Subwoofer Connections

[RickMag]

I received a powered sub with no manual (KLH model KSUB-10) and have a 5 year old Panasonic home theatre system (receiver and speakers). The sub out connection from the receiver is speaker wires (no RCA sub out) to the passive sub that came with the system. Can I connect the KLH powered sub using the speaker wire from the sub output on the receiver and how best would you do that? The KLH sub has speaker wire inputs as well as RCA inputs. Thanks for any help - I can't find anything on the sub at KLH's site, and have requested a manual but no response, just don't want to damage anything by trial and error.

 

[MUDSHARK]

http://www.audioholics.com/education/frequently-asked-questions/connecting-a-subwoofer-to-a-receiver-with-no-subwoofer-output

this should help you get going

 

[RickMag]

Read it, however I do have speaker connections for pro-logic: two front, two rear, center and subwoofer - but they are all speaker wire (no rca) and powered by the receiver's amp. So can I run the sub speaker wire from the receiver's subwoofer output(which is amplified, I have 4 power settings on the receiver for the passive sub that came with the system) into the KLH powered sub, and use the KLH as Passive, or can I still use it as powered even though the receiver is amping the sub? sorry, a bit new to this custom component connection. Tx!

 

[RickMag]

Read it, however I do have speaker connections for pro-logic: two front, two rear, center and subwoofer - but they are all speaker wire (no rca) and powered by the receiver's amp. So can I run the sub speaker wire from the receiver's subwoofer output(which is amplified, I have 4 power settings on the receiver for the passive sub that came with the system) into the KLH powered sub, and use the KLH as Passive, or can I still use it as powered even though the receiver is amping the sub? sorry, a bit new to this custom component connection. Tx!

 

[MDS]

Any time you have speaker level connections they are considered 'high level'; ie already amplified. Typically to connect a powered sub with speaker level connections you'd connect the front speaker outputs of the receiver to the sub and then the sub to the front speakers. The sub will take the high level input signal and knock it down to line-level, apply the xover and 'keep' the bass for itself (which it amplifies), and pass the rest of the signal to the front speakers.

From your description it would be exactly the same except that the receiver in question actually uses speaker level connections from its subwoofer output and you wouldn't have to do the receiver->sub->front speakers like you normally would.

You will need to set the xover frequency on the sub itself.

 

[RickMag]

So rhe receiver's sub out is an LFE and is amp'd and the crossover is set by the min, 5, 10...max setting on the receiver, I believe. So you're saying I can run the receiver's sub out speaker cable into the KLH subs high level (right or left +/-) and then adjust the KLH's crossover and/or gain - what should I set the crossover to? So both the receiver and the KLH would be amping the sub, and is that ok? Sorry, just a bit confused. I don't want to turn off the sub at the receiver, and run the mains through the sub and back to the mains, as suggsted, if I can help it, and your solution sounds like what I'm thinking - sub speaker wire from receiver into KLH sub high level input - just don't want to damage anything. Thanks for the help and advice, much appreciated!!