Best way to hook subwoofer up to a receiver?

Juice Box

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Nov 7, 2003
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So i recently got an Onkyo receiver and have my 5.1 promedia satellites hooked up to the receiver. I am now trying to figure out how to get the sub in the mix. If you have seen the back of the klipsch sub, it only has the 3 audio inputs (headphone size) and an "SMS link" or something on it. I tried a coax cable from the subwoofer out on the receiver into it, and it just buzzed. So, I'm not sure what to do,

The only other thing I can think of is an RCA to headpnone jack...and then run the speakers through the subwoofer (can't output to both I think...not relaly sure). Is there some sort of RCA to stereo headphone jack? Like, most are headphone jack that split into the red/white RCA cables...where I need a headphone to one stereo RCA jack. (The receiver also has the 3 surround: front center/sub and rear as 3 RCA jacks...so i guess I'd just run the cables into the sub.

I'm kinda rambling here, but I'm not sure what to do. Any ideas? :p
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

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RCA to 3.5mm should work for you. Male on the RCA end and female on the 3.5mm end.

The Klipsch sub should pull the lower frequencies off any of the inputs it has with its internal crossover.

Something like this should work.

 

SampSon

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Jan 3, 2006
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1/8th stereo to a single RCA would only provide the left or right channel. The 1/8th stereo plug provides both audio channels (red & white) on an RCA plug.
Though there a endless different splitters/connectors.

Pictures and diagrams would help.
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

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Originally posted by: SampSon
1/8th stereo to a single RCA would only provide the left or right channel. The 1/8th stereo plug provides both audio channels (red & white) on an RCA plug.
Though there a endless different splitters/connectors.

Pictures and diagrams would help.

He just needs the subwoofer to connect, the speakers can be powered by the receiver.
 

SampSon

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Jan 3, 2006
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Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: SampSon
1/8th stereo to a single RCA would only provide the left or right channel. The 1/8th stereo plug provides both audio channels (red & white) on an RCA plug.
Though there a endless different splitters/connectors.

Pictures and diagrams would help.

He just needs the subwoofer to connect, the speakers can be powered by the receiver.
Yea, I'm just confused on which way he's trying to make the connections.
 

I Saw OJ

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Dec 13, 2004
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Why do you need the Onkyo receiver in there? Doesnt the Klipsch system power and control everything?
 

0roo0roo

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Sep 21, 2002
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why do this? the subwoofer has crossovers or whatever to make sure only the frequencies each are good at are sent to sub/speakers. does the reciever atlesat have a small speaker mode?
 

Juice Box

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Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: MrsJello
Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
I predict a paint diagram.

I'm going to have to go ahead and make the same prediction.
Paint.NET diagram

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/spmclaughlin/web/Random/Klipsch%20Onkyo.JPG">https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/spmclaughlin/web/Random/Klipsch%20Onkyo.JPG</a>

You see, this is the first thing I tried, and all this does is make the subwoofer buzz...doesn't go with the sound. Also, wouldnt this only allow for mono subwoofer sound, as there is only 1 subwoofer our port on the receiver? (if you only hook the red RCA up to it, that is)
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

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Originally posted by: I Saw OJ
Why do you need the Onkyo receiver in there? Doesnt the Klipsch system power and control everything?

He's trying to hook up more sources to it.
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

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Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
why do this? the subwoofer has crossovers or whatever to make sure only the frequencies each are good at are sent to sub/speakers. does the reciever atlesat have a small speaker mode?

Adjustable crossover (40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 200 Hz)
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

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Originally posted by: Juice Box

You see, this is the first thing I tried, and all this does is make the subwoofer buzz...doesn't go with the sound. Also, wouldnt this only allow for mono subwoofer sound, as there is only 1 subwoofer our port on the receiver? (if you only hook the red RCA up to it, that is)

What is the buzz like? Is it loud? I'm thinking maybe this is a ground loop issue? Are the receiver and sub plugged into the same outlet?

mono subwoofer sound should be all you need hooking up this way with the receiver doing all the bass management.
 

pennylane

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Apr 28, 2002
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Originally posted by: Juice Box

You see, this is the first thing I tried, and all this does is make the subwoofer buzz...doesn't go with the sound. Also, wouldnt this only allow for mono subwoofer sound, as there is only 1 subwoofer our port on the receiver? (if you only hook the red RCA up to it, that is)

Subwoofers are mono. Connecting it like that is the best way to connect the subwoofer because you can control the crossover through the receiver.

That's what I did. I connected a sub just yesterday using that line level input.

Connecting the left and right is only useful when you're connecting your speakers to the sub (IIRC). Otherwise it doesn't make a difference to the subwoofer.
 

iRONic

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Jan 28, 2006
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I am using a combination Klipsch Promedia 4.1/5.1 speaker setup in my home theater room . Promedia 5.1 Ultra for RF, Center, LF. Promedia 4.1 for SR, Sub, SL. My Sony HTIB receiver can't control the sub's crossover so I eliminated it this way;

I bought a speaker terminal plate off ebay for $1.79.

I mounted the terminal plate to piece of plywood I had laying aound with wood screws and put a strip of adhesive weather stripping on the cabinet.

I screwd the plywood to the cabinet.

I have the sub laying on a piece of foam since it doesn't have feet and the floor is concrete.

I know it's not dedicated audiophile equipment for the HT. The system does sound great and serves as a very adequate placeholder while I save for my upgrades.
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

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Originally posted by: iRONic
I am using a combination Klipsch Promedia 4.1/5.1 speaker setup in my home theater room . Promedia 5.1 Ultra for RF, Center, LF. Promedia 4.1 for SR, Sub, SL. My Sony HTIB receiver can't control the sub's crossover so I eliminated it this way;

I bought a speaker terminal plate off ebay for $1.79.

I mounted the terminal plate to piece of plywood I had laying aound with wood screws and put a strip of adhesive weather stripping on the cabinet.

I screwd the plywood to the cabinet.

I have the sub laying on a piece of foam since it doesn't have feet and the floor is concrete.

I know it's not dedicated audiophile equipment for the HT. The system does sound great and serves as a very adequate placeholder while I save for my upgrades.

I don't understand, how are you powering it? Or does your Sony HTIB have a powered subwoofer output rather than a low level LFE pre-out?
 

iRONic

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Jan 28, 2006
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Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Or does your Sony HTIB have a powered subwoofer output rather than a low level LFE pre-out?
Exactly.
 

Juice Box

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Nov 7, 2003
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Hmm, tried a different power outlet, and I'm still getting kinda a buzz from it. I connected it to my ipod just to see, and the subwoofer worked just fine. This leads me to believe I need to get the subwoofer out port on the receiver working somehow. Totally confused :p