Using a Subwoofer with a Vintage Receiver

S

syracusejim

Active Member
In some photos of other member's systems, I see pics of vintage set ups with and separate subwoofer. what do you connect the subwoofer into on the vintage receiver? The sub I want to try is a powered Infinity sub. I've got a pioneer sx receiver from late 70's/ Into one side of the 'B" or 'C' speaker connections?
 
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There's several ways you could do it:

-If you have a piece of gear with two preouts, just run RCA interconnects over to the subwoofer's line level/low level input
-If you have one that simply has pre-out/main-in loops, just get a Y adapter for the pre-out and run RCA interconnects over to the subwoofer while the other goes to the main-in.
-If you don't have those, you'll have to use speaker/high level inputs so you run the speaker wire from the receiver to the subwoofer, and if your subwoofer has high level outputs you run wire from the subwoofer over to the speakers. I believe you could also wire the subwoofer to speaker B on your receiver and presumably you probably have an A+B mode on your receiver - so you can actively turn the subwoofer on or off (This is I believe what you described that you wanted to do, and IMO may be the most versatile option since you can turn the subwoofer on/off from the receiver).

Just remember, newer equipment has dedicated subwoofer pre-out jacks and tends to have equalization that when adjusted only affects your speakers and not the subwoofer. Not true on vintage gear - if you have the subwoofer on and you hit the loudness, you're turning it on for the subwoofer as well which will greatly exaggerate the bass (Which you may not want).
 
I use a Paradigm X-20 subwoofer control unit to split off the subs from my A speaker output. Has a sub level control on it as well as cut-off and phase controls. The smaller X-10 model just has the level control. Both can handle two subs. They have been out of production for years but still show up on E-bay from time to time. I have one of each and love them.
 
I use a paradigm 10 inch sub with my MCS 3700 series integrated amp,, And it sounds awesome. That is all I can say. I have here in Ky a sony receiver with sub out and using a Kenwood 10 inch sub and it sounds great. I have to feed the sub from the speaker out from the MCS to the Paradigm and then run from it to the speakers. IT sounds great. then from the paradigm I run to my Bose speakers. The sound is just wonderful. I use that system more than the other stuff. I have a an Optimus unpowered sub I used to use and it sounds great as well. But the paradigm is way better.
 
If you look at the Polk line of Subwoofers as an example they have high level inputs which is what you want to use with a vintage receiver. An example is the Polk DSWPRO440wi this is has an 8 inch woofer powered by a 360 watt amp. Using the high level output means the Subwoofer distributes the signal to the other 2 speakers the built in crossover routes frequencies below a specified range an adjustable 125 Hz on down. It has a remote control so you can make these adjustment from you listening position.
http://www.polkaudio.com/products/dswpro440wi
 
Sx 1250 and subwoofer

Vistance said:
There's several ways you could do it:

-If you have a piece of gear with two preouts, just run RCA interconnects over to the subwoofer's line level/low level input
-If you have one that simply has pre-out/main-in loops, just get a Y adapter for the pre-out and run RCA interconnects over to the subwoofer while the other goes to the main-in.
-If you don't have those, you'll have to use speaker/high level inputs so you run the speaker wire from the receiver to the subwoofer, and if your subwoofer has high level outputs you run wire from the subwoofer over to the speakers. I believe you could also wire the subwoofer to speaker B on your receiver and presumably you probably have an A+B mode on your receiver - so you can actively turn the subwoofer on or off (This is I believe what you described that you wanted to do, and IMO may be the most versatile option since you can turn the subwoofer on/off from the receiver).

Just remember, newer equipment has dedicated subwoofer pre-out jacks and tends to have equalization that when adjusted only affects your speakers and not the subwoofer. Not true on vintage gear - if you have the subwoofer on and you hit the loudness, you're turning it on for the subwoofer as well which will greatly exaggerate the bass (Which you may not want).
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So, since my receiver only has one Pre-out/main-in loop and my subwoofer is powered, do I just use one Y adapter and connect the Y part of adapter in the Pre outs of receiver and the single end to the subwoofer in?
 
You would want to use a pair of Y adapters at the pre-out, like the ones on Monoprice with the PID of 7186. They make a Y version as well if you prefer, PID 7227. Given you're using a vintage 2-channel setup, I'd go for two of these Y adapters and just run two subwoofer cables over to the subwoofer's L/R inputs.
 
pioner sx 1250 and subwoofer

Vistance said:
You would want to use a pair of Y adapters at the pre-out, like the ones on Monoprice with the PID of 7186. They make a Y version as well if you prefer, PID 7227. Given you're using a vintage 2-channel setup, I'd go for two of these Y adapters and just run two subwoofer cables over to the subwoofer's L/R inputs.
Click to expand...

