Are special cables required for subwoofers? 

The "high level from amp" connection to my $100 Dayton 12 inch sub was a "magical" improvement! Thanks so much Paul. I went for YEARS missing out on the importance of the "blending", it's amazing to me!

Hi Paul, just to let you know that even when you made a video 5 years ago, they are still greatly appreciated when one searches for the topic at hand. I just bought a REL Sub on Cyber Monday! Cheers

I did that amp to high-level input sub connection with my Vista Spark/Polk T50 system ❤, and the difference was Amazing! .. even with just a $100 (on sale) Dayton 12" powered sub. I had always (mistakenly it now appears) thought that, since the sub has it's own amp, using the low level signal closest to the source (in my case a splitter off of the DAC) would result in the best bass. But, including the sonic signature of the amp is definitely the way to go for that balanced sound I was after. Thanks so much Paul :)

I wonder if this "speaker cable connection /high level" is still the best. _I think_ that when you connect the speaker cables to the subwoofer (from the same amp as for main speakers) you create a time difference. The main speakers get the amplified signal but the subwoofer still needs to amplify the signal. If there is a sub-out or with DSP the signals will be processed and amplified at the same time. I have experimented a lot with "speaker cable connection" but when the sub is further away from you than the main speakers, there will be a time alignment issue if you don't have DSP. The subwoofer cannot go back in time to get the signal earlier to be able to be in phase with the main speakers. So I think a sub out or DSP is essential to be able to get the timing right. The dark sub thump and the fast main kick need to be exactly working together. I'm not a sales man for MiniDSP but they have the 2x4HD 4 channel DSP for around $200. Your digital (or analog) signal connects to the little box and 4 analog out connections go to main amp and to subwooferS. You can control everything on your laptop or a simple remote. For $100 buy a Umik calibrated microphone and measure your sound with free Room EQ Wizzard and adjust with DSP. Total control! Nice!

Thanks Paul appreciate the advise My PW has high input for banana plugs guess I'll run from b-speaker out put from amp - I didn't know the sw-pre out rca put a strain on the amp

I learned this lesson the hard (but relatively inexpensive) way. Spent $60 on a "subwoofer cable" when I bought the sub. It connected sub out to LFE in on the sub. I realised I wanted to control the crossover level on the sub so I put a 2 dollar single RCA to red / white stereo RCA (I'm not sure what those splitters are actually called). Now the audio quality is exactly the same but my sub is transparent. I used subwoofer out socket on the amp to line level inputs on the sub. Is that the same as what you're doing?

Great videos. Love your channel. I’m a little confused. Can I use speaker cables say 12 AWG cables with rca connectors and use that for subs ?

I've only seen 2 videos and thats all I needed to find my go to guy =) Paul, respectfully,, well done and I really enjoy how you explain things and I am new to sound but have loved it my whole life,, my 11 year old Daughter is a born natural at the piano and she wants to make Dance music so sound is even more important now so thank you so much for your efforts to help the people who need it!!

Your voice is oddly calming Paul. Nice video!

I was stressing out because I just got a new sub that didn't have high level inputs! I never thought of splitting the signal from my pre amp! You honestly made my day. I've been looking so long for the solution to this. That being said, if i ever get a new sub, it will definitely have high level inputs.

Paul, you give Sound advice..Can you explain how your BHK monoblocks are connected in series or in parallel ?

Thank you Paul!

few questions since i am stuck the problem is subwoofer ofc...... i want to output my pc sound 5.1 over rca i got adapter for and they work. the subwoofer channel from my pc dont output sound for music so i need to filter it from the main front speaker channel. i dont have good speakers to fully convert my normal 5.1 for pc system to a theater surround like system. i dont have a real subwoofer but got a big 12" speaker(woofer type?) with foam around. i dont know the watt of the random brand a woofer type speaker. i dont have other speaker for now. i got the following jvc a-gx5 stereo integrated amplifier 85 watt per channel stereo. technics sa-ax720 6 ch with his own subwoofer input/output unknow if it has integrated filter. 2 Equalizer (realistic 5 band / 10 band ss-100sl). Logitech Z4 2.1 speakers. Logitech z-640 5.1 speakers. some tweeter x2 Low budget T_T i know they bit old Question 1: is it possible for some EQ to need an amp/preamp ? since the SS EQ got a low signal when i output the sound through the JVC amp to the EQ, the spectrum analyser start moving that why i am asking. when i use the EQ -) JVC amp -) to woofer i dont get much power because of the EQ. Question 2: can i use an EQ to replace an crossover ? Question 3: i plan on buying real subwoofer and make an box for it and i want to know all kind of possible equipement(crossover.etc) more about that could be needed and i need direction for my search Question 4: are there good way of using CAR amp with house theater ? kind of silly since they need a car battery or other 12v power supply conrresponding wattage (power supply good for sound system? to replace car battery?) Bad at grammar but tried my best i dont like posting on random forum

Hi so I wanna set up my amp to my sub correctly Da2400es Sony receiver Asw600 b&w sub And s3 600 series b&w front and back and centre lol I predominantly use this as a 5.1 for firms and TV and when early enough music. It's the cable from the amp to the sub I'm more interested in please. It's a mono out and a l&r input

Thank you mine has 2 hand turn nuts for speaker wire that came with a sound system and trying to use it on my small speaker set it has a sub out.

