Subwoofer Has Speaker Connections Only, Receiver Has Line Out Only.

[natattack]

Hi everyone,

Firstly, Thankyou in advance for reading my post! This is a great forum full of a lot of helpful people! I have joined today hoping that someone would be able to help me with a cabling question I have with my 5.1 home theater sytem.

Just to keep it brief, I am wondering if there is any possibility of connecting an unpowered subwoofer (speaker connection only, no line input) to the `rear center' speaker connection on my 6.1 receiver, and having it still work as a subwoofer? Its a yamaha RXV630, and the sub is part of an LG home theater system.

The impedence of the speaker matches the receiver ok, so theres no problems there. And the reason I'm even considering this is because the receiver does not have a speaker output connection for the Subwoofer...just a line output.

I guess I just wanted to know if I'm just being really silly considering this. Thanks tons for your help!

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[joz]

Umm no!If you going to connect it to any output it would be only L and R fronts and only if it was powered and the sub had speaker outputs.BTW which brand of sub is it?

Some passive subs that are made to do this and be connected to satellite size fronts.

[natattack]

Umm no!If you going to connect it to any output it would be only L and R fronts and only if it was powered and the sub had speaker outputs.BTW which brand of sub is it?

Some passive subs that are made to do this and be connected to satellite size fronts.

The brand is LG. Its a brand new model, rated at 450W/ 3 ohms. The only connection on it is for speaker wire, unfortunately. It currently plugs into the back of my LG DVD player (its part of DVD/ speaker combo).

[Thornton Melon]

The brand is LG. Its a brand new model, rated at 450W/ 3 ohms. The only connection on it is for speaker wire, unfortunately. It currently plugs into the back of my LG DVD player (its part of DVD/ speaker combo).

If you have a Yamaha 6.1 receiver,why are you playing with the LG set-up ? (just curious)

Cheers

[natattack]

If you have a Yamaha 6.1 receiver,why are you playing with the LG set-up ? (just curious)

Cheers

LOL! Yes, good question! Its because I had the LG system first, then I picked up the receiver at an incredibly cheap price later on. I was hoping to intergrate the receiver into the HT without spending more money right now, as we're still hurting a bit from buying the plasma...you know how it is?

[Razr]

Does the LG system have 5.1 inputs, or even 2ch stereo inputs? (i.e. Auxilliary). If so, you should be able to run a pair of RCA's from your Yamaha's line output into the LG's Aux input, then use the LG receiver to power the sub as it did before.

If the above doesn't make much sense, give us the model number for the LG amp/receiver/combo-unit (whatever one it is) so we can check out what input options it has.

[Thornton Melon]

Does the LG system have 5.1 inputs, or even 2ch stereo inputs? (i.e. Auxilliary). If so, you should be able to run a pair of RCA's from your Yamaha's line output into the LG's Aux input, then use the LG receiver to power the sub as it did before.

If the above doesn't make much sense, give us the model number for the LG amp/receiver/combo-unit (whatever one it is) so we can check out what input options it has.

I'd keep the LG for the spare room, use the sub with the Yamaha, and pay off a half decent pair of mains and maybe a centre channel speaker for now. I can suggest some good cheap speakers if you need

Cheers

[natattack]

Does the LG system have 5.1 inputs, or even 2ch stereo inputs? (i.e. Auxilliary). If so, you should be able to run a pair of RCA's from your Yamaha's line output into the LG's Aux input, then use the LG receiver to power the sub as it did before.

If the above doesn't make much sense, give us the model number for the LG amp/receiver/combo-unit (whatever one it is) so we can check out what input options it has.

Hey, thats a GREAT idea, Razr....thanks so much! I hadn't even considered that, and it makes a ton of sense.

Yes, the LG (LG LH-T9656IA) does have both optical and stereo AUX inputs. The yamaha has optical and stereo outputs.

That would mean that all I'd need to get started would be a new HDMI DVD player with optical/coax outputs....$150-$200

Awesome! Thankyou you TONS!

[natattack]

I'd keep the LG for the spare room, use the sub with the Yamaha, and pay off a half decent pair of mains and maybe a centre channel speaker for now. I can suggest some good cheap speakers if you need

Cheers

Yes, thanks Thorton; thats a good suggestion too. I was hoping to build it all up a touch more slowly though (money reasons)....for example I'd like to keep using the LG speakers for another few months, as they're brand new and not bad for our little Home Theater space (its only 3m X 2.8m!). The main weakness in the LG system is lack of audio adjustment controls....it has no EQ, & only one surround preset `virtual 10.1' . Its a nice preset, but it makes orchestral music sound `tinny', The yamaha should take care of that side of things, as it has something like 44 possible surround sound adjustments!.

I would appreciate hearing your speaker recommendations for sure...thankyou!

[ken s]

Yes, thanks Thorton; thats a good suggestion too. I was hoping to build it all up a touch more slowly though (money reasons)....for example I'd like to keep using the LG speakers for another few months, as they're brand new and not bad for our little Home Theater space (its only 3m X 2.8m!). The main weakness in the LG system is lack of audio adjustment controls....it has no EQ, & only one surround preset `virtual 10.1' . Its a nice preset, but it makes orchestral music sound `tinny', The yamaha should take care of that side of things, as it has something like 44 possible surround sound adjustments!.

