Connecting a non-powered sub (used in my car) off of a home 5.1ch receiver

[BigToque]

The sub output of my receiver requires the use of a powered sub. Is there anything I can do to connect my sub to the receiver? Possibly an AC -> inverter? that still doesnt solve the problem that the receiver has an RCA input and my speakers are just wire.

 

[Viper GTS]

Ever heard of an amp?

Viper GTS

 

[KEV1N]

My non scientific point of view: it's not going to sound very good.

 

[v3rrv3]

Omg, i have, what do I win? BTW my sub's nearing completion Viper(excluding the veneer, won't do that for a long time

- Kevin

 

[Black88GTA]

You need a standalone subwoofer amp. Basically you have line level outputs from your receiver, which provide the signal (which basically tells the speakers what to do) but do not provide any power so that the speakers can do the job.

The only way I can think of for you to do this cheaply would be to hook up an old receiver or something to those line levels and plug the subs into the speaker outputs. HOWEVER, this is a VERY BAD idea, because it WILL sound like ass and you will almost certainly fvck up your subs due to lack of a crossover in the old receiver, not to mention that an old receiver probably won't put out very high wattages. You would also have to pay attention to the resistance (ohm) rating of the subs and make sure that it's within the rated spec of the old receiver.

Basically, this would be very impractical. You'd be better off buying a standalone powered HT sub that's designed for home use, rather than jerry rigging car speakers for it. The HT sub will sound a lot better, be a lot cleaner, and much safer.

 

[Howard]

GTA - most receivers have a subwoofer output. This means the highs are already rolled off.

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: Howard
GTA - most receivers have a subwoofer output. This means the highs are already rolled off.

Ah......true

I wasn't thinking of that when I posted.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Stefan
The sub output of my receiver requires the use of a powered sub. Is there anything I can do to connect my sub to the receiver? Possibly an AC -> inverter? that still doesnt solve the problem that the receiver has an RCA input and my speakers are just wire.

just a bare sub? if you build a housing for it along with a couple of speaker level inputs/outputs and a good x-over you can just attach the sub serially with the front speakers.

 

[Pepsi90919]

use an old AT power supply to supply the 12 volts you'll need to power the car amplifier for the sub and hook up your receiver outputs to that.

 

[Pepsi90919]

or get the appropriate transformer, capacitors and diodes and build yourself a bridge rectifier

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
use an old AT power supply to supply the 12 volts you'll need to power the car amplifier for the sub and hook up your receiver outputs to that.

wouldn't be able to use too powerful of an amp like that, though. most PSU's can only put out a fraction of their total power through the 12-volt rails. but i bet you could get a 200 watt amp working with a 300 watt PSU.