How To Connect A Subwoofer To An Old Amplifier

Ane of the nearly mutual questions nosotros get here at the role is how to connect a subwoofer to an old amplifier. The brusque answer is that you lot can do it, simply you'll need to wire the subwoofer to the amplifier. The long reply is a little more complicated, merely we'll try to break information technology down.

Contents

one Stereo Subwoofer Types
2 How Practise They Work?
- 2.1 Old Amps vs. Modernistic Receivers
3 How to Connect a Subwoofer to an Old Amplifier
- 3.1 How To Claw An Active Subwoofer To An Quondam Amplifier
- 3.2 How To Claw a Passive Subwoofer To An Old Amplifier
- iii.three How To Connect Your Stereo System to A Subwoofer
- 3.4 Connecting a Subwoofer to a Vintage Amplifier Without an Out
iv What The Loftier-Level Signals Do To Your Connexion
5 FAQ
- 5.ane How do I connect my subwoofer to my stereo amp?
- 5.2 Can RCA cable be used for the subwoofer?
- 5.3 How exercise y'all hook up an amp without an RCA jack?
- 5.four Why do subwoofers take left and right inputs?
vi Conclusion

Stereo Subwoofer Types

When it comes to home sound subwoofers, they may be powered/active or non-powered/passive. A depression indicate is amplified by a congenital-in speaker amplifier, ability supply, and crossover in powered subs.

They are one of the well-nigh regularly used and connect to the receiver through an RCA-type input connection. On the other hand, passive subs are just subwoofer speakers housed within the bass enclosure. This is straight connected to the speakers or an internal bass crossover. These are uncommon.

Subwoofers may be forepart-firing (the principal driver faces forward) or down-firing (the driver is located on the bottom of the subwoofer). Information technology performs best when the front-firing subwoofer is situated closer to the master speakers.

A stereo sound system must have speed, clarity, and exact intonation of individual tones. Forrad-firing engines create significantly more than of them than down-firing engines. Every bit a consequence, the bass will sound quick and forceful.

Ported subwoofers are those that take ports that become directly to the interior. Subwoofers with no ports are referred to as sealed subwoofers. The most often utilized subwoofers are sealed because they are less expensive than ported subwoofers.

Aside from pricing, the difference between them is in sound quality. Sealed subwoofers provide an fifty-fifty, controlled audio, merely ported subwoofers may produce more volume. Sealed subwoofers are ideal for abode theaters because they improve sound quality in a smaller surface area.

Most subwoofers volition need a directly connection to a wall outlet for electricity and an RCA wire to your amplifier to receive sound. Wireless subwoofers are far more costly and often simply function with sound systems from the same manufacturer. Subwoofers may besides vary in overall sound quality, power (wattage), frequency range, equalization, and connection.

If yous're in the market for a new subwoofer, several excellent options are available for around $1,000. If yous're on a tighter budget, effort for the best subwoofers under $500 since you may yet observe some great offers here.

How Do They Work?

How Do They Work

A subwoofer is a loudspeaker that generates low-frequency sounds, such every bit bass and sub-bass. Subwoofers are made up of one or more woofers housed in an enclosure synthetic of loftier-quality wood that tin suffer pressure and resist deformation.

Subwoofers may pick up frequencies inaudible to the human ear, unlike normal speakers, which can reproduce a wide range of frequencies but lack bass.

High-quality subwoofers may reach equally low every bit 15-16 Hz, although humans tin can merely hear at twenty Hz. Subwoofers are never utilized on their own since their role is to augment the range of loudspeakers that comprehend college frequency bands.

Subwoofers are linked to a receiver or amplifier. The receiver transfers low-frequency signals to the subwoofer through an electrical current. This frequency varies between 20 and 100 Hz, and the lower your sub descends, the stronger the bass sound effects will exist heard.

The electric current is then amplified and converted to a sound frequency by the subwoofer through a magnetic coil, causing the driver to vibrate. This vibration causes the right audio waves to exit the commuter through its output.

