Hooking an XLR self-powered sub to a home-theater type receiver?

[TridenT]

Yeah, it's weird. But, it's an unusual situation. Sub has its own power from the wall. XLR to receiver would be great, but it uses bare-wires for the outputs on the back of the receiver. It sounds like XLR to speaker wire is ... unheard of? Anyone ever try to do this? Any suggestions on how to go along this?

 

[velillen]

what receiver is it? Seems like most receivers are rca preout or xlr out for the subs from what ive seen. (with most being rca)

 

[NutBucket]

I'm guessing you'll need something like this:

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/397825.html

But what receiver doesn't have an RCA preout for the sub?

 

[vshah]

I'm guessing you'll need something like this:

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/397825.html

But what receiver doesn't have an RCA preout for the sub?

crappy htib receivers sometimes feed an unpowered sub an amped signal, and don't have rca preout for lfe.

 

[TridenT]

crappy htib receivers sometimes feed an unpowered sub an amped signal, and don't have rca preout for lfe.

From what I can tell, it probably is a shitty htib system (I don't know the system. I'll look next time I'm at the venue). It's just 2 wires for the sub and like that for every other speaker too... I don't like it, but whatever.

 

[Zorander]

Do you have a picture of the back of the sub?

Subs typically accept low-level input (RCA usually but XLR falls under this category too) and high-level input (speaker wire connection). You can either connect your receiver's low-level output (e.g. RCA) to tehe sub's low-level input or piggy-back a set of speaker wires from the receiver to the sub's high-level input. I don't recommend attempting to connect your receiver's high-level output to the sub's low-level input as you risk damaging something.

Cheers!

 

[TridenT]

Do you have a picture of the back of the sub?

Subs typically accept low-level input (RCA usually but XLR falls under this category too) and high-level input (speaker wire connection). You can either connect your receiver's low-level output (e.g. RCA) to tehe sub's low-level input or piggy-back a set of speaker wires from the receiver to the sub's high-level input. I don't recommend attempting to connect your receiver's high-level output to the sub's low-level input as you risk damaging something.

Cheers!

This is a PA type sub. It only has XLR from what I can recall. (The whole self-powered thing should have been a give away?)

 

[sdifox]

This is a PA type sub. It only has XLR from what I can recall. (The whole self-powered thing should have been a give away?)

post a pic or make/model.

 

[TridenT]

post a pic or make/model.

I don't see how that's relevant. I'm telling you what it is.

There's XLR on the back of the sub. It powers itself from the wall.
There's speaker-wire outputs on the back of the receiver. It powers subwoofers and other speakers from that output too.

That's all you need to know! (Also, no way in hell I'm going to remember this the next time I go to the venue... whenever that is.)

 

[Zorander]

This is a PA type sub. It only has XLR from what I can recall. (The whole self-powered thing should have been a give away?)

Most subs, outside HTiB and Multimedia systems, are self-powered, regardless of whether it is for PA or home use. There is no give-away here.

If the sub has only XLR input, then you need to pair that with low-/line-level output from your source. The speaker (high-level) output of your receiver is not suitable. You could use some sort of adapters (or solder your own cable contraption, i.e. +ve wire to pin 2 & -ve wire to pin 1) to connect those ports together but that is outside the intended design and risks damage.

 

[velillen]

Can you go with a speaker wire to xlr hookup of sort? XLR is just shielded isnt it with a positive negative and ground? So just by a xlr connector and strip it down and hook up the positive to the postive end and neg to neg?

Not sure if that would work but an idea?

 

[sdifox]

I don't see how that's relevant. I'm telling you what it is.

There's XLR on the back of the sub. It powers itself from the wall.
There's speaker-wire outputs on the back of the receiver. It powers subwoofers and other speakers from that output too.

That's all you need to know! (Also, no way in hell I'm going to remember this the next time I go to the venue... whenever that is.)

Some systems use the xlr connector for other purposes :biggrin:

 

[Howard]

Some systems use the xlr connector for other purposes :biggrin:

Why not just assume that the only low-level input is indeed the XLR?

 

[sdifox]

Why not just assume that the only low-level input is indeed the XLR?

I like to make sure what something is before I plug it in. I am concerned because he said htib...That market space is just filled with misused connectors.

Typo fix.