I got a razer leviathan sound bar with a proprietary port with a non coax cable that isn't available to plug into the sound bar anymore. Can you use a wire to male rca adapter to a set of book shelf speakers with a built-in pre amp like the yu6 have.

I have a serious question. I have bought 2 different types of powered subwoofers and have inboxes them and the broken Polk audio one sounded way better than any of these 2 and these 2 are supposed to be way better. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong

I had a sub with a long (cheapish, unbalanced) cable from the pre amp and it was clearly underperforming. I replaced the cable with coaxial on the offchance it would help. The difference was amazing.

When you use the high level outputs, you lose the ability to crossover the main speakers. Is this ideal? I am about to try this with my setup. I don't have high level outputs on the subwoofer, but I can run it off the "Speaker B" output.

Thanks for the info.

What does constitute a "long" cable? When you talk about relative units its best to put out a reference point.

I am running my powrred sub to the back if the room and wanted to use just speaker wire. Or do I need shielded. Clearly low power to the sub. I had found what I consider conflicting advice.

I've tested my subwoofer with a thick shielded rca subwoofer cable and a cheap rca cable. The subwoofer wasn't an 3xpensive one. My av receiver has two subwoofer outputs. Both subwoofer outputs are identical and the crossover can't be set differently between both outputs.i connected both cables to the sub oug on the av receiver at the same time. With the cheap thin rca cable the bass is there but kind of low and had slight mid4ange in the bass. With the eubw9ofed cable (it cost about €12 for 15' which was 5' too long) the difference 2as big. The bass was deeper and slightly louder. The cheap rca cable was 5' shorter than the heavilyshielded subwoofer rca cable.

great videos really helped me a lot!

Hey Paul, I have a question... I have a Samsung Smart TV, a PYLE PTA66BT.5. The receiver is 600W and I have it connected to Z5500 speakers which I think are 300W. I also have a 300W sub. When listening to radio or anything it is freaking loud. I can't bring it anywhere near the 3O max level, only half. Here is my problem. Connecting the receiver through via bluetooth the sound I would say is 65% less of what it should be. I have to crank it all the way up to 30 to have it decent, but it is no way as loud as it should be. Is there any way to fix this? Is it because it's connected via bluetooth? ANY advice or help you can give would be appreciate.

So i walked into an already installed behind the wall (no conduit) 72 feet speaker cable they planned to connect from an AV receivers sub RCA output to a powered subwoofer RCA in, and there is a loud hum noise, there cannot be another installation of cable behind the wall, what can i do?

I have a diferent experience on this matter. I built an DIY subwoofer in isobaric aproach using on closed back box. Very ineficient I know. But whats I was looking for was a very well tuned bass with great transient response and low distortion for music reproduction. What I can tell Is I made some research reading reviews to buy a good and cheap interconnects with Fast good bass no mater if do not blow the walls. I found the Kimber pbj and for me had a very good performance. I switch the pbj for Kimber hero y others from Voodoo cable (hiend) interconnects. And the pbj works better in this system. Good tunefull musical bass. Very nice indeed. Greetings

Great message

What a gentleman!

This is probably a silly question but: when you use the high level inputs from the amp to the sub, it only reads the voltage and uses that for the frequency right? It doesn’t use the input for power, turning the sub into a passive subwoofer right? The salesman at an audio store told me it’s best not to use the high level inputs because it takes power from the amp, but I’m pretty sure he’s wrong.

Thanks Paul!

Paul... U ROCK! Thx 4 da info. Stay cool. 💯✌😎

Can I splice a yellow rca cable and connect it to a subwoofer that has a negative and positive cable? And then can I connect the yellow rca cable to a home theater av receiver?

What about matching speaker impedence to the wire? Probably more theoretical... An electrical engineer I lived with asked me if I matched impedence when I came home with expensive speaker wire... He cranked out the calculus and explained reflections but had no 'intuition' or experience with speakers. Did I know? Nope... Sound great... yes.

If sub is powered with main speaker sound signature, won't there be lot of Overlaping and uneven frequency response?

Thank you sir.

I think that question is about using subwoofer cable or red and white audio cables (one of them).

PS Audio = Great Great Company .

