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Help Connecting Powered Subwoofer to Pioneer SX-939

J

jdanham

New Member
I have a Canadian made "Innovative Speaker Design" (ISD) "Spirit" subwoofer that has `Line In" RCA and DIN High Level Input ports on the unit, and the Pioneer has many options for adding devices but I am unsure which way to go to ensure best quality sound. Hope that others who've done similar configurations can lend me some help. Thanks in advance!


 
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Your best bet would probably be carefully removing the bars over the pre/main terminals, and use a Y-cable to run the output from the "Pre Out" to your subwoofer. That way, you'll sum feed both channels into your sub, and still be able to control the sub's volume with the receiver, unlike the Tape Out terminals.
 
OK that is what I was sort of thinking based on the other forums I've looked at. Does this scenario require any booster/conversion component? This sub has it's own amp, so I think not.
Is there a distance concern with this? I'm probably looking at less than 20 feet from receiver to the sub.

Thanks!
 
WARNING!!!!
If you use a Y connector to combine the left and right preamp level outputs you will turn the signal into a mono signal regardless of the other connections.

If you want mono sound go right ahead. Try if for yourself if you don't feel like tracing the signal paths.
 
JoeESP9 said:
WARNING!!!!
If you use a Y connector to combine the left and right preamp level outputs you will turn the signal into a mono signal regardless of the other connections.

If you want mono sound go right ahead. Try if for yourself if you don't feel like tracing the signal paths.
Click to expand...

OK then is there another solution to get the benefit of the sub with this system that doesn't impact other functionality or quality???
 
That type of sub probably came with a surround system and that is why it only has one RCA input. It is a mono input. It looks like if you want to use the right and left inputs, you would need an RCA to XLR stereo adapter.

Most of the good powered sub woofers have right & left RCA inputs along with high level or speaker inputs as well. This one has neither.
 
JoeESP9 said:
WARNING!!!!
If you use a Y connector to combine the left and right preamp level outputs you will turn the signal into a mono signal regardless of the other connections.

If you want mono sound go right ahead. Try if for yourself if you don't feel like tracing the signal paths.
Click to expand...
Would it cause everything to become mono, including the sound heard through the speakers? Or just the signal going through the sub? The former would be weird, but probably not out of the question. The latter would be ideal, since we're getting both sources of LFE info to the sub.

The other solution is to just ditch the sub and get some bigger speakers, preferably some good ol'-fashioned Bose 501's or Cerwin-Vega's for maximum thump.
 
You could try something like this stereo to mono converter: https://www.inta-audio.com/monacor-smc-1-stereo-to-mono-signal-converter-p12405

To use it, you'll need two Y connectors. One to replace the left pre-out/main-in jumper on your amp, and one to replace the right. Run the outputs of the Y connectors into the respective L/R inputs of stereo-to-mono converter, and the output of the converter to the sub.

However, as this is a passive stereo-to-mono converter, there may be some loss of stereo imaging.

A better approach is to use the same Y connectors, but run them into a multi-channel mixer. Mix both inputs to one output on the mixer, run the output to the sub. That will cause no loss of stereo imaging.

However, almost all bass content on most music is roughly equal on both channels, so the simplest solution might be to replace the right pre-out/main-in jumper on your amp with a Y connector, and run the output of the Y connector to the input of the sub.
 
The connector you refer to as a DIN connector is incorrect. It is a XLR connector, with inputs for the left channel, the right channel and the joined shields of both. These connection points can be directly connected to your speaker outputs of the receiver. The back panel of the sub even shows what the pin-out is for the XLR connector.
 
OK I've gotten a bit lost in all of these options, so I decided to abandon attempts to connect this sub and replace it with a Polk PSW125 which seems to have a better chance of integrating with my receiver:

Inputs
  • Audio Inputs
    • LFE (Unfiltered)
    • Stereo Line Level - (2) RCA
  • Speaker Inputs
    (2) Pair of Spring Terminals - Gold-Plated
With this new spec, how would I make it work?
 
With this, I’d run some RCA’s from the Pre Outs, or hook it into the “B”speaker terminals.

Then you crank it up and enjoy the music!
 
Connect the Spring Terminals on the sub to the B speaker terminals of your receiver. Set the subs crossover frequency to the -3dB point of your mains. Adjust the level to suit.
Ideally, you should not be able to tell there is a subwoofer until you turn it off. If you can easily tell a subwoofer is being used it's to loud.
 
Whichever sub you use, if the cable is 20ft and it's an RCA coax, it must be very well shielded. I ran 25ft coax to subs using Mogami pro cable and the HUM was unbearable. I switch to a double-shielded cable, braid and foil, and it was silent.

If hum is a problem, use the speaker-level inputs.
 
JoeESP9 said:
Connect the Spring Terminals on the sub to the B speaker terminals of your receiver. Set the subs crossover frequency to the -3dB point of your mains. Adjust the level to suit.
Ideally, you should not be able to tell there is a subwoofer until you turn it off. If you can easily tell a subwoofer is being used it's to loud.
Click to expand...

So is this where you select A+B for speaker selection? Does that have any impact on quality of volume control integration ie. does the sub have to be manually adjusted all the time?
 
My suggestion would be to use an active crossover to send a mono signal to the sub and filtered (high pass) outputs to the main amp in jacks on the receiver. I use a dbx 223xl crossover between the outputs of my preamp and the inputs of my power amp and subwoofer. This works perfectly for my needs and equipment. I picked up my crossover for $25 on Craigslist, and I have seen many on auction sites as well.
 
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