How to add a Subwoofer to any Vintage Stereo 

Best info i ever needed. Looking for how to connect sub for a year and this is the first time i have not been confused. Thank you from Norway.

I allways end up at around 60hz no matter the format ( source ) or song.. FANTASTIC VIDEO MAN !!

Your video is very good, clear, straight to the point. Thank you for teaching/helping.

Thanks for keeping things simple to understand!!!

Thank you, thank you,thank you. Finally somebody explained what I needed to know! Your the man bro!

This only works if your receiver has A + B output, AS WELL AS the speaker outputs themselves are wired in parallel internally, and not in series. Your average person may not know what they have and this was very common for receivers from the early-mid 70's to run both speaker outputs in series and some specific brands kept doing it. (my Kenwood is like this). This is designed to protect your amplifier from someone running two sets of 4ohm speakers and cooking the amp. But it has significant tradeoffs for performance and sound quality (unfortunate). it's not easy or always possible to change this. Anyways in this scenario the amp will not run the sub and mains simultaneously as the resistance of your speakers (~8ohm) will sum with the resistance of the subwoofer inputs (10's of thousands of ohms) and the resulting highly resistant load won't draw any current from the amplifier. The recommended (by HSU and PS Audio) solution for this is also the simplest: simply connect the subwoofer high-level inputs directly from the speakers, which should be directly wired to your amp. Or run wires going to the sub and mains directly sharing the same amp terminals. The high impedance of the amplifier results in no additional load "seen" by the amplifier and is completely safe. Just like int he video I let my mains run full range, and the use the controls on the subwoofer to blend nicely with them and provide the low frequency re-enforcement and extention rather take over the whole

Very useful information. Thank you. I have a 40 year old Sansui 9000 which I absolutely love and still works well. I was thinking of adding a sub even though it has good bass with existing wharfedale E-90 speakers, also 40 years old and got it re-coned recently and sounds great. Your instruction video is timely, and appreciate very much.

Very good instructional video... Liked your using the High inputs on your woofer. Never saw summing L and R channels into a mono-sub. As my 2.0 stereo has only speakers A, no speakers B, I bought a simple amp with subwoofer speaker output. Works for now.

RCA jacks/Line Out on the unit to High Level In on the active subwoofer also works perfectly well.

U have on the subwoofer (High Inputs) the left and right connections is switch while on the marants speaker (remote) is wired correctly. Thought you should know. 😎👍

Well done. Answered all of my lingering/novice questions.

Thanks a lot i have always been bugged by this set up so now i know .Great clear explanation makes it so easy to understand. You have made my day sir.

Klipsch Forte is a badass speaker, most have no clue. The new ones that just came out are insane, coarse your gonna pay for em, but so worth it

Great video! I was tempted to just hook up my sub to the A channel , and use the out terminals of the sub for my mains...BUT I like your way better because then I have the option of shutting off my B channel (and sub) when I don't want to make as much noise (i.e.wife sleeping!) Nice to be able to choose that! ;)

A great video lesson. Many thanks for taking the time to create this clear and concise explanation.

Great you take time to help others, very well done.

To hook up the second set of speakers after plugging in the amp, do you just run the second speaker wires from the amp to the speakers, both sets of wires plugged into the amp's second wire holes?

Why not just run the “A” speaker output to the input on the sub then run your speakers off the high output on the sub ? That way you can still run a second set of speakers off your “B” channel .

Either Belden or Blue Jeans cable is the way to go. Great video.

Brilliant explanation! Thank you so much! Cheers from Outback Australia...

Can you play a music so we can hearing how its sound and trye how loud you can playing.:)

For me, the line level output with quality shielded cables for short to moderate lengths would be just as good. There are pros and cons to both but Sub out RCA when available would at least be a cleaner and easier install.

I have an XLS subwoofer, not the same model, and the instructions say to main speaker out terminals along with the main speakers and it works well with a full rich sound.

The pre out nex to main in should work, i hooked one up to the rec out on a sanyo d4505, works only you have to use the subs volume. Also used the line out on the akai am a202, have high level inputs but i use the a and b speaker channels. I will have to have go at this to hear the difference. Good video.

I realize how old this video is, but what about the pre-outs? Not a lot of vintage receiver/amps have pre-outs but yours in the video does.

This was great, thanks. Now to hook up the Sherwood sub I found in hard rubbish to my vintage Luxman!