Ok, I checked out the adapter on Monoprice. I think I understand how to connect this the way you are saying, but for the sake of time and the possibility I blow up one of my pieces of equipment, I'm gonna take pics of back of sub and receiver. thanks guys
 
Don't worry, running a Y adapter out of the pre-out won't damage anything. You would only be at risk if you were running multiple things to the main-in, because there would be conflicting signals going into the receiver telling it what to drive. The pre-out is simply sending whatever your selected input that is playing, out to the power amp - in the case where it's connected to the receiver itself, it will be amplified by the receiver and sent to the speakers. What you're doing is splitting and sending this signal to the subwoofer as well as your receiver, and the subwoofer will amplify the signal itself to mate with your speakers. Enjoy :thmbsp:
 
here are pics of back of sx 1250 and subwoofer

take a look. Today I hooked up the sub to a 90s jvc receiver speaker B jacks, just in case I messed something up and didnt kill the sx1250. It sounded like crap with speakers a and b on. just throwing that out there.
 

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Yeah, high level isn't a very optimal way to hook it up. Sometimes it's the only choice you have, but the way it's intended to my understanding is to go from the receiver, to the sub, then from the sub to your speakers. You can see where this is problematic, but if you lack pre-out/main-in loops then you don't really have the choice. But since you do, use the pre-outs and you should be happy with that.
 
I recently scored an 8" paradigm powered sub at a thrift store. I tried it hooked up to an old Teac receiver and old speakers,just in case. I hooked it up 3 different ways to see what would happen.

1. ) With a pair of speakers hooked to the " A" speaker terminals, I hooked the sub to the "B" speaker terminals. The sub worked, but the sound level of the main speakers dropped dramatically. To be fair, any time I've hooked up A & B speakers to this receiver, it sounded bad. I've even hooked wires to the B terminals with no load attached to them , and the A volume dropped. Maybe it's a protection thing,I dunno.

2. ) Next I hooked 2 sets of wires to the "A" speaker terminals on the receiver. One went to the Sub, the other to the speakers. Sounded good.

3. ) Then I tried it hooking wires from the receiver to the sub, then from the sub to the speakers. Method 2 & 3 sounded the same to my ears.

Not saying to copy me, just reporting my observations. Good luck, and don't let the smoke out!
 
Hi spinz3 here i followed vistance directions to hook up sub to my sa8500 he was right on target i had it threw high level kinda crappie but switched to low level seemed more controled just wondering if any longterm damage can happen to my antique mint amp ?
 
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CLS500 said:
I use a Paradigm X-20 subwoofer control unit to split off the subs from my A speaker output. Has a sub level control on it as well as cut-off and phase controls. The smaller X-10 model just has the level control. Both can handle two subs. They have been out of production for years but still show up on E-bay from time to time. I have one of each and love them.
Click to expand...

Wow! I been looking for something like that for years- and a quality name like Paradigm even better.

Look like they go for about $100 shipped when you can find one, wonder if anyone else currently makes anything comparable.

Big thanks for bringing that to our attention- that would be perfect to use as a Sub preamp when wanting to use a rack amp to power a sub.
 
As mentioned, if the sub has low level inputs this is the best way, but does it have low level outputs? This will eliminate the need for Y adapters if it does. Looked specifically for this feature when purchasing my last two subs.
 
VWGUY said:
Wow! I been looking for something like that for years- and a quality name like Paradigm even better.

Look like they go for about $100 shipped when you can find one, wonder if anyone else currently makes anything comparable.

Big thanks for bringing that to our attention- that would be perfect to use as a Sub preamp when wanting to use a rack amp to power a sub.
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Too bad it doesn't have low level line inputs.

Used a Carver DPL-33 80hz sub output to feed a huge 1000watt RMS power amp driving a pair of passive subs I built in 2000, now that really rocked. The DPL-33 can be had on eBay for about $50 ($470 original MSRP) and makes a very simple way to add surround sound to a vintage receiver. This allows the use of your traditional 2 channel set up for music, and includes amplification for the center and rear channels. It also has outputs to allow separate power amps for each additional channel for a mind blowing surround system. My old surround system included a Carver TFM-25 for the main speakers, a TFM-15cb bridged mono for the center, another TFM-15cb for the rear channels, and the 1000watt monster mentioned above for the two passive subs. My neighbors liked me very very much, lol. The DPL-33 is only ProLogic but it works fine for me.
 
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Vistance said:
Yeah, high level isn't a very optimal way to hook it up. Sometimes it's the only choice you have, but the way it's intended to my understanding is to go from the receiver, to the sub, then from the sub to your speakers. You can see where this is problematic, but if you lack pre-out/main-in loops then you don't really have the choice. But since you do, use the pre-outs and you should be happy with that.
Click to expand...
Hi vistance i took your advise had to switch back to high level parts express said not enough signal coming out.the sub has low levels in and out .but i used splitters or y,s if i go in and out with rca,s will it help my sub is15 ft. Away from amp thats a lot of wire what do you think .my amp is pioneer sa8500 vintage i dont have enough rca,s to reach uploadfromtaptalk1407383223737.jpguploadfromtaptalk1407383273197.jpg
 
The length of the RCA cables and splitters shouldn't be an issue with signal strength. That sort of thing is done all the time. It's a high impedance circuit, essentially no loss in that regard since it's a voltage signal.

Maybe post some pictures of how you had it connected and we can get it straightened out.

That said, nothing wrong with speaker level connections. Some very well regarded subs like REL recommend that sort of connection.
 
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