subwoofer hooked by tape out: is it ok/safe ?

[xizor]

Oky so here is the deal, i've recently moved from my dad's to an appartement and I had my computer hooked up to my primary Amp, but now It's not possible anymore because the are not in the same room.
So I've built a low cost system with spare (old) part that I had.
Since my 5.1 system (for TV) has some pretty big and good bass speaker, I want to hook up my sub to my computer.
But here is the thing, the amp I use for the computer is rather old and does not have a sub out. But my sub has for input 2 rca jack (red and white) and I was wondering if I could use the tape out to send a signal to the sub ?!

So to simplify thing I could ask: Can the sub signal have the "full signal" or does it need to be "cut down" to only low frenquecy to be safe ?

So by looking at the pic what I want to do is to plug the sub from the amp "tape rec (out) to the sub the sub "low level input"

I know I could use the high level input but then I'd need to go buy some more cable and the 1st month in appartement is kinda expensive so I'm trying to limit to the necessary stuff, plus it is longuer to hook up!

 

[Jaycan]

You can safely run rca cables from your tape out loop to rca inputs on the subwoofer. A full range signal will not damage the sub, but for best performance, set the sub's crossover to about 20 Hz above the lower limits of your satellites dynamic range. E.g. if your satellite is rated to reproduce sounds between 50 Hz to 18 KHz, then set the sub crossover to approximately 70 Hz.

 

[markw]

It'll work OK, but...

...ya gotta remember that the tape monitor is BEFORE the volume control in the receiver. This means two things...

1) The sub will be getting the full output of whatever source has been selected. This means loud. ...very loud.

2) The signal level fed to the sub will be constant. Every time you change the volume control on the receiver, you'l need to adjust the level control on the sub to match it. To me, this would grow old very quickly but YMMV.

Iffen this were me, I'd use the speaker level inputs on the sub so I the receiver would control the volume from the sub as well as from the mains.

 

[MacManNM]

The sub has high level inputs use them. Thats the only way unless you have preamp outs.

 

[mulester7]

.....Xizar, you've got a 2 channel receiver, is that correct?....if so, your only option is to send the full-range signal to the powered sub out the tape monitor unless you have pre-outs and I've only seen that once on a 2-ch receiver....if your sub has a variable-cut to the ceiling of what you want for a sub signal, you're home....otherwise, you're going to have to employ a cut on the ceiling of the sub signal, or you won't care for the outcome, probably.....in the early days of trying to get out cheap for lows, I put a coil of wrapped wire inline on the plus speaker-wire right before the subwoofer enclosure....it had a magical effect of slowing down the highs and allowing the lowest frequencies to show up....seriously....uh-oh, here comes a few "NO WAY" posts, haha....I raise my right hand on, it made the highs and mids rolloff sharply, compared to the low stuff....this helped form a few theories about resistance.....

.....well, Xizar, I just went back and looked at your second picture....you're home.......

 

[xizor]

well I did try to see what it would give and it was working ok (for (pre-amp) volume) but the sub would not stop if the computer was on as it was always detecting a sound (even if the amp was off) so I finally decided to hook it with the high level input by making the speaker cable shorter

anyway thx for the input !

now I need to make my mind up if I'll keep the sub with the computer or with the tv !

----------------
btw yes the amp is only a 2 chan unit, it was my fisrt amp that I must have bought something like 10-12 years ago.
Its way better then what they sell for computer speaker and it was doing nothing since a few month because my syster just bought herself something better (5.1)!

 

[Nick250]

From your receiver run the speaker out to the sub (not to the speakers) and connect it up to the "from amplifier" connections on the back of the sub. Then from the back of the sub connect your speakers to the "to speakers" connection. Start with the cross over about 80 and sub volume to about 40% and adjust to your taste.

 

[newtoitall]

Xizor,
I had the same situation a little while back, with a 2 channel amp and no sub out. What i did was buy an adaptor to go from a headset jack on the front of the amp to the low level inputs on the sub, it may or may not work for you but it was fine for me and I had volume control.

Just a thought ,
Frank

 

[xizor]

Xizor,
I had the same situation a little while back, with a 2 channel amp and no sub out. What i did was buy an adaptor to go from a headset jack on the front of the amp to the low level inputs on the sub, it may or may not work for you but it was fine for me and I had volume control.

Just a thought ,
Frank

that would most lkely work, but now that its plugged with the high level input its fine ...