car audio: help with headunit --> subwoofer

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
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I have the Pioneer DEH-P7600MP and there's a separate output for a subwoofer. This output cable is not RCA but a single jack (like a male headphone jack). Anyway my dad somehow made an adapter so that jack could plug into the RCA plug of my [custom] subwoofer. Keep in mind this subwoofer was working fine. He also tested all the components (beyond the HU) to make sure they were getting power.

My problem is I don't know why it doesn't work after I got this new headunit. In the HU's settings, there's:

PREOUT: S/W
PREOUT: FULL

REAR SP: S/W
REAR SP: FULL

I can't seem to figure out how (which combination) to get a signal to the woofer. I've tried all of them. Maybe it's not even one of these settings but the manual suggests it is. One thing I am sure of is that when REAR SP: S/W, the 2 rear speakers produce no music, just the thump of a woofer. I don't want that... obviously that's what my custom subwoofer is for. I don't know what a PREOUT is but I'm assuming that's what controls it... and I can't get it to work. What am I missing ?
 

bleeb

Lifer
Feb 3, 2000
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maybe there is a problem with the male minijack to rca cable your dad fabricated? cross wires or something?
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
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I recommend going to a stereo shop and getting some standard speaker to RCA jack adapters....splice them into your rear speakers in your trunk and run those lines to an amp with a crossover. It doesn't make a lot of sense to run a sub direct from the head unit even if it has a subwoofer output... I would expect it to be somewhat crappy....maybe a passive sub connection for a specific model that Pioneer sells.
 

shuan24

Platinum Member
Jul 17, 2003
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a PREOUT isn't meant to run directly to the subwoofer, you're supposed to run that to an amplifier. A preout will not output the amount of power a subwoofer needs.
 

psteng19

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2000
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Originally posted by: rh71
I have the Pioneer DEH-P7600MP and there's a separate output for a subwoofer. This output cable is not RCA but a single jack (like a male headphone jack). Anyway my dad somehow made an adapter so that jack could plug into the RCA plug of my [custom] subwoofer. Keep in mind this subwoofer was working fine. He also tested all the components (beyond the HU) to make sure they were getting power.

My problem is I don't know why it doesn't work after I got this new headunit. In the HU's settings, there's:

PREOUT: S/W
PREOUT: FULL

REAR SP: S/W
REAR SP: FULL

I can't seem to figure out how (which combination) to get a signal to the woofer. I've tried all of them. Maybe it's not even one of these settings but the manual suggests it is. One thing I am sure of is that when REAR SP: S/W, the 2 rear speakers produce no music, just the thump of a woofer. I don't want that... obviously that's what my custom subwoofer is for. I don't know what a PREOUT is but I'm assuming that's what controls it... and I can't get it to work. What am I missing ?

I think you're using the wrong output from the rear of the HU.
IIRC when I set mine up awhile back, it was a pair of RCA's.

Also, within the options, there is a setting for Subwoofer On and Off.
This option is only accessible during playback, whether AM/FM or CD.
Press the Audio button until it appears.

You neglected to mention anything about your amp.
Did you check that you are getting power to it?
 

Drakkon

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2001
8,401
1
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Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
I recommend going to a stereo shop and getting some standard speaker to RCA jack adapters....splice them into your rear speakers in your trunk and run those lines to an amp with a crossover. It doesn't make a lot of sense to run a sub direct from the head unit even if it has a subwoofer output... I would expect it to be somewhat crappy....maybe a passive sub connection for a specific model that Pioneer sells.
:confused: hes not going directly from speaker outs to sub...or at least i hope not...
the deck has 3 pairs of RCA preouts, should be front, back and sub so I'm kinda confused as it sounds like OP just has front/sub connected and not the rear? or the rear is hooked up to the sub connectors? The deck is ment for people who are trying to do some really fancy stuff with their sound system so probobly would be linked up to 3 seperate amps for each rca output...
if this is not the case then just one set of RCA would run from the "front" RCA's to your amp and then the "sub" rca run to your sub amp
 

shuan24

Platinum Member
Jul 17, 2003
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Originally posted by: Drakkon
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
I recommend going to a stereo shop and getting some standard speaker to RCA jack adapters....splice them into your rear speakers in your trunk and run those lines to an amp with a crossover. It doesn't make a lot of sense to run a sub direct from the head unit even if it has a subwoofer output... I would expect it to be somewhat crappy....maybe a passive sub connection for a specific model that Pioneer sells.
:confused: hes not going directly from speaker outs to sub...or at least i hope not...the deck has 3 pairs of RCA preouts, should be front, back and sub
I'm kinda confused as it sounds like OP just has front/sub connected and not the rear? or the rear is hooked up to the sub connectors? The deck is ment for people who are trying to do some really fancy stuff with their sound system so probobly would be linked up to 3 seperate amps for each rca output...
if this is not the case then just one set of RCA would run from the "front" RCA's to your amp and then the "sub" rca run to your sub amp

assuming he is using amps....
 