I disagree. I had a Monster Cable Subwoofer cable that I used for decades to run my subwoofer on the LFE channel. When I upgraded my system to a better amp that had 2 LFE channels. I upgraded my subwoofers to NHT. I ran the tried and true Monster up and at the time I didn't have any other "sub woofer" cable so I used a standard audio, out-of-the-box variety to connect it. I had to crank both of those NHT amps to full volume to get any sort of bass out of it. Also, one of the NHTs would make noise like mores code when it was idle. I was highly disappointed. Some months later, I decided to upgrade the subwoofer cables. I bought 2 Audioquest Boxer cables. Finally, there was some bass and it was tighter, more controlled and less mushy rattle and rumble. The noise went away. I later learned that the way bass information is sent is via a 1V signal. If you have a crappy, sub-par cable, it may not send the 1V in all its power. Additionally, I learned that subwoofers that have stereo inputs require 2V to power. So you need a Y splitter. Then the 1V signal travels to 2 ports, giving the sub 2V. When I added a splitter, I was finally able to turn the volume down on the NHT amps as the bass was nearly overwhelming. SO, from *MY* anecdotal experience, you need a better cable to run to your sub.

Thanks for all these great videos! So I have mine hooked up from av sub out to my sub via rca y-adapter, sounds louder than if plugged into sub only through left input. Is that ok? Or is there a better way?

My sub has the red black speaker wire and rca plug ins. Do i need to connect both to my av receiver?

Most subs today dosn't have high level input connections. SVS does not make them any more. The only option is using pre - out connections on your integrated amp or Preamp , meaning using two rca cables to connect your Preamp or Inegrated amp to your Subwoofer . Have talked with SVS and they have told me - Using the pre - out outputs on your integrated amp is the way to go . It might be that SVS is trying to sell their Subs to a non home theater guy like me rather then carrying for the best sounding results ... This or that , still today there are no other options then using the pre-out outputs on your integrated amp or Preamp.. It is interesting if using thise Pre- out outputs will soundwise produce a well integrated sub with the existing speakers.

Dude, you and grand or band stand all the live long day 😊

Why are Clear Components (Clear Components GmBH) plugs almost half the price on their store/ Ebay store after 3 years?

Mr. Roger or Paul all good !

I recently changed my cheap RCA cable running to my subwoofer with one from Blue Jeans Cables and it sounds better to me.

Does anyone have his email address?

My sub woofer manual stated that using rca at all cost. Only use speaker cable as last resort.

I usually just bland stand.

So... are special cables required for subwoofers? No? Then RCA works fine? Someone even suggested the video (yellow) cable works... what? I need some some facts here! I don't want to buy more cables when I have RCAs laying everywhere already. If I don't need a subwoofer cable, then why do they make them? Some claim they are made differently, but I don't know if I buy that. Aren't they the same as RCA? What cable do I use? Is there something wrong with using the Sub Out on an AVR? I need a more info... :( EDIT: If I seem like I'm rambling and ranting, its because I've been looking for information for weeks, and no definitive proof seems to exist.

You need to go out and buy a specific subwoofer cable for no less than $10,000! 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂😂😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

Just a couple of weeks ago I emailed those guys at PS Audio. I wanted to ask them about exactly what John is talking about. I talked to a sales guy about my preamp bogging down with the low input sub option. He had no idea what I was talking about, so he forwarded me to another guy. He asked me what PS Audio gear I had and if it wasn't I need to call the manufacturer of my not PS Audio sub or preamp. I think I have a pretty good system for the money I make and if I ever make enough to buy stuff like PD Audio I would rather jab my eardrums out with the sharp dults at PS Audio where they treat people like they treated me. Maybe you should know who works for you John, I was really disappointed. Go ask Joey he'll tell ya all about it, the prick.

Subs are mono, its does all he same thing.

your every answer is not allays straightforward. or even may not be understand what u say ,

Rel subwoofers are Welsh not English.

But you use the opposite logic on subwoofers to say they don't much care about their cord (because they're low frequency anyway). So then you can't use the logic that there are relevant/discernible "sonic characteristics" way down there at 35hz TO convey to the subwoofers. So . . . which is it? Yes it matters if you use a "subwoofer" cable not just a non specific audio cable, because counter intuitively there actually IS a good deal of "revealing" possible even below where a four string bass guitar can reach, and therefore it also makes a difference to use your power amp to . . . enhance . . . the signal? I've heard an awful lot of people shit on Bob Carver with that exact same logic. Or no, it doesn't make a difference whether your cable says monster subwoofer and is made of the best materials known to man, because at such low frequencies all you need is a good signal really, and therefore it also doesn't matter whether you use powered inputs or not. Except, doing that causes your mains to no longer be full range. Some would say that greatly benefits the power amp similar to the benefits to the high frequency drivers as a result of bi-amping. But then, that is NEVER the reason you cite when you continually state that it's better. Nor do you state that by using the subwoofer I/O in front of the power amp, one adds to the signal path, although I don't really know how much that could really degrade the signal, I mean come on how picky can we be. But okay there's a way around that; just split the signal before it's powered, so you can still use the line level inputs AND not run the signal through an alien circuit board before the power amplifier NOR introduce a crossover. So it seems that might work, except I don't know what that does to input voltages or loads or whatever. And I guess you're not going to answer since I didn't mail it in or whatever lol

I was interested in hearing your opinions on frequency actually. Should stayed on the tangent