Subwoofer connection question

[LarryLOOK]

My powered subwoofer has a right and left input (rca type), but my receiver
has only one subwoofer-out jack. My questions are as follows:

1. Does it matter if I plug the receiver into the L or the R input on the
subwoofer, or are they likely equivalent? If not likely equivalent, which
is usually the best to plug into of the two, R or L?

2. Can I use a regular good quality rca cable or should I go buy a cable
labeled for subwoofer use at a quality audio store (like a monster cable
labelled for subwoofer)

3. Is there a good reason to buy a cable that has a Y attachment that
enables me to plug it into the R and L input of the subwoofer - or is this
usually a waste of money?

4. I understand that some receivers have a stereo output to the subwoofer,
but doubt mine does (Yamaha rx-v750). Wouldn't this need a very special
cable indeed (stereo cable out from receiver) which I doubt I own and don't
believe I've seen in electronics stores? Is this common?

5. Why are most subwoofers made with R and L input for rca cables? Is
there a big market for that or wouldn't most be satisfied with one mono
input?

Very sorry if this has been asked before.

[Lucas Tam]

"LarryLOOK" <anonlmp@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:1JqdnVIkpq-3EpzfRVn-gQ@comcast.com:

> My powered subwoofer has a right and left input (rca type), but my
> receiver has only one subwoofer-out jack. My questions are as
> follows:
>
> 1. Does it matter if I plug the receiver into the L or the R input on
> the subwoofer, or are they likely equivalent? If not likely
> equivalent, which is usually the best to plug into of the two, R or L?

Read your subwoofer manual.

Some subwoofers you use the right jack, others use the left jacks, and
even others use both jacks (you need to buy a Y-adapter).

> 2. Can I use a regular good quality rca cable or should I go buy a
> cable labeled for subwoofer use at a quality audio store (like a
> monster cable labelled for subwoofer)

Monster Cables are a rip off. Surprisingly Walmart sells pretty good
quality cables. A standard RCA cable will work with your subwoofer, but
you may want to buy a dedicated subwoofer cable. Avoid monster cable -
it's a rip off : )

> 3. Is there a good reason to buy a cable that has a Y attachment that
> enables me to plug it into the R and L input of the subwoofer - or is
> this usually a waste of money?

This would depend on your subwoofer. Some require a Y-cable, others
don't.

> 4. I understand that some receivers have a stereo output to the
> subwoofer, but doubt mine does (Yamaha rx-v750). Wouldn't this need a
> very special cable indeed (stereo cable out from receiver) which I
> doubt I own and don't believe I've seen in electronics stores? Is
> this common?

I believe most new receivers have a mono-subwoofer output.

> 5. Why are most subwoofers made with R and L input for rca cables?
> Is there a big market for that or wouldn't most be satisfied with one
> mono input?

I believe it's put their for "legacy" purposes. Some people may still
have a receiver without a subwoofer out. Having a stereo input allows
those people to feed a full frequency L/R stereo signal into the sub.
The sub will then filter out all the high frequencies for the sub-
signal.
--
Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

[Pagan]

"LarryLOOK" <anonlmp@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1JqdnVIkpq-3EpzfRVn-gQ@comcast.com...
> My powered subwoofer has a right and left input (rca type), but my
receiver
> has only one subwoofer-out jack. My questions are as follows:
>
> 1. Does it matter if I plug the receiver into the L or the R input on the
> subwoofer, or are they likely equivalent? If not likely equivalent, which
> is usually the best to plug into of the two, R or L?

From what I understand, it's usually best to use a Y adapter.

> 2. Can I use a regular good quality rca cable or should I go buy a cable
> labeled for subwoofer use at a quality audio store (like a monster cable
> labelled for subwoofer)

Depends on how long the run is. If your sub is fairly close to the
receiver, any RCA cable will do. However, if it's across the room, and you
have a long cable going all the way around, your best bet is to buy an RG6
cable, which is also used for cable and sat wiring, and use adapters to
convert the F connectors to RCA. You can get all this from Radio Shack.
The idea here is that the cable is shielded, so any stray RF signals won't
work their way to your sub. They wouldn't hurt it, but you'd hear thumping
whenever somebody walked around with a cell phone.

As for the rest, Lucas Tom is correct, especially about Monster Cables.

