Speaker Wire to RCA? Is it possible?

[phishphan]

Hello,

I just bought a new Onkyo receiver and the subwoofer output is fitted for speaker wire only and there is no LFE RCA output. (See attached photo)

How can I hook up my Hsu VTF-1? Can I convert bare speaker wire with an RCA adapter from Monoprice?

What's my best option?

Any help would be appreciated.

-phishphan

 

[j_garcia]

You'll probably want to try a line level converter. Speaker level -> line level (RCA).

 

[markw]

Question...

Hello,

I just bought a new Onkyo receiver and the subwoofer output is fitted for speaker wire only and there is no LFE RCA output. (See attached photo)

How can I hook up my Hsu VTF-1? Can I convert bare speaker wire with an RCA adapter from Monoprice?

What's my best option?

Any help would be appreciated.

-phishphan

Doesn't that sub have speaker level inputs??? If so, what's the problem?

 

[gmichael]

Does the Hsu VTF-1 have speaker level inputs?

 

[gmichael]

Doesn't that sub have speaker level inputs??? If so, what's the problem?

Hey....

 

[adk highlander]

What model Onkyo is that? I have not seen a receiver without an LFE out in quite a while. Was this part of a HTIB?

 

[j_garcia]

What model Onkyo is that? I have not seen a receiver without an LFE out in quite a while. Was this part of a HTIB?

I know, even their stereo receivers have a sub pre-out

And...I am pretty sure that sub has speaker level in.

 

[markw]

Hey....

GET... OUT... OF... MY... HEAD!!!

 

[phishphan]

What model Onkyo is that? I have not seen a receiver without an LFE out in quite a while. Was this part of a HTIB?

Yes, it is a HTIB Onkyo HT-S3400. I bought it strictly for the receiver and sold the Onkyo speakers to offset the cost.

Yes, the Hsu has the option of connecting my receiver L/R speaker outs to the sub and then the sub to my SuperZeros but I was hoping to take advantage of the receivers specific sub output so I don't have to screw around with crossovers and so on.

Does this make sense?

 

[adk highlander]

It makes sense but will not be possible with that receiver. You will have to use the line level speaker connections on the sub and set the main speakers to full range and set the cross over on the sub to 80hz. You will not however get the best results. The receivers that come with HTIB are not always an equivalent of what you would get buying just a receiver. They are sometimes designed to go with the speakers they are sold with. Another give away are those speaker connections on the back of the unit. Those clips are not very good quality and will not accept larger gauge wire.

 

[lsiberian]

Yes, it is a HTIB Onkyo HT-S3400. I bought it strictly for the receiver and sold the Onkyo speakers to offset the cost.

Yes, the Hsu has the option of connecting my receiver L/R speaker outs to the sub and then the sub to my SuperZeros but I was hoping to take advantage of the receivers specific sub output so I don't have to screw around with crossovers and so on.

Does this make sense?

This receiver isn't designed to pre-amp a sub.

You can disable the sub in the SPConfig. You will want to set it to No and run the line levels from the L-R which are automatically set to large through the HSU sub. This is the only way you can use your sub that I would consider reasonable and safe. Other methods would require modding your subwoofer and voiding it's warranty.

See page 29 of the owners manual for more information at the following link

http://63.148.251.135/redirect_service.cfm?type=own_manuals&file=Own-Man-3400_HT-R390_290_En_web.pdf

 

[phishphan]

Would this work? Put the wire portion to my receiver and my sub has L/R RCA inputs on it.

http://www.amazon.com/JL-Audio-XB-CLRAIC2-SW-High-Level-Connection/dp/B002F58O88

Or this cable modification?

http://www.ehow.com/how_4885770_convert-speaker-wire-rca-plugs.html

 

[markw]

How about just running the speaker level sub out from the receiver to one of the speaker level inputs on the sub?

 

[phishphan]

How about just running the speaker level sub out from the receiver to one of the speaker level inputs on the sub?

I have not tried that. The sub out (I assume is sending bass for both channels) but would I be missing anything by connecting it to a single channel on the Hsu?

 

[markw]

Occam's razor in action.

I have not tried that. The sub out (I assume is sending bass for both channels) but would I be missing anything by connecting it to a single channel on the Hsu?

No. the sub, or LFE channel is only one channel. The sub itself is only one channel and it's amp will provide all the power it needs from either one or two inputs.

 

[phishphan]

No. the sub, or LFE channel is only one channel. The sub itself is only one channel and it's amp will provide all the power it needs from either one or two inputs.

Hmm... this sounds like a very viable (and inexpensive) option. I am going to call Hsu and see if they have any words of wisdom.

 

[phishphan]

Contacted Hsu. Got a live person on the second ring. Very knowledgeable and very nice but unfortunately just as stumped on this. They said he didn't see an issue with a modified RCA or going bare wire from sub out to high level in but he wasn't entirely sure because they've never come across this situation before. He advised me to contact the good Dr. to find out his opinion. (However he is out on vacation at the moment.

So, I emailed him my situation with the photo and a better rear view diagram. Looking forward to what he has to say.

I appreciate all the suggestions from ya'll and I will definitive update once I hear back from Mr. Hsu.

 

[markw]

What's the hangup with RCAs???

As far as I see, you're going from a speaker level output (which is your only option) to a speaker level input, which is satisfied with plain speaker wire. What's with all this RCA crap?

 

[phishphan]

As far as I see, you're going from a speaker level output (which is your only option) to a speaker level input, which is satisfied with plain speaker wire. What's with all this RCA crap?

You're right. Here's the response from the Hsu support team.

I just spoke to one of our technicians, and he thinks that the best way to
hook up the VTF-1 would be to run the speaker wire from the subwoofer
output to the left or right high level input on the VTF amplifier. He said
that it is not a good idea to run from a high level speaker output to a low
level rca input, as the input board could blow that way.

The reason the Onkyo receiver was designed this way is probably because
the subwoofer in the Home-Theater-In-A-Box system is unpowered, so the
Onkyo receiver is actually powering the subwoofer in addition to the
speakers.

 

[markw]

You're right. Here's the response from the Hsu support team.

I just spoke to one of our technicians, and he thinks that the best way to
hook up the VTF-1 would be to run the speaker wire from the subwoofer
output to the left or right high level input on the VTF amplifier. He said
that it is not a good idea to run from a high level speaker output to a low
level rca input, as the input board could blow that way.

The reason the Onkyo receiver was designed this way is probably because
the subwoofer in the Home-Theater-In-A-Box system is unpowered, so the
Onkyo receiver is actually powering the subwoofer in addition to the
speakers.

You're welcome