Another super simple beginner ? Correct sub connection?

[2Sunny]

I'm 99% sure I know the answer, but just to be 100% sure here's the question.

I will be setting up a new subwoofer this week. It is a Revel Concerta2 B10, and I will be connecting it to a Sony STR-AZ5000ES pre-out. My current sub had one of the RCA inputs labeled LFE and the manual said to use a single RCA cable from the amp to the sub, but the B10 manual only discusses a 2 channel connection. So:

Am I correct in that I can connect a single RCA cable from the Sony pre-out to either the red or white input on the back of the B10?

Is there any advantage to using a Y connector to connect to both the red and white input on the B10?

 

[DVDdoug]

Is there any advantage to using a Y connector to connect to both the red and white input on the B10?

No.

They might be summed which would be 6dB louder with both inputs, but you're going to adjust it anyway. If it has passive mixing there will be no difference.

 

[kyuu]

It is a Revel Concerta2 B10

Hey, did you happen to pick that up on some kind of deal? I just bought one myself! Make sure to come back and let us know your experience with it. There's not a lot of talk about it (it is a questionable choice at MSRP).

As for the connection, as Doug said it doesn't matter; most subwoofers will just label the L input as the "LFE" input. No need to use a Y connector. You'd just be splitting the sub signal for it to get summed back together in the subwoofer.

 

[2Sunny]

Hey, did you happen to pick that up on some kind of deal? I just bought one myself! Make sure to come back and let us know your experience with it. There's not a lot of talk about it (it is a questionable choice at MSRP).

As for the connection, as Doug said it doesn't matter; most subwoofers will just label the L input as the "LFE" input. No need to use a Y connector. You'd just be splitting the sub signal for it to get summed back together in the subwoofer.

Crutchfield knocked off 160 bucks from the $1650 price tag when I bought so that was something at least, and you can bet I'll be back to give my impression once it's setup. I currently have an all Klipsch 5.1.4 setup with a Klipsch sub, and I'm very curious to see if I like the new setup better. I sure hope so

 

[2Sunny]

Asked Revel technical support via email and here was the response. Any guess why?


"Hello Joseph,

Thank you for reaching out to Harman Luxury Audio Support.

I have checked your Sony STR-AZ5000ES receiver, and since it has a designated LFE input for the subwoofer, you can use a Y-splitter RCA cable. Please connect the red and white cables from the Revel B10 going to the designated subwoofer input on your receiver.

If you have any further questions, feel free to reply to this email.

Your case number is 17488354.

Regards,

TJ
Customer Support, Harman Luxury Audio"

 

[ZolaIII]

Just plug single RCA LFE subwoofer output to R on sub and turn low pass filter all the way up they even used color coding (and adjust everything on AVR of course).

 

[raindance]

Asked Revel technical support via email and here was the response. Any guess why?


"Hello Joseph,

Thank you for reaching out to Harman Luxury Audio Support.

I have checked your Sony STR-AZ5000ES receiver, and since it has a designated LFE input for the subwoofer, you can use a Y-splitter RCA cable. Please connect the red and white cables from the Revel B10 going to the designated subwoofer input on your receiver.

If you have any further questions, feel free to reply to this email.

Your case number is 17488354.

Regards,

TJ
Customer Support, Harman Luxury Audio"

It's not an input on the receiver so this is just bad advice. It is an LFE output and there's no need at all to use a Y cable.

 

[dedobot]

Me thinks both AVRs outputs need to be connected to the 2 corresponding inputs of the sub.
In a stereo mode the AVR sends L/R to the sub and it sums them, in surround mode the AVR sends the single channel LFE to the sub's L input and then the sub's knob "low pass crossover" must be set at LFE position ?!

 

[OldHvyMec]

Most plates require that both left and right be connected to get the plate to its full potential. They even recommend that if there is only one RCA to Y the connection
to get that to happen. Dayton, Yung, Boss, and a few others. LFE just bypasses the internal XO on the plate and uses the source preamps settings instead.