Pagan

> 3. Is there a good reason to buy a cable that has a Y attachment that
> enables me to plug it into the R and L input of the subwoofer - or is this
> usually a waste of money?
>
> 4. I understand that some receivers have a stereo output to the
subwoofer,
> but doubt mine does (Yamaha rx-v750). Wouldn't this need a very special
> cable indeed (stereo cable out from receiver) which I doubt I own and
don't
> believe I've seen in electronics stores? Is this common?
>
> 5. Why are most subwoofers made with R and L input for rca cables? Is
> there a big market for that or wouldn't most be satisfied with one mono
> input?
>
> Very sorry if this has been asked before.
>
>

[TCS]

On Wed, 2 Feb 2005 20:46:02 -0800, Pagan <DirtySanchez@rotten.com> wrote:
>"LarryLOOK" <anonlmp@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:1JqdnVIkpq-3EpzfRVn-gQ@comcast.com...
>> My powered subwoofer has a right and left input (rca type), but my
>receiver
>> has only one subwoofer-out jack. My questions are as follows:
>>
>> 1. Does it matter if I plug the receiver into the L or the R input on the
>> subwoofer, or are they likely equivalent? If not likely equivalent, which
>> is usually the best to plug into of the two, R or L?

>From what I understand, it's usually best to use a Y adapter.

It's best to RTFM. Just about every subwoofer on the market will let you
simply connect to one input. They're summed into mono anyway.

[Lucas Tam]

TCS <The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote in
news:slrnd03bt3.ohb.The-Central-Scrutinizer@linux.client.comcast.net:

> It's best to RTFM. Just about every subwoofer on the market will let you
> simply connect to one input. They're summed into mono anyway.

My old JBL PSW1000 Subwoofer needed two inputs to be connected. While my
newer JBL E250P only needs one input. On the older PSW1000 if one input was
connected, the signal would be very weak. The manual of course recommends
the use of a Y-adapter. On my newer E250P, the manual states to switch the
sub into LFE mode and only attach the cable to the left input.

So yes, it's best to RTFM : )

--
Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

[larrylook]

"TCS" <The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote in message
news:slrnd03bt3.ohb.The-Central-Scrutinizer@linux.client.comcast.net...
> On Wed, 2 Feb 2005 20:46:02 -0800, Pagan <DirtySanchez@rotten.com> wrote:
> >"LarryLOOK" <anonlmp@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >news:1JqdnVIkpq-3EpzfRVn-gQ@comcast.com...
> >> My powered subwoofer has a right and left input (rca type), but my
> >receiver
> >> has only one subwoofer-out jack. My questions are as follows:
> >>
> >> 1. Does it matter if I plug the receiver into the L or the R input on
the
> >> subwoofer, or are they likely equivalent? If not likely equivalent,
which
> >> is usually the best to plug into of the two, R or L?
>
> >From what I understand, it's usually best to use a Y adapter.
>
> It's best to RTFM. Just about every subwoofer on the market will let you
> simply connect to one input. They're summed into mono anyway.

Then manual says connect an rca cable to L input on the sub unless you have
stereo sub out from receiver. I guess this means two seperate ports/jacks
out from receiver correct? How common is that? I see only one output for
sub on my receiver so I guess I don't need to conned to R and L input of
sub.

[TCS]

On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 06:40:18 -0500, larrylook <noemail@email.com> wrote:

>"TCS" <The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote in message
>news:slrnd03bt3.ohb.The-Central-Scrutinizer@linux.client.comcast.net...
>> On Wed, 2 Feb 2005 20:46:02 -0800, Pagan <DirtySanchez@rotten.com> wrote:
>> >"LarryLOOK" <anonlmp@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> >news:1JqdnVIkpq-3EpzfRVn-gQ@comcast.com...
>> >> My powered subwoofer has a right and left input (rca type), but my
>> >receiver
>> >> has only one subwoofer-out jack. My questions are as follows:
>> >>
>> >> 1. Does it matter if I plug the receiver into the L or the R input on
>the
>> >> subwoofer, or are they likely equivalent? If not likely equivalent,
>which
>> >> is usually the best to plug into of the two, R or L?
>>
>> >From what I understand, it's usually best to use a Y adapter.
>>
>> It's best to RTFM. Just about every subwoofer on the market will let you
>> simply connect to one input. They're summed into mono anyway.

>Then manual says connect an rca cable to L input on the sub unless you have
>stereo sub out from receiver. I guess this means two seperate ports/jacks
>out from receiver correct? How common is that? I see only one output for
It's pretty rare.