Drakkon

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2001
8,401
1
0
Originally posted by: shuan24

assuming he is using amps....

true...I'd hate to think our lifer is that inept...
Although it would be funny for him to take it to a shop now asking why his speakers have no power and he has jerryriged RCA outputs to speakers...

 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,344
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lol from the OP, it seems like he's running straight from the HU -> SUB, w/no amp in the middle of the two.

if thats what you are doing rh71, then there's your problem. the sub isnt working because the sub doesnt have any power to run.
 

hellman69

Member
Feb 15, 2003
180
0
71
With those Pioneer headunits, you have to make a choice. You either get a) the preout working or b) the rear speaker outputs working. Not both. The manual is not written very well, but that's your choices.

Trevor
 

MasterAndCommander

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2004
3,656
0
71
Looks like the standard dual-RCA connection out to a "sub-amp" to me: Text

I have the Pioneer DEH-5700MP in my car and it has the same outputs. - I have it running to a Polk/Momo mono amp, then to a Polk/Momo Sub. Check to see if your amp is getting juice - did you ground it properly?

amp

amp to sub
 

psteng19

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2000
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Originally posted by: hellman69
With those Pioneer headunits, you have to make a choice. You either get a) the preout working or b) the rear speaker outputs working. Not both. The manual is not written very well, but that's your choices.

Trevor

I'm not quite following you so let me explain what I think you're trying to say.

You can have a combination of pre-outs or speaker level outputs, as long as it's unique.
i.e. front speaker levels OR front pre-outs, not both.
speaker level for the 4 satelites, and pre-outs for the sub.

And with the Pioneers, there is actually a way to use speaker level outputs and bridge the two rear channels to power a sub WITHOUT an amp, but you would only have the front 2 satelites and a sub and lose the rears.
It puts out maybe 100 watts peak, so it's not great but it is possible.

That's the option the OP was referencing but I'm not sure he's doing that since he mentioned RCA cables.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
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Originally posted by: purbeast0
lol from the OP, it seems like he's running straight from the HU -> SUB, w/no amp in the middle of the two.

if thats what you are doing rh71, then there's your problem. the sub isnt working because the sub doesnt have any power to run.
You guys are correct that I'm not running an amp. We do have a power source for the sub though. Tested ok.

Regardless, it's working now... the NON FADE option had to be enabled... and it was... but go a little further in the settings and there's a volume setting for the NON FADE that runs -6 to 0 to +6. Even at the max, the subwoofer is not outputting enough bass. I guess that's where an amp would help. At least it's working... and now I know I'll need an amp if I want it to do anything more. It barely makes a difference right now... the speakers are doing well on their own (which is sad if you think about it).

With my previous (lower power) HU/speakers, the subwoofer worked quite well into the equation as it was.

Thanks for the responses though.
 

psteng19

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2000
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Originally posted by: rh71
Originally posted by: purbeast0
lol from the OP, it seems like he's running straight from the HU -> SUB, w/no amp in the middle of the two.

if thats what you are doing rh71, then there's your problem. the sub isnt working because the sub doesnt have any power to run.
You guys are correct that I'm not running an amp. We do have a power source for the sub though. Tested ok.

Regardless, it's working now... the NON FADE option had to be enabled... and it was... but go a little further in the settings and there's a volume setting for the NON FADE that runs -6 to 0 to +6. Even at the max, the subwoofer is not outputting enough bass. I guess that's where an amp would help. At least it's working... and now I know I'll need an amp if I want it to do anything more. It barely makes a difference right now... the speakers are doing well on their own (which is sad if you think about it).

With my previous (lower power) HU/speakers, the subwoofer worked quite well into the equation as it was.

Thanks for the responses though.

I'm interested to hear how you have it setup without speaker level and pre-outs.
I'm mostly wondering how you got it to work.

Your OP was a little confusing, as it refers to connections that I don't recall seeing.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
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I'll have to dig around behind the HU to see if the SW out was RCA... as someone pointed out, this does show RCA. We installed the HU so long ago that we just left the "subwoofer cable" hanging out for later... so we may be doing the conversion (via that included cable) and then back again.

psteng: that *should* make sense now... the front/rear speakers are plugged in via their own RCA outs and then this subwoofer out in question.

scarpozzi: what's the advantage of taking the source for your woofer from the rear speakers ? You just mentioned it would be somewhat crappy taking it from the HU. I used to take from the rear speakers with my old setup and like I mentioned in the last post, the woofer worked better then. I just thought the speakers now were better. But is it really because the HU's sub-out is worse than pulling from the rear speakers ?
 

prawny12009

Junior Member
Jan 26, 2020
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I know this is old but I don't think anyone answered the question, the 3.5mm s/w Jack is usually the remote power or bass control volume socket (a small knob)