Canton subwoofer audio not going to speakers

[Eiretep]

Hi there,

I recently purchase a set of 2nd hand Canton speakers (x 2) and a powered subwoofer.

Subwoofer: CANTON AS 22 SC

Speakers: CANTON PLUS XL

I am getting audio through to the subwoofer, but no audio at all going to the 2 speakers.

I have the audio connected from my laptop headphone jack, going into the subwoofer LINE IN via RCA connection

The 2 speakers are connected to the subwoofer "TO SPEAKERS" via positive/negative speaker cable

Have I got this set up correctly or have I made a mess of it? I would love to get these working as they seem to be in good condition, so just hoping they aren't damaged. Any help appreciated. Thanks

 

[swechsler]

The problem is that the subwoofer doesn't have an amplifier for the speakers, only for itself. You need an amplifier or receiver to run them. Once you get that, there are a couple of different ways of connecting the system.

ETA: here's a relatively inexpensive amplifier. I've never used this particular model, but other members here have been enthusiastic about the brand. If you were going to purchase this, you'd run the wire from your laptop to the amp inputs (Line In), then two wires from the speaker outputs of the amp to the "FROM RECEIVER" terminals on the subwoofer. The speakers should remain connected as they are now.

 

[swechsler]

OK, I see you're in Ireland. This might be a reasonable substitute. In addition, it has a USB input, which will give improved sound compared to your computer's headphone output.

 

[homebrew]

You need to run the left/right speaker leads from the receiver/amplifier to the left/right "from receiver" inputs.

 

[Eiretep]

Thank you swechler and homebrew for your replies, very much appreciated.


I was thinking the powered subwoofer had a built-in amp - my bad.


Swechler, thanks for the amplifier recommendations. they look great. I see SMSL are from Shenzen. I will actually be in China in June so will check now how much it is to buy it there - if its much cheaper I might just pick it up while I'm there and carry it back. Either way, I shall report back on the outcome of my audio setup.


So could I just connect amp & laptop via USB then?


Also, the speaker wire I purchased is just cheap stuff from Screwfix.ie; 24 strand per core - would this suffice for my setup?
And can I connect the speaker wire to the amp like I have done on my 2 photos above? i.e. just twist the wire and tighten in with the screws?


Sorry for the simple questions....I am am newbie to this audio setup stuff, please bear with me

 

[swechsler]

I will actually be in China in June so will check now how much it is to buy it there - if its much cheaper I might just pick it up while I'm there and carry it back. Either way, I shall report back on the outcome of my audio setup.

Just make sure you can test it when you buy; you probably won't get any support from the manufacturer once you leave the country. There are other SMSL models that would do the job as well.

So could I just connect amp & laptop via USB then?

That would be my recommendation. The built-in audio outputs in most computers (any computer, not just laptops) leave a lot to be desired. The DAC (digital to analog converter) in a dedicated audio device will almost definitely sound superior.

Also, the speaker wire I purchased is just cheap stuff from Screwfix.ie; 24 strand per core - would this suffice for my setup?

For a small system like this, I wouldn't sweat the wire. We have lots of AK members that are sure they can hear a difference in different wire types, but as this is a starter system for you, it should be fine.

And can I connect the speaker wire to the amp like I have done on my 2 photos above? i.e. just twist the wire and tighten in with the screws?

I can't really tell how you have the wire connected to the subwoofer, but when you loosen the plastic nut a few turns, you should be able to see a hole drilled through the metal shaft that it's attached to. You'll want to ensure the stripped wire runs through that hole, then tighten the nut down. The amp should have similar connectors. And I prefer to trim the bare wire so it does not stick out past the plastic. The back of the amp is metal, and while it is unlikely (especially since it appears to be anodized), a short circuit is possible if both wires were to touch it.

 

[Eiretep]

Just make sure you can test it when you buy; you probably won't get any support from the manufacturer once you leave the country. There are other SMSL models that would do the job as well.

Thanks again swechsler, I will look into testing it when I buy and see what other models are available too

That would be my recommendation. The built-in audio outputs in most computers (any computer, not just laptops) leave a lot to be desired. The DAC (digital to analog converter) in a dedicated audio device will almost definitely sound superior.

Great, sounds like a good option

For a small system like this, I wouldn't sweat the wire. We have lots of AK members that are sure they can hear a difference in different wire types, but as this is a starter system for you, it should be fine.

Perfect - should be fine for starting out so

I can't really tell how you have the wire connected to the subwoofer, but when you loosen the plastic nut a few turns, you should be able to see a hole drilled through the metal shaft that it's attached to. You'll want to ensure the stripped wire runs through that hole, then tighten the nut down. The amp should have similar connectors. And I prefer to trim the bare wire so it does not stick out past the plastic. The back of the amp is metal, and while it is unlikely (especially since it appears to be anodized), a short circuit is possible if both wires were to touch it.

Yeah that's how I have them connected. Great idea about trimming the bare wire, thanks so much for your helpful & valuable input

 

[Eiretep]

Hi swechsler, homebrew & AK folks, just to update and come back on this: I got the S.M.S.L. A100 and its working well

I connected the USB from laptop to amp, and speakers from amp to subwoofer, as instructed above (still need to snip off the excess speak wire - just want to get it up & running first ). This gave me sound to the 2 small speakers, but no sound coming from subwoofer. So I connected an RCA cable from the amp SW OUT ports to the Subwoofer LINE IN ports (see below), and am now getting sound to the subwoofer too...is this the correct way to connect it for subwoofer sound to come through as well?