I would appreciate hearing your speaker recommendations for sure...thankyou!

natattack...........sounds like its a self powered job?.....maybe yeah just stick in a spare room and buy some speakers for this amp...........you can buy a "dream" 5.1 speaker set for around $700 which would be a good starting point for you if the budgets tight.

cheers ken

[natattack]

natattack...........sounds like its a self powered job?.....maybe yeah just stick in a spare room and buy some speakers for this amp...........you can buy a "dream" 5.1 speaker set for around $700 which would be a good starting point for you if the budgets tight.

cheers ken

Thanks Ken! Yes, i've noticed the` Dream' audio speakers on ebay a lot. They seem to get good reviews too, and great feedback (though I wonder how many customers have actually plugged them it before leaving feedback?). I've also noticed some nice Yamahas on ebay too (NS series, i think?); I'm pretty sure thats what I'll aim for (down the track).

Well, as a follow up, I read through the Yamaha RXV-630 manual, and GOOD NEWS! The second set of mains speaker connections can be set to subwoofer out!!!! How thoughtful of Yamaha...nice!

So now I can just sell the LG DVD player/receiver outright, and exchange it for a DVD player with optical outputs!

[quijibo]

The only thing you probably need to consider with the sub is that it may not have a crossover built in.

I have a similar system to your LG, but probably cheaper and nastier, and I tried using the sub on another system only to find that it does not have a crossover and the subwoofer plays as a full range speaker, not just the low frequency sounds that it normally does.

[natattack]

The only thing you probably need to consider with the sub is that it may not have a crossover built in.

I have a similar system to your LG, but probably cheaper and nastier, and I tried using the sub on another system only to find that it does not have a crossover and the subwoofer plays as a full range speaker, not just the low frequency sounds that it normally does.

Thanks, I would never in a million years thought of that! In the receiver manual, it states that only 20hz-90hz frequencies are put through the second pair of speaker outs when they are assigned to a subwoofer. Do you think that would be enough?

[--ThisIsAllToMuchFun--]

Thanks, I would never in a million years thought of that! In the receiver manual, it states that only 20hz-90hz frequencies are put through the second pair of speaker outs when they are assigned to a subwoofer. Do you think that would be enough?

.........yep those freq are perfect for a sub

....got to love yammie for thinking of those options

.........Does the sub option in the manual mention using only one of the speaker "B" out puts for driving the sub & also check that a 3ohm load is within your amps safe area

...the manual should talk about it in the 4 speaker mode

...if the other "A" speakers are 8 ohms the combined loading may well be just over 2 ohms which is a bit low & could be dangerious @ higher volumes

......jaycar do sell sub amps starting from $140 & I've seen 10 inch powered subs at DSE around that price as well & 8 inch powered boomy subs as low as $80 at the various hifi discounters

............ --ThisIsAllToMuchFun-- ........

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Edited January 30, 2007 by --ThisIsAllToMuchFun--

[Razr]

While it looks like the Yammy will crossover and power the sub just fine, seeing as the sub is rated at 450w (this could be one of those sky-high bloated specs though) and the Yammy is rated at just 75w, you might find that the Yammy just won't power it as well as the LG receiver did.

I'd suggest giving it a try both ways before you off and sell the LG kit.

[natattack]

While it looks like the Yammy will crossover and power the sub just fine, seeing as the sub is rated at 450w (this could be one of those sky-high bloated specs though) and the Yammy is rated at just 75w, you might find that the Yammy just won't power it as well as the LG receiver did.

Yes, I was wondering about that too. The yamaha receiver is rated at 75 watts per channel at 8 ohms, BUT in the manual its also rated at 195 W at 2 ohms, 150 watts at 4 ohms, and 120 watts at 6 ohms .

I noticed (cynically) that LG made all their speakers in my system with 3 or 4 ohms impedence so that they can advertise them as having a higher power rating! I mean if they were rated at 8 ohms like most speakers, their power would be rated at 75W each. Not quite as impressive as `150W' for sales, huh?

I guess I'll have to just try it all out and see if the sub will draw enough power from the Yamaha.

Thisisalltoomuchfun...Thanks, I couldn't hazzard a guess as to how the A+B Main speaker combo will work

with the sub on `B' and the Mains on `A'.

In theory, should 2 sets of mains speakers reduce the overal power going to them?

[--ThisIsAllToMuchFun--]

Yes, I was wondering about that too. The yamaha receiver is rated at 75 watts per channel at 8 ohms, BUT in the manual its also rated at 195 W at 2 ohms, 150 watts at 4 ohms, and 120 watts at 6 ohms .

Thisisalltoomuchfun...Thanks, I couldn't hazzard a guess as to how the A+B Main speaker combo will work

with the sub on `B' and the Mains on `A'.

In theory, should 2 sets of mains speakers reduce the overal power going to them?

......well that info looks good..if you go the speaker A..B.. combo with the sub on say the LH channel on B .. just check that the balance is Ok on the front L&R channels & carefully give it some volume & check for clipping or distortion...But be careful with this & don't do it for long periods until you find out what the effects of the new loads are

....last year I bought one of the auto swtching jaycar $140 sub amps & they work well...& have also used the $80 8 inch subs & they are boomy but this can be helped running it's x-over @ lower freq

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.................... --ThisIsAllToMuchFun-- ...........

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[natattack]

......well that info looks good..if you go the speaker A..B.. combo with the sub on say the LH channel on B .. just check that the balance is Ok on the front L&R channels & carefully give it some volume & check for clipping or distortion...But be careful with this & don't do it for long periods until you find out what the effects of the new loads are

....last year I bought one of the auto swtching jaycar $140 sub amps & they work well...& have also used the $80 8 inch subs & they are boomy but this can be helped running it's x-over @ lower freq

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.................... --ThisIsAllToMuchFun-- ...........

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Thanks ThisIsAllToMuchFun! I think I'll check out Jaycar soon, as I was also reading about a `line to speaker convertor ' that can potentially allow the speaker outs on the sub woofer to be connected to the RCA out on the Yamaha. If anyone would have such a convertor, Jaycar would!