Powering sub with the receiver

[jake5717]

I’m looking to began upgrading my AV gear. Currently I have an RCA home theater in a box (Specs below). When I upgrade to a new receiver more than likely it’s not going to have subwoofer outputs like my RCA. Since most receivers are 7.1 would it be possible to bridge the back 2 channels and adjust the cutoffs so that it would power the sub just like the RCA did?

Currently the sub is placed next to the sofa (opposite the common wall) and has speaker wires run to it. when I buy a powered sub is there a way to use the existing wires to get the signal over to it or will I need to run new wires.

http://reviews.cnet.com/RCA_RT2280/4507-6740_7-9498616.html?tag=sub


thanks a lot!

 

[markw]

What inputs does that sub have?

that cnet thing told me nothing on a quick read and it's easier if you just tell us what inputs the sub has.

But, to start with, you don't want to just connect two amplifier channels together. It's a nice way to destroy a receiver. If you do decide to chance it, invite friends over and have plenty of hot dogs, marshmallows and sticks to cook 'em on. Some s'mores might be nice, too.

If, as I suspect, the sub amp is part of the HTIB receiver and the sub itself is just an empty box with a speaker like my friends HTIB system, you're pretty much out of luck marrying it to a "real" HT receiver. They are designed to send a signal to a sub with a built in power amplifier.

You're better off simply biting the bullet ang getting a new powered sub at the same time.

...sorry if I can't offer happier news. If it's any consolation, I had to telll my friend the same thing.

And when (not if) you buy that powered sub, if you can connect RCA plugs to both sides you can use the same wire, but T'd suggest you just run a shielded cable with the requisite ends. If push comes to shove, you can use antenna cable with "F" connecters on and get hold of some inexpensive "F" to RCA adapters at Rat Shack or the like.

 

[jake5717]

Yes the sub is pretty much a speaker in a big box. It uses plain ol speaker wire (+ -) to connect back to the reciever.

Do you think with a good AVR and a decent set of speakers Ill really miss the sub?

 

[j_garcia]

You probably won't miss that sub with decent speakers, but a sub is pretty much a given in the average HT these days because of the benefits such as it having its own power and being designed to handle the low stuff specifically.

 

[jake5717]

Someday I will add a sub to the HT for sure, its just at this time I'd like to focus my finances on AVR then Speakers then sub.

 

[j_garcia]

I'd focus on speakers first, as they make the single biggest difference in sound, then and AVR to appropriately power whatever you choose.

 

[solomr2]

Most modern AVRs will have an LFE out, requiring just one shielded cable to the sub. Most good (powered) subs also accept the LFE signal, but also have other wiring options so you can connect them in a variety of ways, and you can even drive other speakers off the sub's circuitry.

I think a good sub is pretty important in a HT setup, but not absolutely mandatory. You can also get main speakers with built in subs, or high quality main speakers that have enough dynamic range that a separate sub would not be necessary.

 

[j_garcia]

If one intends to use a sub at some point, which I recommend, it doesn't make a lot of sense to look for mains that go low enough to cover without a sub in the meantime realistically; sort of counter intuitive. You can get by without a sub for sure, but mains that go really low (low 30s) aren't going to be any cheaper than a decent bookshelf and sub and still generally won't give you that last bit of the bottom octave as well as a decent sub.

Maybe we should start with your budget and room size and then we can see if we can help you pick out something with a sub that will get you what you're after?

 

[jake5717]

The room is long rectangle probably about 20 X 10. TV and chairs are set up along the long walls. The wall where the TV is, is a common wall so I don’t really want to have a sub or speakers with subs in them along that wall. The sub is along the opposite wall with the chairs. I don’t really need a loud sub because it’s an apt and I don’t want to bother any neighbors.