You've decided that your stereo system or home theater is not kicking out the deep bass that you crave. Adding a subwoofer was an obvious decision, but figuring out hook it up has proven more difficult than you envisioned. Essentially, you have several different options that will be dictated largely by the available outputs and inputs on the equipment you're using. Here's do it.
Instructions
1. Use the line level output from your receiver, preamplifier or amplifier. This will be the easiest solution. The output will often be designated as "Sub Out." Your subwoofer should have left and right input connections, one of which may be marked "Mono." You can use a single audio cable from the receiver to the "Mono" input or a Y RCA cable (one connector on one end, two on the other) to connect it from the receiver to both left and right inputs on the subwoofer. In some cases, a receiver or preamplifier will have two output terminals so that a regular RCA cable can connect left and right outputs with left and right inputs on the sub.
2. Use speaker cable to connect the subwoofer. If you don't have a dedicated subwoofer output on your receiver, amplifier or preamplifier, your subwoofer also has inputs for speaker cable. Follow the steps below.
3. Run speaker cable from the main speaker outputs (left and right) on your receiver or amplifier to the left and right inputs on your subwoofer. Make sure to correctly connect positive to positive and negative to negative.
4. Run cable from the speaker outputs on the subwoofer to the left and right speakers, making certain to align polarities correctly.
5. Plug the subwoofer power cord into an electrical outlet.
6. Be sure that the subwoofer is turned "on" on your receiver, so that the low frequencies will be sent to the subwoofer. This applies if you are using the subwoofer out jack. If wiring using speaker terminals, you'll probably need to shut the subwoofer off on the receiver and set the speakers to "Large" to route all frequencies through the subwoofer. Some subwoofers and receivers allow you to set the crossovers, frequency cut-off points for the subwoofer and speakers.
Tags: left right, your receiver, cable from, left right inputs, right inputs, speaker cable, cable connect