Subwoofer connections??

[JPA3]

Hi all. Newbie here. I am trying to do some troubleshooting with my new A/V receiver. Its an onkyo TX-SR508. My problem is the output on the back of the receiver is a single RCA or coaxial, and my sub is a non powered sub, with standard red and black(positive and negative terminals on the back). Anyones input/help would be greatly appreciated.


Lost

 

[KEW]

Bottom line is you need to add an amplifier between your AVR's sub out and your sub.
I assume your AVR has standard Bass management. Do you know?

Edit: I checked and it does, so you need an amplifier. Do you have one?

What is the model of the subwoofer?

You may be thinking you have extra amps in your AVR if you have 5 speakers since it is a 7.1 unit, but I do not believe there is a way to isolate one of the extra channels from the surround signal it is designed to receive (and even if you could, your sub would likely require more power than a channel of your AVR can deliver).

 

[JPA3]

its a 12inch sony explode in a box. My old pioneer 5.1 system ran it with speaker wire just fine. actually I have had it hooked to a few different stereo systems and it work. And no I dont have an amp and cant afford one right now.Is there any way that I can get up and running??

 

[KEW]

What was your Pioneer AVR? I can only guess it was designed to power a passive sub.

Like any modern AVR, your Onkyo sub output puts out a unamplified signal to feed into an amplifier (or a powered subwoofer).

Where are you located?

 

[JPA3]

upstate NY

 

[JPA3]

so if i hook it up, it will not run?

 

[KEW]

Right. There has to be an amplifier somewhere before the sub.
I'd feel a bit better answering that if you could give a model number on your Pioneer that did power it so I could understand how that worked.
From your post though, I gather you could connect the sub via speaker wire to the receiver, which meant it had to be designed to power a passive sub.

 

[JPA3]

Ok, I have an Idea. Is there any way to use the Logitech Z 5300 Subwoofer (from the 5.1 system). Its a powered sub with amp, that plugs into the wall. I have the complete system but I can unhook it temporarily to get by until I get a new powered sub. Looks like it has the connections on it for input from the receiver.?

Thanks

 

[GranteedEV]

so if i hook it up, it will not run?

No unless you've got amplification, although there are other electronics details that do come into play with subwoofers. If it makes you feel any better, the sony xplode is probably not worthy anyways. you'd be better off getting a cheap Dayton, HSU, or Lavasub.

Ok, I have an Idea. Is there any way to use the Logitech Z 5300 Subwoofer (from the 5.1 system). Its a powered sub with amp, that plugs into the wall. I have the complete system but I can unhook it temporarily to get by until I get a new powered sub. Looks like it has the connections on it for input from the receiver.?

On paper it should, although with computer subs there's often extrenuous circuitry which may complicate matters. Further... If we're talking about a logitech sub, it's probably a 6 or 8 inch woofer with a port tuned notably high. From my experience it will likely sound

1) Boomy and irritating. Very Muddy due to its excursion.
2) Weak and insufficient for any home in both output and extension.

You would be wasting your time unless you're placing this nearfield in an office sized room. It should still sound bad but it will at least have output.

 

[MDS]

If the sub was previously hooked up to another receiver with speaker wire and it worked fine then the sub is powered - it just lacks modern line-level inputs. You hook it up to the Onkyo in the same way it was previously hooked up to another receiver.

If it is a typical sub with only high-level (speaker level inputs) then there are two sets of speaker terminals - one input and one output. You connect the speaker wire from the Onkyo's front speaker terminals to the input on the sub and then from the sub's output to the front speakers.

 

[markw]

its a 12inch sony explode in a box. My old pioneer 5.1 system ran it with speaker wire just fine.

Some HTIB systems are designed with a sub amp built in.

actually I have had it hooked to a few different stereo systems and it work.

Exactly how did you have it hooked up to those other stereo systems?