question re: wires

[TylerW63]

My house was pre-wired. The sub location in the back corner of the room has both a 4 conductor 16 gauge wire and a 2 conductor 22 gauge wire running to the media center. I need to connect my sub (polk psw10) via RCA connectors. Though the user manual says not to use speaker wire, I'm assuming using the 16 gauge will be a better choice than the smaller wire? Not sure what the other wire is for.....


thanks in advance

 

[pzaur]

My house was pre-wired. The sub location in the back corner of the room has both a 4 conductor 16 gauge wire and a 2 conductor 22 gauge wire running to the media center. I need to connect my sub (polk psw10) via RCA connectors. Though the user manual says not to use speaker wire, I'm assuming using the 16 gauge will be a better choice than the smaller wire? Not sure what the other wire is for.....


thanks in advance

I think you may need to post some pics of the actual connection. What it sounds like is the house pre-wired for a high/low pass connection or a direct connection to a sub with speaker wire. Everything you mention is a speaker wire connection and not RCA.

RCA connections can be made if there is a coaxial cable present. It sounds like it is not. I would not connect the sub using any of those wire runs.

-pat

 

[highfigh]

My house was pre-wired. The sub location in the back corner of the room has both a 4 conductor 16 gauge wire and a 2 conductor 22 gauge wire running to the media center. I need to connect my sub (polk psw10) via RCA connectors. Though the user manual says not to use speaker wire, I'm assuming using the 16 gauge will be a better choice than the smaller wire? Not sure what the other wire is for.....


thanks in advance

They may have wired it for a passive sub and a volume control that mutes when the system turns off. Is there any way to run new wires? If you have a Cat5e in the wall with an ethernet jack nearby, you can buy a 3.5mm keystone insert that lets you do the same at the head end and you would then use a 3.5mm-Stereo/mono RCA Y cord to feed the sub.

 

[MDS]

My house was pre-wired. The sub location in the back corner of the room has both a 4 conductor 16 gauge wire and a 2 conductor 22 gauge wire running to the media center.

Are you sure there is only one 4 conductor wire? I can't see how that would work even if the intention was to wire the sub using the high level (speaker level) inputs. You'd need at least one more 4 conductor to get back to the front speakers.

Even if the 4 conductor was to be used for a volume control, you'd need at least two 2 conductor wires to get from the VC to the speakers.

 

[TylerW63]

correct - there is only the 4 conductor 16g wire (red/white/green/black) and the 2 conductor 22g wire (red/black). Neither run through a volume control plate. It looks like the 2 wire is shielded (or at least has a thin metal foil wrap within the casing. I'm wondering if I can use that to solder an RCA connector to each end in order to connect the receiver sub out to the L input on the subwoofer (or use a Y connector to connect to both L & R)... Would it make sense the wire is shielded? Would the 22gauge be the correct size?

 

[highfigh]

correct - there is only the 4 conductor 16g wire (red/white/green/black) and the 2 conductor 22g wire (red/black). Neither run through a volume control plate. It looks like the 2 wire is shielded (or at least has a thin metal foil wrap within the casing. I'm wondering if I can use that to solder an RCA connector to each end in order to connect the receiver sub out to the L input on the subwoofer (or use a Y connector to connect to both L & R)... Would it make sense the wire is shielded? Would the 22gauge be the correct size?

If the thinner 2 wire cable has a bare wire in addition to the others, you could use that for the sub feed. Just solder the RCA plug to the ends and have at it.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

What highfigh said. If there is a third bare wire in the 22 ga. cable, that means the cable is shielded and it can be used as a signal cable, if you solder RCAs to it. Alternately, you might be able to fine some kind of RCA wall plate that will accept bare wires on the back side, and you could just use a pre-terminated cable between the wall and sub.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[j_garcia]

You could always just forget that wire and put the sub in the front with the rest of the system and set it up however you like. You don't HAVE to use the existing wiring.