I Will Try to' do that. I have a small collection of old marantz recivers and amplifiers . And I like to play with them 🤓 . Thanks for the tip

Excellent advice here. I've been browsing sub install vids and most are doing it wrong by connecting the mains to the sub's high level output, thereby failing the audio version of an IQ test. Using thin wire and the shrink wrap is also brilliant. The sub's high level output is useless except for daisy chaining multiple, identical subs together. If you can't use or don't have A+B speakers, simply twist your "sub wires" to the main speaker wires and connect both at the speaker outputs, which is another good reason to run thin wires to the sub so both wires fit the output jack.

The issue you will always run into when trying this is either ruining the unique sound of your vintage amp by running your speakers through the subwoofer... or still pushing full range to your mains because there is no crossover for them.

i use vintage (1975) Jbl L36 Decade three way floor standers driven by a Pioneer SX-950 stereo receiver ....no lack of bass at my house , JBL are known to be bass rich !

thanks i needed some info, now on the hunt for a cheap active woofer !

It is heavy and robust box on the subwoofer so its a good things because you can have the turntable on the top of the subwoofer and that way save table space.:)

WHEN I CONNECT FRONT SPEAKERS TO THE A OUTPUT, DO I HAVE TO USE THE 2 OUTPUT ACTIVELY?

Very good. Short, precise. I have a Marantz 2240. You can hookup two subs this way to an old marantz also.

Just a point, if you cool that many wires together like that you end up making a inductor which may ruin your sound.

I know how to hook it up a sub to my vintage receiver now thankfully

Thank You for taking the time to show us this! What Morons would thumb down this informative video??

You can also use a car stereo line out converter and use a pro audio power amplifier such as a crown xls power amplifier or you can use a subwoofer alone with a passive crossover inside the the subwoofer enclosure itself

What about running another pair of speakers off of the sub?

Great video!! Great information!

Awesome video and Equipment!!!

Banana plugs are simply cleaner

Very useful… hunting for a sub now…

I have a 4 ohm Subwoofer that needs to be an 8 ohm subwoofer. Is there a way to wire it into my 1996 Sony 5.1 surround sound pre-amplifier? Can I use two 4 ohm subwoofers, wired together to make it an 8 ohm subwoofer? And if so, how do I wire it into the Sony?

Man I'm glad I found this video🤣now I know why my dayton audio sub never shuts off 25' run that wire passes two plugs its coming out anyway the cerwin vega is more than enough 👍

I have a Marantz 2245....how about I use my pre amp out to the sub...

I've always been interested in doing this on one of my vintage Marantz receivers, but what do you do if you have 4 speakers? I have a pair on each, speakers A and B. I often wondered as to whether you could use the headphones output. I have a nice Polk powered subwoofer in the basement that I'd love to hook up. Maybe I could find an adapter from the big headphones jack to RCA inputs on the sub? I also have to wonder how that works using speaker level inputs, regarding the ohms load on the receiver's amplifier. I'm pretty sure 2245 or 2252b is 4 ohm stable, but not to sure how stable it would be running 2 sets of 8 ohm speakers, (which already poses a 4 ohm load) and adding a powered sub. Interested in your thoughts regarding this.

Great video. But just one thing, there's virtually no power going into the high impedance sub inputs. The voltage could be high but it will not draw any current.

You need to change this title. Using your method -- this will not work for every vintage receiver.

Incomplete video. A sample of how it sounds all hook up together with the speakers would be great.

You neglected to illustrate how the front panel settings should be set. I'm assuming you set it to A&B , correct?

Great video, thanks. In a hybrid, stereo/theater setup (on a newer home theater receiver), would you hook up the high input (for music) and in my case, the LFE (for theater) and would the subwoofer pick up whichever was issuing the signal?

Hi What if you have 4 speakers how do you connect the sub then? Thank you

Finally! I’ve been scouring you tube and the audio karma website to find out how to do this. I have a Pioneer SX 980 with Radio Skack Optimus 7 speakers. I wanted to add a sub but wasn’t finding what you explained so simply. Thank you! I’m ordering my sub today!

