OK, here it is: How do you use a subwoofer?
Step 1: Plug in subwoofer.
Step 2: Play bass through it.
Step 3: Be prepared for women to start spontaneously removing their clothes.
If you are running a 2.0 set up?
Pretty much the same as above.
I've never had one. Do you run the speaker wires from the receiver into the sub, and then from there into the speakers?
With an AVR or other receiver that has an RCA or XLR subwoofer output, no. If all you have to work with are already-amplified high level speaker leads from an amp, then most subwoofers do have high level inputs and a passthrough to allow that sort of thing. More on this later.
Why would a powered sub be used vs an un-powered one?
Convenience I guess. Doesn't really matter whether the power comes from a plate amp built into the enclosure, or from an external Crown amp or similar. Power is power. On the other hand, plate amps typically have features that make them a perfect match for use in a subwoofer, such as a variable low-pass filter and phase control; whereas an external amp might not.
I've heard that for music, subs (vs a good full-range speaker) might not be necessary, as, while they might be great at reproducing an explosion or a jet engine in a home theater set up...that does not mean they can add to music. (I don't have home theater)
Wrong. Subs are great for music, even if your mains are full range. Why? Well, it mostly has to do with your room. Bass will sound thin and lifeless in some parts of the room, but may sound boomy in others. And depending on where your bass is coming from, those nodes and nulls will most definitely shift. In other words, the best location for your main speakers for producing solid imaging and sound stage at your primary listening position is likely not going to be the best location for bass response in your primary listening position. Adding a subwoofer allows you to tune your system to your room. See the
subwoofer crawl. Adding two subs is even better. Additionally, if you can set a high pass filter on your amp powering your main 2.0, then diverting the sub bass to a subwoofer can relieve some strain from your main stereo amp, allowing you to play more cleanly at higher volumes.
I've read quite a few threads in here where recommendations have been made to use bookshelf speakers (mine are all floor standing) along with as many as 4 subs!! I'd love to hear that set up...
Me, too.
Thanks in advance
Onward and upward
Puff
I don't have a subwoofer-out on my amps. Left/right only.
Sony CD Player>>Emotiva DAC>>Toshiba amps>>speakers
Insert sub here:
Sony CD Player>>Emotiva DAC>>Toshiba amps>>subwoofer>>speakers
Most active subs provide speaker-level inputs and outputs. Most of
those act as a simple passthrough. The signal going from the amps to the main stereo speakers isn't touched, so you still hear what you heard before from your 2.0; except that the subwoofer taps that signal and plays the deep parts. Occasionally you might come across a sub, like some
Hsu Research subs for example, that will split that high-level signal at the frequency set on the sub's crossover dial, sending everything above to the mains and everything below to the sub driver. Such a feature makes tuning your blend a little easier, but it's not crucial. If you choose a sub without that feature, you can just dial the sub's crossover to a few Hz above the -3dB point of your towers, and use a little trial and error to salt to taste if you wish.
Alternatively, you could do this:
Sony CD Player>>Emotiva DAC>>
this Rolls SX45>>Toshiba amps>>Speakers
|
subwoofer