Considering these low bass or sub-bass impulses are not directional, users may position the subwoofer anywhere they wish. The sound works best with a subwoofer when it deflects off anything. When the sub is turned on, you won't be able to identify where it is or where the bass is coming from. You may move your subwoofer around until you observe the perfect identify for your desired sound quality.

A crossover in the signal channel filters the bass out of the signals driving the main speakers in passive subs. Subwoofers that extend bass without filtering will not increase the ability of the main speakers. The powered subwoofers already include a built-in crossover that is adjustable to allow yous to set the frequency. This simplifies interaction with the principal speakers and automates line-level output filtering.

Depression, mid, and loftier frequencies are the iii levels of audio. A bass guitar or drum, for example, generates a low-frequency bass notation, while the intermediate frequencies are unremarkably produced by a singer'south voice or a guitar, and the higher frequency sounds like other instruments with a ringing or clashing audio. Subwoofers help in decluttering the speaker past isolating low-frequency sounds from mid-and high-frequency sounds.

If you're looking for a wonderful example of a high-quality subwoofer, go beyond the SVS Lead-k, which hits the correct blend of quality, longevity, and price. Several excellent subwoofers are bachelor that may significantly improve your home theater feel.

Old Amps vs. Mod Receivers

If you're thinking about utilizing a subwoofer with an amplifier, you probably wonder if it works meliorate with an older amp or a newer applied science. The solution isn't entirely straightforward. Several things decide the sound quality produced by a subwoofer with an amplifier.

For case, if you lot already have an old, working receiver, you will likely wish to brand information technology work again. Y'all should exist able to connect it to the subwoofer. However, the sound quality may be lesser than desired.

You may also purchase new or antique amplifiers. The older ones will surely be less expensive since you can get them at any austerity shop or yard sale. Connecting a subwoofer to a vintage amp likewise evokes feelings of nostalgia.

Notwithstanding, when purchasing any used appurtenances, there is always the possibility of a problem. This is more likely to happen with older amplifiers, and so verify the amp before purchasing. If there is a problem, ensure sure it is repairable. While contemporary receivers are x times more than expensive, the odds of prior damage are far lower, and they often come with a manufacturer'due south guarantee.

Vintage amplifiers outlast newer ones in terms of longevity and service. A vintage amplifier may exist serviced or repaired by replacing components such as capacitors, resistors, diodes, transistors, or broken circuits.

Vintage receivers seldom need maintenance since they were built to endure a long period. This is not the case with most current receivers unless they are quite expensive. When a modern amplifier fails, you will well-nigh certainly need to replace information technology rather than fixing it.

The decision between old and new may also be influenced by how you desire to utilize the amplifier. Most older amplifiers feature tuner, tape deck, aux, and phono inputs. The first 3 are line-level inputs for CD players or MP3 players.

The phono output is only bachelor on older versions since it was formerly utilized for turntables. Considering information technology does not have a line-level output, the cartridge signal must exist additional and lined via a phono preamp. With the rising usage of CD players, electric current amplifier manufacturers seldom include a phono preamp.

How to Connect a Subwoofer to an Old Amplifier

At that place are a few things y'all should look at before connecting our subwoofer to the old amplifier. To begin, make sure your subwoofer includes high-level inputs and standard RCA connections.

Also, ensure that your receiver tin play both the main and remote/speakers A and B outputs simultaneously. All of them have benefits afterwards you've completed the setup procedure. Here's how to connect your old amplifier to your subwoofer.

How To Hook An Active Subwoofer To An Former Amplifier

Some older amplifiers will provide unlike outputs than newer ones. Many will take a straightforward mono output. Locate the corresponding port on your subwoofer and utilize information technology every bit the bespeak source from the sub to the amp. Information technology's a nice one-time feature that works with subwoofers without a hitch.

However, some older amplifiers do non have such ports, so y'all may need to improvise a bit. To brainstorm, your amplifier requires a few components.

To play sets A and B simultaneously, it volition need two speaker outputs. In contrast, an active subwoofer requires a high-level input pick.

If your amp and sub have all of these features, you lot're adept to go. Set the amplifier to A to connect to your standard speakers. The B line should be linked to the high-level input of your subwoofer. When you play them both simultaneously, yous should notice an increase in bass.