 

[Number1]

Yeah, it's weird. But, it's an unusual situation. Sub has its own power from the wall. XLR to receiver would be great, but it uses bare-wires for the outputs on the back of the receiver. It sounds like XLR to speaker wire is ... unheard of? Anyone ever try to do this? Any suggestions on how to go along this?

You can't feed an amplified signal to an XLR input.

Here are your options:

1: Buy a newer receiver with a subwoofer low level output, an RCA cable, an RCA to XLR adapter and an XLR cable.

or

2: Buy a sub with a high level input.

and by the way, when trying to get help from people, `be polite. Your 10:43 reply was uncalled for.

 

[kornphlake]

Sounds like you're trying to mix pro equipment with consumer equipment which is going to be a challenge. You'll probably need a mixer or other pre-amp that has both RCA and XLR inputs and outputs so you can mix and match the connection types for your various sources and amps.

Edit: It really sounds like you don't know what the heck the sub is, you say it's probably a HTIB sub, then you say its a PA sub. It's hard to give good advice when the amount of information you give is so conflicting. XLR means nothing, a HTIB might pass a line level signal over the XLR connection to the sub or it might abuse the connection and send an amplified signal that goes through a line level converter within the sub. If it's legitimate pro gear, it's almost guaranteed to be a line level input on the sub, but without knowing more about the equipment than it has an XLR plug and an AC cord it's impossible to tell.

 

[TridenT]

Sounds like you're trying to mix pro equipment with consumer equipment which is going to be a challenge. You'll probably need a mixer or other pre-amp that has both RCA and XLR inputs and outputs so you can mix and match the connection types for your various sources and amps.

Edit: It really sounds like you don't know what the heck the sub is, you say it's probably a HTIB sub, then you say its a PA sub. It's hard to give good advice when the amount of information you give is so conflicting. XLR means nothing, a HTIB might pass a line level signal over the XLR connection to the sub or it might abuse the connection and send an amplified signal that goes through a line level converter within the sub. If it's legitimate pro gear, it's almost guaranteed to be a line level input on the sub, but without knowing more about the equipment than it has an XLR plug and an AC cord it's impossible to tell.

There are two subs. A shitty HTIB sub and a PA sub. I'm trying to get the PA sub hooked up.

I don't know if that was clear before or not.

 

[Phanuel]

Unless you have an RCA or XLR output on your "receiver" (details are important, despite your decision to not provide them) you're out of luck.

 

[TridenT]

Unless you have an RCA or XLR output on your "receiver" (details are important, despite your decision to not provide them) you're out of luck.

I already said there weren't any RCA or XLR output for just the subwoofer.

Did no one read this thread?

 

[kornphlake]

I already said there weren't any RCA or XLR output for just the subwoofer.

Did no one read this thread?

You've been vague and incomplete in your responses, it's no wonder people aren't giving the responses you're looking for. Your attitude isn't helping either, this isn't the OT forum.

 

[alkemyst]

I don't see how that's relevant. I'm telling you what it is.

There's XLR on the back of the sub. It powers itself from the wall.
There's speaker-wire outputs on the back of the receiver. It powers subwoofers and other speakers from that output too.

That's all you need to know! (Also, no way in hell I'm going to remember this the next time I go to the venue... whenever that is.)

Because you have proven you really can't explain a true situation.


Most people don't even know what XLR is.

 

[Howard]

You know, OP, just give us the make/model or a pic of the plate amp/back and save yourself the trouble.

 

[Rio Rebel]

If the sub has any value at all, you don't want to damage it by hooking an amplified signal into a powered sub. I don't see how you get around that part.

 

[TridenT]

If the sub has any value at all, you don't want to damage it by hooking an amplified signal into a powered sub. I don't see how you get around that part.

And, maybe, now you see why I'm in this forum asking this question...

 

[TridenT]

Receiver is an Onkyo HT-R391. Subwoofer is a Mackie SWA1501.

I think we're just going to use two 1/4" to split RCA connectors on the little mixer we have putting audio out to the receiver and then use one of these http://www.amazon.com/PPRC-X05-Profe...rds=RCA+To+XLR (Or XLR Male if I can find it? I don't recall what typical XLR cables come in. M-F or MM or FF, etc.) and one of our regular RCA connectors for the subwoofer. (Subwoofer takes R and L. Optional pass through, etc.)