Suber-newb questions on basic cables and hookups

[Porschefan]

Hi,

I've gathered most of the components for my first HT ever and I want to get a few really, really newbie questions out of the way before I start unpacking boxes and tackling the various hookups. I've got several questions to start and I'll just post them in this one thread. I think most of them will just require a simple answer. I'll try inserting links to pictures. Thanks in advance for any input (no pun intended).

System:

AVR: Yamaha HTR-6160 (RX-V663)
Speakers: Axiom: M22's, VP150, QS4's
Subwoofer: Polk RM6000 (cheapie thrown in w/speakers--to be replaced ASAP)
Blu-Ray: PS3
TV: Philips 52" LCD (the "Costco special")

Subwoofer questions:

The subwoofer was thrown in with the Axioms which I purchased slightly used from a local seller. He supplied a single cable with RCA jacks on each end. I figured it would just be a simple connect: plug in the sub and connect the cable from one of the sub outputs on the AVR, but when I look at the back of the subwoofer I don't see exactly where to plug it in. Here are pix of the back panel and the cable:

Back panel of Polk RM-6000

I see the 2 RCA inputs (L &R) and the two sets of "Speaker-level" inputs AND outputs. My questions are:

1) where do I plug the subwoofer cable in? Or do I need to get another subwoofer cable that has a "Y" connector with plugs for the L and R inputs? Why would a single sub-woofer have any kind of L or R or dual inputs of any kind?

2) what are the "speaker-level" inputs and outputs and what is their purpose? Can subwoofers be driven from SPEAKERS? Where would you run a subwoofers OUTPUT to?

(These might be beyond "newbie" questions and betray an utter lack of comprehension!)


Cables:

I got a bunch of cables from the speaker seller and just want to confirm that I understand what they are and how to use them.

Interconnects:

There are three of them and I assume they are the main connectors between the AVR and the 2 front and the 1 center speaker. My previous acquaintance with speaker connections have been of the garden-variety el-cheapo do-it-yourself kinds so these seem pretty darn cool to me--although I wonder if they really add much in the way of sound quality?

Cobalt interconnects--closeup


Rear Speakers Wire:

For some reason I have two "sets" of these. One is Blue Jeans cable "10-white," and are terminated with RCA plugs (I think!) on one end and no termination--just bare wire--on the other. (Note: link to this pic is not posting for some reason--but it's just about 30 feet of Blue Jeans 10-white.)

The other set has terminators labeled "Monster," but otherwise just looks like bulk speaker wire--probably 10-guage? One end are banana plugs (I think!) and the other are kind of a woven-together piece that I guess is built to mimic bare-wire for speakers with the kind of connectors that can only take bare-wires. I don't know the proper term for these kind of terminators.

Monster speaker cable w/terminators

I don't know which of the two sets of speaker wire I should use for the rear QS4's. The Axiom speakers all have 5-way connectors and I think they would accept either the bare-wire or the "other" types. Is there any advantage to using either one? Should I go buy some terminators for the Blue Jeans 10-white?

Thanks in advance for any pointers. Everybody starts somewhere, no?

Best regards,
Stephen Porter
Lost Angeles, CA

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Subwoofer questions:

Use either the left or right RCA, you dont need a splitter

The line level could be used if you needed to do bass management from the sub. Your AVR will do it so just use the RCA.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Cables:

The cables in the picture are speaker cables terminated with Banana plugs. They look like very nice wires and you should use them. They will not make any system sound better or worse.

 

[j_garcia]

Connect the sub to LINE IN; some subs need a Y, some will work with just one input (since they are summed inside anyway). Try both, one may work by itself. Speaker outputs are for passing through the signal to the main speakers. With your receiver and speakers I would just connect them all directly to the receiver, not the sub and set them all to small.

Pretty much speaker wire is speaker wire, so use what reaches, and whichever connection type you prefer. I personally prefer bananas whenever possible. The pic of the cobalts show banana connectors for speakers, those are speaker wires. The Monster looks to be about 14awg which is fine. The cobalts look like 10AWG and the Bluejeans one is also 10AWG.


Yes, those "braided" connectors are little more than expensive connectors that add nothing that you wouldn't get with bare wire - you can buy different tips for those connectors though (bananas). I've used them, they are OK, but far too pricey.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Rear Speakers Wire:

Those are just pin connectors from Monster. They will be fine for your rears, just make sure the wire is CL rated if they are going in the walls.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Once you get it all set up, turn the crossover on the sub as high as it will go and set ther volume around the 1/3-1/2 mark. Then run the auto-cal on the Yammy (YPAO), after it has ran, go back in on the manual side and check your crossover and speakers size. You should shoot for a crossover around 80 hz and the speakers should be set to small.