jdpatri

I scoured the FAQ looking for something about this but I didn't dig anything up. I apologize for any redundancy... and the avsforum is often intimidating...

Anyway... my sub started making an excess humming noice today which prompted me to check its connection when I realized that I had used a make-shift cheap RCA cable connection (because I apparently ran out of decent cables and forgot to pick something up at one of my many Best Buy runs... but I digress).

Upon noticing these cheap cables, I also noticed when digging up my subs manual (Acoustic Research 108PS) that their diagrams recommend connection via speaker wire to the other speakers or connection with audio cables from a pre-amp.

I use a Sony DB-940 receiver for my setup. No pre-amp. I've just had the audio cables connected directly to the receiver's Subwoofer pre-out (which I assume to be the same as connecting it to a pre-amp... correct me if I'm wrong, I'm very much a novice when it comes to subs and never owned a pre-amp).

To make a long winded question shorter... Do I gain anything by connecting the sub to the speakers rather than directly to my DB-940?

Thanks in advance for any knowledge you can spare....

palebluedot

You would gain considerable improvement connecting your sub to the speaker connections if you were strictly listening to music.

However you will lose out on the LFE from movie soundtracks if you did this.

You have it hooked up correctly by going to your sub pre-out on your receiver if movies are your main thing).

gotapex

When you unplug the TV from the setup, does the humming stop? If so, this might be something you want to check out:

http://www.dplay.com/tutorial/cablehum.html

jdpatri

That's a thought... but after messing with my cheap cable connecting the sub to the receiver, I found that it would come and go depending upon the position of the cable.

When I propped the cable up with a yard stick, the humming stopped. Bad cable. I'll be picking another one up this weekend. Yay! Trip to Best Buy.

audrey

IIRC on most receivers if you set the speaker type to full the LFE is routed to the speakers (and thus the sub)so no information is lost. One advantage of bypassing the sub-out is that it might provide more flexibility in setting the cross-over point as many receivers have a fixed crossover point.