a combination of my computer's volume controls and the amp's subwoofer volume control. The only reason I need it to go off of my receiver is so that I can use it with my Xbox too. Also, I have the crossover at the low end. But anyway, I neglected to mention this first because it should not be any different than a home sub with RCA input. And just so you know, that PC power supply pushes this thing hard.

 

[MDS]

Also, I have the crossover at the low end. But anyway, I neglected to mention this first because it should not be any different than a home sub with RCA input.

Well, that's a BIG problem. The low end of the xover is probably somewhere around 20 Hz, and there isn't much music or movie audio with content down that low. Besides, you don't really hear 20 Hz - you mainly feel it and only if it is at a high level. With a setting that low you are basically telling the sub to only play tones below that and there are none, hence no sound.

In my first response, I laid out a few different possibilities because I assumed it was a regular subwoofer. Being a car sub, it likely does not have any kind of 'LFE' input or switch to disable the internal xover. Therefore, you must turn the xover as high as it can go to get it out of the way of the receiver's xover. If it can't go much higher than the 80 Hz or so you should set the receiver's xover to, then I'd abandon the car sub idea because it will never work.

Try setting the xover on the sub as high as possible, do the speaker setup and xover setting in the receiver and see if you get sound. Another thing I forgot to mention and happens a lot is that people mistakenly plug the sub cable into the subwoofer input in the multi-channel analog input section of the receiver. Make sure you plug it into the jack that says 'sub pre-out'.

 

[Nickum32]

Alright, this was my fault, but I should not have said the lowest, but it is set to what the amp labels "low pass," in lieu of its other options, "high pass" and "full pass." I tried it with the amp on full pass, and again nothing happened. Again, I must reiterate, the sub and am itself is perfect, there is nothing wrong with the sub, otherwise I would have put this thread in the "Subwoofers" forum.

 

[highfigh]

That is not the issue here though. I only have a 500w max (250w RMS) sub with an amp matching those numbers. The subwoofer is confirmed working. In fact, I have it running off of a branch off of one of the RCA lines going between my computer and my receiver, using a combination of my computer's volume controls and the amp's subwoofer volume control. The only reason I need it to go off of my receiver is so that I can use it with my Xbox too. Also, I have the crossover at the low end. But anyway, I neglected to mention this first because it should not be any different than a home sub with RCA input. And just so you know, that PC power supply pushes this thing hard.

First of all, whatever you have read about power levels is wrong. 'Only' and '500W' don't belong in the same sentence.

What sub and amp are you using (make and model)?

 

[Nickum32]

Hey, I figured it out, my subwoofer was just very quiet. Once I had it plugged in, my hand accidentally brushed up against my sub cone, and I noticed it was vibrating. I went to the level calibration on my receiver and turned it all the way up, then turned my subwoofer control and my amp's bass boost all the way up, and voila!