Nearly amplifiers even include indicators for where you should connect your subwoofer. The B line is oft labeled "subwoofer output."

It's even uncomplicated to turn off. Turn off the B channel on your amplifier.

How To Hook a Passive Subwoofer To An Old Amplifier

Passive subwoofers are significantly easier to connect to older amplifiers. Passive subwoofers include laissez passer-through connections that enable you to connect the subwoofers before the speakers.

Connecting the passive subwoofer to the amp is as simple as treating it similar a loudspeaker and plugging it straight into the speaker connections.

How To Connect Your Stereo System to A Subwoofer

If y'all accomplish this properly, you lot will exist able to improve the audio of your complete speaker system. A subwoofer may enhance the sound of a stereo system in means other than just increasing the bass levels. It will brand the organization audio more pronounced and circuitous. Even so, the actual task of linking the ii differs somewhat.

To build this connexion, there are no bass direction options. The high-input connector on the subwoofer will exist utilized for this. Connect the speaker outputs from your sub to your stereo using the output connectors. This doubles the connectedness and gives your system the full subwoofer touch. This comprises the bass, eye, and treble ranges.

Connecting a Subwoofer to a Vintage Amplifier Without an Out

Some antique amplifiers may not take a subwoofer output. It is still feasible to connect your subwoofer and amplifier in situations like these. Depending on the manufacturer, the amplifier should feature a preamp or pre-out labeled "Preamp" or "pre-out." A Y adapter is required for subwoofers with just one RCA input.

If your amp lacks an output designated, you may still utilise your subwoofer as if information technology were some other speaker. Connect the subwoofer to the speaker output using speaker cords. You lot'll take to connect the front-right and front-left speakers to your sub.

What The High-Level Signals Practise To Your Connection

When linked through its high-level signals, the subwoofer will view the aforementioned signal as the other receiver. In that location is no latency. The sub-signal may not exist as tightly synched when y'all connect information technology through an RCA output connection. Therefore you lot may have some time lag.

The tiny drop in hearing quality is virtually inaudible to most people, but it may be very annoying to individuals with grooming in the field of study. Even inexperienced listeners would perceive a change if the identical sounds were repeated back-to-back.

However, in terms of damping and tonal balance, when you connect your subwoofer to your speakers, they receive the signal at a relatively comparable frequency. Consequently, the bass is emitted simultaneously past both objects, masking any latency to the human ear. This is particularly significant if you're making music in a studio, where synching is crucial.

Y'all should now be able to get the required sound quality by plugging your subwoofer into a vintage amplifier or receiver. Vintage amplifiers have a unique identify in my heart for nostalgia, and music is frequently the goad for that trance.

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FAQ

How do I connect my subwoofer to my stereo amp?

Connect a pair of speaker wires from the positive and negative terminals of the right-side output of speaker B on the rear of your ii-channel stereo amplifier receiver to the positive and negative terminals of your powered subwoofer's right side high-level input.

Can RCA cable exist used for the subwoofer?

Whatsoever single standard RCA or subwoofer cable volition suffice. However, if the RCA/sub connection is causing hum in the sub, y'all should consider using a "shielded" subwoofer cable. 1 subwoofer/RCA cable end should be hooked into your receiver's Subwoofer Output.

How do you hook up an amp without an RCA jack?

In that location are almost three ways to connect your amplifier without utilizing whatever RCA connectors.

Join the speaker wire to the RCA adapter.
Using High-Level Amp Inputs, install.
Connecting an Amplifier Using a Line Output Converter (LOC)

Why do subwoofers accept left and correct inputs?

Consider it analogous to employing a Y splitter to separate ii singled-out pathways simply in contrary. This is accomplished within the receiver. The proper audio may now exist routed to the subwoofer since the left, and right signals have been merged into a single channel.

Determination

One way to better the sound quality of your music is to connect a subwoofer to an former amplifier. This can boost the bass frequencies, making for a fuller, richer audio. Cheers for reading!

Source: https://hookeaudio.com/how-to-connect-a-subwoofer-to-an-old-amplifier/