Slightly off topic, considering my reciever is only 15 years old and a 5.1- I have an onkyo HT R330, came with a passive sub, no separate LFE output on rcvr. Hooking up a BIC V1220 powered sub through method A( rcvr to sub then sub to front spkrs). On the rcvr I turned the option for sub off, that sets the size of fronts to large. My onkyo book tells me to base the crossover on the first spkr that is set to small which is the center, 2-8cm woofers. According to the book under 9cm is 150Hz. I then proceed to set up subwoofer. I have the volume set about mid way, phase at 0 and crossover above 120Hz on sub. I have decent bass from the sub, but it sounds like the left and right fronts are getting overdriven, instead of a tight thump it is muddled almost vibrating noise. If i turn the bass for the fronts down to neg 1 the muddle goes away but there is hardly and bass at the sub. If I turn the bass back up and adjust the crossover frequency on the rcvr to 100Hz the bass on the spkrs and sub sounds good. Im just confused and dont want to damage anything. There is the + and - for the passive sub on the rcvr- should I use that for the from rcvr and leave my front speakers hooked directly to the rcvr

THis is bullshit.. this isn't for any vintage amp.. .. The best way to do this is to use a preamp with two outputs and then run the RCA to the sub in on your sub.. .that way you can tune everything right

Do you have a video on how to hook up a pre-amp or amplifier to these old receivers ? I just bought a MCS 3235 which puts out 35 watts per channel. To be honest I don't really know if I need anymore amplification but a explanation video would be great. The back of my receiver is similar to what you have here in the video being there are no connections to add an amp.Thanks for the vids...

Thx alot of help👌🏿

It looks like you flipped the phasing of the wiring.

If you are going to use your amp as you were using 4 speakers, you need to be aware that most of the vintage amps require 4 speakers of 8 ohms or more to do it, but all with the same impedance. If you connect a subwoofer of 4 Ohms and your speakers are 8 ohms, you can blow your amplifier. If your sub and your speakers do not match in the impedance and they are not 8 ohms or superior, you better use one channel connected to the subwoofer, and connect your speakers from the subwoofer using the hi level OUT, to avoid damage your amp.

So we connect the sub like you did. But then how are the passive mains connected, how do they become amplified, and how does cross-over between the sub and the mains happen?

I have the same speaker type connectors on the back of my active subwoofer but they don't say "high level". What would be the difference?

Awesome information, thanks.

Don't waste your B speaker inputs. Use high level into your sub and out to your speakers. Then you can add speakers later to the B channel. .... I'd use banana plugs... They're simpler to use. --- Sorry Breaker .. I just strongly disagree with you here.

Thanks lot for the video. It's quite useful. Considering the connection you describe, do we run the subwoofer in active mode (plug to AC) or, in passive mode ? The reason I ask the question is that the signal we get from receiver amp is already powered (comes from power amp) . Would that harm the subwoofer that is run in powered mode ?

hmmm stereo bass... always scratched my head about that.

I have 4 speakers, where do I add the additional two speakers if I fill the B channel with the Subwoofer? Can I double them up? 1 subwoofer wire with a Speaker wire in the same slot?

How about using the main in pre out connections?

What happen whith the vintage speaker where l conete the vintage speaker .l can conecte all that what i need.

The converter works just fine. I haven't heard any noise.

Wouldn't the subwoofers amplifier only sample the speaker input so that regardless of the amount of watts moving into the speaker inputs, these watts don't enter the input of the subwoofer amp, more of a voltage gain than anything else. I'm not 100% sure, but that's my take on it. I just received a Mitsubishi M-SUB10 a 60 watt approximately, 10 inch subwoofer it hits pretty hard, powered off my Harman Kardon 430 twin powered reciever. That will wake the rodents outside lol.

electrolytic capacitors will love this, I would like to know how Hot this Marantz gets with this configuration.

Couldn't you have just used the PRE OUT on that 2250B?

its a safe for amplifier ? and thanks for making this informative video to resolved this problem . b4 my sub definitive pro cinema 700w i dont know about this ports .

I want an old marantz sooo bad

I'm using a Technic amplifier from 1993. The amplifier is still going strong and I want to connect a subwoofer on it. The problem is that my amplifier only got 2 speaker outputs(left and right) and one with RCA's(left and right) called "surround". Can I use the surround port to connect a subwoofer on it??? And if yes how can I do it???? Thanks for your time

Great video I have the same receiver.

Why you didn't play some music if it gonna works?

You said "ANY Vintage Stereo" but you didn't show the hookup in the case where there is just speaker A outputs. Do you just use a parallel jumper to the sub? And does that cause any degradation in audio to do it that way?

