Sub woofer connection question

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
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My powered sub I have had for a long time has L and R inputs. The receiver I purchased simply has a single plug for sub woofer output. What sort of cable do I need to make this work?

Also, are banana plugs worth the effort, or am I fine simply connecting speaker cable to the terminals on the receiver?
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
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If it's just two low-level RCA inputs on the sub, just connect one of them to the receiver. Usually Left is recommended in manuals. Unless you have trouble with an auto-on feature of the sub where the signal is too weak with just the one input, then this one connection should be all you need.

I've found banana plugs to be useful since I tend to change things up fairly often to the ease of that connection type was a benefit to me, but connecting the bare speaker wire directly would work fine as well.
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
10,757
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Ok, thanks for the info. :)

One more question... speaker wire... is 18G adequate, or should I order 12G?
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
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Originally posted by: Jumpem
Ok, thanks for the info. :)

One more question... speaker wire... is 18G adequate, or should I order 12G?

how long are you running the wire? You are probably ok with 18G, I just prefer 12G. No matter what, the speaker wire is pretty inexpensive (should be around or less than 50 cents per foot).
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
10,757
3
81
Originally posted by: Tiamat
how long are you running the wire? You are probably ok with 18G, I just prefer 12G. No matter what, the speaker wire is pretty inexpensive (should be around or less than 50 cents per foot).

Rear speaker wire would end up being ~25ft.
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
Originally posted by: Jumpem
Originally posted by: Tiamat
how long are you running the wire? You are probably ok with 18G, I just prefer 12G. No matter what, the speaker wire is pretty inexpensive (should be around or less than 50 cents per foot).

Rear speaker wire would end up being ~25ft.

I'm sorry, I can't find the website that lists distance for gauge. If you want to be safe, 12ga is overkill and usually no more than 50 cents per foot. If you want, you can get 14ga or 16ga from home depot for ultra cheap and I am pretty sure you will be fine.
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,205
45
91
Originally posted by: Tiamat
Originally posted by: Jumpem
Originally posted by: Tiamat
how long are you running the wire? You are probably ok with 18G, I just prefer 12G. No matter what, the speaker wire is pretty inexpensive (should be around or less than 50 cents per foot).

Rear speaker wire would end up being ~25ft.

I'm sorry, I can't find the website that lists distance for gauge. If you want to be safe, 12ga is overkill and usually no more than 50 cents per foot. If you want, you can get 14ga or 16ga from home depot for ultra cheap and I am pretty sure you will be fine.

Is this the one you were thinking about, or something else?
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: Tiamat
Originally posted by: Jumpem
Originally posted by: Tiamat
how long are you running the wire? You are probably ok with 18G, I just prefer 12G. No matter what, the speaker wire is pretty inexpensive (should be around or less than 50 cents per foot).

Rear speaker wire would end up being ~25ft.

I'm sorry, I can't find the website that lists distance for gauge. If you want to be safe, 12ga is overkill and usually no more than 50 cents per foot. If you want, you can get 14ga or 16ga from home depot for ultra cheap and I am pretty sure you will be fine.

Is this the one you were thinking about, or something else?
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable

Yes, thanks! OP, most speakers dip into the 4ohm range sometimes, so for that reason I would stick with 16 gauge at least.