 

[opnly bafld]

Hi swechsler, homebrew & AK folks, just to update and come back on this: I got the S.M.S.L. A100 and its working well

I connected the USB from laptop to amp, and speakers from amp to subwoofer, as instructed above (still need to snip off the excess speak wire - just want to get it up & running first ). This gave me sound to the 2 small speakers, but no sound coming from subwoofer. So I connected an RCA cable from the amp SW OUT ports to the Subwoofer LINE IN ports (see below), and am now getting sound to the subwoofer too...is this the correct way to connect it for subwoofer sound to come through as well?

View attachment 3554523

View attachment 3554525

You need to run the speaker wire to the "From Receiver" binding posts for speaker wire input to the sub amp.
If you keep the RCA cables going to the subwoofer inputs you can disconnect the speaker wire going to the sub amp.

I would use one or the other (RCA or speaker wire) for input to the sub amp, but not both.

 

[Eiretep]

You need to run the speaker wire to the "From Receiver" binding posts for speaker wire input to the sub amp.
If you keep the RCA cables going to the subwoofer inputs you can disconnect the speaker wire going to the sub amp.

I would use one or the other (RCA or speaker wire) for input to the sub amp, but not both.

Thanks opnly bafld, sorry yes I have connected the speaker wire from the amp to the "From Receiver" binding posts. See below photo of subwoofer setup now. I tried disconnecting the speaker wire and only using the RCA cable, but that cuts the sound to the speakers. So seems they are acting independently - the speaker wire is providing sound to the speakers and the RCA cable is providing sound to the subwoofer. Is that right?

 

[opnly bafld]

If you want to continue using the RCA cables to the subwoofer you don't need to run speaker wire to it.
Just run speaker wire from the SMSL amplifier directly to the speakers.
You can disconnect the RCA's in the picture above if you keep the speaker wires connected.
Either way will work.

 

[Eiretep]

If you want to continue using the RCA cables to the subwoofer you don't need to run speaker wire to it.
Just run speaker wire from the SMSL amplifier directly to the speakers.

I will try that in the morning so...running the speaker wire directly from the amp to the speakers

You can disconnect the RCA's in the picture above if you keep the speaker wires connected.
Either way will work.

But when I disconnect the RCA cable, there is zero sound from the sub woofer, no bass at all.

 

[opnly bafld]

I will try that in the morning so...running the speaker wire directly from the amp to the speakers

But when I disconnect the RCA cable, there is zero sound from the sub woofer, no bass at all.

Yes

Speaker wire from stereo amp to sub amp speaker wire input "from receiver" ?

 

[opnly bafld]

The subwoofer amplifier needs a signal from the stereo amplifier, does not matter if it is RCA cables or speaker wire.
The subwoofer has both inputs so the user can choose which one to use.

Here is a picture from a Canton subwoofer owner's manual showing either RCA cables (left) or speaker wire (right).
This model doesn't have speaker out binding posts, but there are several ways to wire the main speakers anyway, this shows one way to do it.
I just run 2 pairs of speaker wire, one pair to the main speakers and one pair to the subwoofer.

 

[Eiretep]

Yes

Speaker wire from stereo amp to sub amp speaker wire input "from receiver" ?

Yes, that's the way I had it connected, but there was no subwoofer sound until RCA cable connected

The subwoofer amplifier needs a signal from the stereo amplifier, does not matter if it is RCA cables or speaker wire.
The subwoofer has both inputs so the user can choose which one to use.

Here is a picture from a Canton subwoofer owner's manual showing either RCA cables (left) or speaker wire (right).
This model doesn't have speaker out binding posts, but there are several ways to wire the main speakers anyway, this shows one way to do it.
I just run 2 pairs of speaker wire, one pair to the main speakers and one pair to the subwoofer.
View attachment 3554678

Thanks for this. I have connected the speaker wire directly from the A100 amp to the speakers and they are working fine. RCA connected from the A100 amp to the subwoofer LINE IN ports, and subwoofer working fine too. So all good - see photos below of how it is set up now.

So just wondering why the subwoofer doesn't work when I connect the speakers wires using the FROM RECEIVER/TO SPEAKERS ports on the subwoofer, without needing to use RCA cable?

 

[opnly bafld]

Yes, that's the way I had it connected, but there was no subwoofer sound until RCA cable connected

So just wondering why the subwoofer doesn't work when I connect the speakers wires using the FROM RECEIVER/TO SPEAKERS ports on the subwoofer, without needing to use RCA cable?

Class d amplifier might need just the red wires and one black or no black wires connected to the sub input.

The Pioneer subwoofer pictured has a switch to select line or speaker in, but that is very rare.
Obviously with it you would need to change the switch setting or it would not work.

 

[Eiretep]

Class d amplifier might need just the red wires and one black or no black wires connected to the sub input.

The Pioneer subwoofer pictured has a switch to select line or speaker in, but that is very rare.
Obviously with it you would need to change the switch setting or it would not work.

View attachment 3555011

Its strange alright. There's no switch like that on the back of my Canton subwoofer. But at least its all working fine now anyway, with sound coming from both speakers and sub. I don't even have the amplifier turned up to a quarter of the level and its very loud, sounds good.

Now just need to experiment and find the best setting for the crossover 50 Hz - 150 Hz and phase 0 or 180 degrees

 

[swechsler]

Glad you got it working; I am mystified as to why the speaker level inputs don't work on the subwoofer. Since you purchased them secondhand, it's possible that the previous owner modified the subwoofer. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Eiretep]

Glad you got it working; I am mystified as to why the speaker level inputs don't work on the subwoofer. Since you purchased them secondhand, it's possible that the previous owner modified the subwoofer. I wouldn't worry about it.

Ah yes good point, previous owner may have modified the subwoofer in some way.
All good now anyway. Thanks for recommending that amplifier, its working very well.
Thanks too @opnly bafld for your help above.