I tried this with my old Marantz PM7200 to a powered 150 watt subwoofer Infinity BU-120 pretty much exactly like yours. The Marantz has class A 25 watts and class a/b 90 watts and was just serviced as I bought it second hand from a friend, but the sub woofer does not work. Btw I ive in Europe- retired. I an splitting 2 receivers with 1 set of front Infinity Reference 60 that I just bought second hand. The Yamaha 5.1 surround receiver with a direct low level into the sub woofer works perfect. I want to add the sub to the Marantz system for music listening exclusively. I did use the speaker b system as you recommended, but not real expensive speaker wire. Pretty much just normal wire. Ideas? Thanks. Ps i believe the Marantz is just underpowered for this setup, but drives my Infinty Reference 60s just fine at 25 watts. Actually, to troubleshoot this issue correctly I should wire my main speakers to the B outputs to see if there is a problem with the Marantz power supply on the B channel. Also this Marantz model does not have a preamp output jack. :( Any thoughts?

Thank You

Your preout would be used for the subwoofer

What about a subwoofer that just has two inputs for speaker wire? Would I just use two wires and combine them in the subwoofer inputs?

The same way you would of hooked it up in the 80s

So I just have one pair of speaker outputs from my integrated tube amp. Any ideas how I would connect a subwoofer to it?

I'm wanting to use a subwoofer that just has your standard speaker wires coming from it. So I would only be able to hook into either the left or right channel. Should I just hook it into a single channel or should I bridge it from on channel to the other using a small length of speaker wire?

I need help guys. I have a Pioneer SA-508 25 watts per channel into 8ohms amp, with A+B speakers. I'm finding it difficult getting 3 way speakers with good bass so i thought adding a sub might work. Any recommendations on the type of sub to look for. I'm new at this. Please help

Great video but this seems like modern amplifier. My vintage amplifiers doesn't have A and B outs.

Is there any real benefit of using the B speaker channel to run the sub instead of using the main output and then using the output side of the sub to drive speakers? Or is that just your preferred method?

My klipsch heresy's sound great but need more low end thanks !

Interesting. One question, is it ok 8 om my Subwoofer? Thanks 👍

Finally able to get out my old stereo that I purchased in the service, circa late 80's. In the video you talked about the power the amp puts out and into the sub, my sub is a jbl venue 12 powered at 250 rms. If hooked up to speaker b from yamaha amp could that cause plate amp in sub to blow fuse? Thank You for any advice and the great video.

Super excellent video thank you and God Bless you for your instructions, I have a Pioneer Sx 1050 rated @ 120 RMS per channel with 3 speaker channels A, B, and C. This means I can run 3 sets of speakers. all 2 pair are klipsh but I found an excellent sub woofer by Klipsh I purchase for 100.00 at a garage sale it has a 10 inch woofer and I want to know if I can run that on the 3rd C channel for extra depth, I am addicted to base, Your expertise would be greatly appreciated!

Hey I like your choice of speakers! I just got a pair of La Scala's and I chose those because they are really good with a low power tube amp. I am wondering if you could direct me on how to wire up a self powered JL Audio Sub to a vintage McIntosh C 22 pre Amp?

I am new to this Vintage Audio game and so far have a Pioneer SX-1010. But I like the Look of tube amps, would you recommend a Dynaco ST-70? I am very open to other opinions. Cant afford $12K for Macintosh 275 LOL

I have a Rogue Audio Sphinx v. 3 and wanted to add an older Paradigm PDR-10 powered sub. The Rogue only has one set of speaker terminals (no A-B). I’ve been told by other Rogue Audio enthusiasts on a discussion board that the proper way to do this is to run both the mains and the sub from the same speaker outputs. Do you think this would be safe?

But its a naubor frendly place to have the turntable on the top on the subwoofer and why pump up the volume you can listening mutch louder with headphones or put bike cyckle inner whel under the subwoofer who eliminates the vibration.:)

Hello, thanks for the video ! I have a 2225L Marantz and a couple of Elipson facet 8B and the Facet sub 8.... But I don't know how to plug the sub there is just one RCA Red and RCA L/LFE white. It exist an adaptor to convert RCA to High Level and plug on the "remote" plugs? (sorry for my poor English ^^") (Maybe the good way is to plug directly RCA red and white on the tape 1 plugs... )

If there's no channel B, why can't I use High Level Out?

If the stereo is 4 ohms with just the A connections but 8 ohms with both A + B connections, does that mean you can't use 4 ohms speakers on the A connections once you've added the powered subwoofer? Or, does the amp on the subwoofer take the load off the vintage receiver?