More common is to take a full range stereo pair to the subwoofer, and have it
return a highpass signal back in stereo to an amp. That's still pretty
rare as most setups have a home theater amp send a lowpass signal to the sub
but it's about the only time I've seen stereo sent to a sub.


>sub on my receiver so I guess I don't need to conned to R and L input of
>sub.

[Pagan]

"TCS" <The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote in message
news:slrnd03bt3.ohb.The-Central-Scrutinizer@linux.client.comcast.net...
> On Wed, 2 Feb 2005 20:46:02 -0800, Pagan <DirtySanchez@rotten.com> wrote:
> >"LarryLOOK" <anonlmp@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >news:1JqdnVIkpq-3EpzfRVn-gQ@comcast.com...
> >> My powered subwoofer has a right and left input (rca type), but my
> >receiver
> >> has only one subwoofer-out jack. My questions are as follows:
> >>
> >> 1. Does it matter if I plug the receiver into the L or the R input on
the
> >> subwoofer, or are they likely equivalent? If not likely equivalent,
which
> >> is usually the best to plug into of the two, R or L?
>
> >From what I understand, it's usually best to use a Y adapter.
>
> It's best to RTFM.

I like that. Hey, what does the "F" stand for? heh

Pagan

> Just about every subwoofer on the market will let you
> simply connect to one input. They're summed into mono anyway.

[Charles Jones]

In article <1104n7gt1s6qt5b@corp.supernews.com>, DirtySanchez@rotten.com
says...
> "TCS" <The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote in message
> > It's best to RTFM.
>
> I like that. Hey, what does the "F" stand for? heh

Fine

:-)

--
Charles Jones (charlesj@frii.com)
Loveland, Colorado
AIM: LovelandCharles
ICQ: 29610755
MSN: charlesj68@passport.com

[LarryLOOK]

"Pagan" <DirtySanchez@rotten.com> wrote in message
news:1104n7gt1s6qt5b@corp.supernews.com...
> "TCS" <The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote in message
> news:slrnd03bt3.ohb.The-Central-Scrutinizer@linux.client.comcast.net...
>> On Wed, 2 Feb 2005 20:46:02 -0800, Pagan <DirtySanchez@rotten.com> wrote:
>> >"LarryLOOK" <anonlmp@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> >news:1JqdnVIkpq-3EpzfRVn-gQ@comcast.com...
>> >> My powered subwoofer has a right and left input (rca type), but my
>> >receiver
>> >> has only one subwoofer-out jack. My questions are as follows:
>> >>
>> >> 1. Does it matter if I plug the receiver into the L or the R input on
> the
>> >> subwoofer, or are they likely equivalent? If not likely equivalent,
> which
>> >> is usually the best to plug into of the two, R or L?
>>
>> >From what I understand, it's usually best to use a Y adapter.
>>
>> It's best to RTFM.
>
> I like that. Hey, what does the "F" stand for? heh

I think he meant to suggest I read the manual first and just reversed the M
and F ;-)

>
> Pagan
>
>> Just about every subwoofer on the market will let you
>> simply connect to one input. They're summed into mono anyway.
>
>

It doesnt matter, bass information for both channels comes from the sub out.
Subs have two inputs for older receivers that have standard left right line
outs
"LarryLOOK" <anonlmp@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1JqdnVIkpq-3EpzfRVn-gQ@comcast.com...
> My powered subwoofer has a right and left input (rca type), but my
receiver
> has only one subwoofer-out jack. My questions are as follows:
>
> 1. Does it matter if I plug the receiver into the L or the R input on the
> subwoofer, or are they likely equivalent? If not likely equivalent, which
> is usually the best to plug into of the two, R or L?
>
> 2. Can I use a regular good quality rca cable or should I go buy a cable
> labeled for subwoofer use at a quality audio store (like a monster cable
> labelled for subwoofer)
>
> 3. Is there a good reason to buy a cable that has a Y attachment that
> enables me to plug it into the R and L input of the subwoofer - or is this
> usually a waste of money?
>
> 4. I understand that some receivers have a stereo output to the
subwoofer,
> but doubt mine does (Yamaha rx-v750). Wouldn't this need a very special
> cable indeed (stereo cable out from receiver) which I doubt I own and
don't
> believe I've seen in electronics stores? Is this common?
>
> 5. Why are most subwoofers made with R and L input for rca cables? Is
> there a big market for that or wouldn't most be satisfied with one mono
> input?
>
> Very sorry if this has been asked before.
>
>