Regards

 

[2Sunny]

It's not an input on the receiver so this is just bad advice. It is an LFE output and there's no need at all to use a Y cable.

My thought as well so I just sent this email and will be curious to see the response:

"Hi Tj -

Thanks for the speedy reply. One follow up question.

Would it also be okay to not use a Y connector and just run a single RCA cable from the pre-out on the Sony receiver to the L (white) input on the Revel B10 or is it better to use the Y connector?

Thanks again,

Joe in NY"

 

[2Sunny]

Me thinks both AVRs outputs need to be connected to the 2 corresponding inputs of the sub.
In a stereo mode the AVR sends L/R to the sub and it sums them, in surround mode the AVR sends the single channel LFE to the sub's L input and then the sub's knob "low pass crossover" must be set at LFE position ?!

I'm slightly confused by the logic here as I assumed the pre-out connections on the back of the Sony receiver are LFE mono-signals. I did not believe there was a L&R channel for the subwoofer pre-outs, and that the reason there are two pre-outs labeled "subwoofer" is so that you can use 2 subwoofers if you desire, but both subwoofer pre-outs carry the same LFE signal. (I do have LFE turned ON on my Sony receiver.)

 

[2Sunny]

Most plates require that both left and right be connected to get the plate to its full potential. They even recommend that if there is only one RCA to Y the connection
to get that to happen. Dayton, Yung, Boss, and a few others. LFE just bypasses the internal XO on the plate and uses the source preamps settings instead.

Regards

Sorry for the newbie question, but what is a "plate"? A subwoofer?

 

[NTK]

Sorry for the newbie question, but what is a "plate"? A subwoofer?

The amplifier (and the accompanying electronics) of the subwoofer is commonly called the plate amplifier due to its form factor. See below for example.

Subwoofer Plate Amplifiers

Ensure that your custom built or upgraded powered subwoofer system performs at its best, and includes every convenient and expected feature, with Subwoofer Plate Amplifiers from Parts Express.

www.parts-express.com

 

[raindance]

How complicated can you all make this for this newbie?!?

 

[Oddball]

I'm slightly confused by the logic here as I assumed the pre-out connections on the back of the Sony receiver are LFE mono-signals. I did not believe there was a L&R channel for the subwoofer pre-outs, and that the reason there are two pre-outs labeled "subwoofer" is so that you can use 2 subwoofers if you desire, but both subwoofer pre-outs carry the same LFE signal. (I do have LFE turned ON on my Sony receiver.)

Will try not to be too confusing . Pre-outs on the Sony are for the subs as one would imagine. They will output LFE channel (mono), but will also output the bass from other channels below the crossover you set for those channels. So a bit more going on than just LFE. I would stick to a single RCA connection to make it simple. Your sub will for sure understand that and act accordingly.

[Not important to you but good to know: Some AVRs have so called "independent" pre-outs for 2 or more subs which means you can set delay and potentially some EQ options separately for each sub. Some have two pre-outs, but they share same delay and EQ options. This is if you have multiple subs - for the most part. Not sure what your Sony has or what bass management options it has though.]

 

[2Sunny]

Ah-hah! Just as I originally thought, but I guess that means the original answer came from marketing and not engineering. You'd think a support employee would not have made that mistake. I guess just shows one needs to triple check everything these days

"Hello Joseph,

Thank you for responding.

Apologies for my initial email. When connecting using the LFE subwoofer output, it is recommended to use a single-ended RCA connection. You can use either the white or red RCA port at the back of the Revel B10 to connect to the subwoofer output on your Sony STR-AZ5000ES.

We do not recommend using a Y-splitter for this connection, as it may lead to sound quality issues with the Revel B10 if the cable used is of inferior quality.

If you have other questions, please reply to this email.

Your case number is 17488354.

Regards,

TJ"

 

[kyuu]

Yes, unfortunately even for a brand like Revel first level support is not staffed by subject matter experts or even people who are familiar with the products' manuals.

 

[DVDdoug]

More thoughts...

I think I have a mild case of OCD and I'd "feel better" with a Y-splitter and both inputs plugged-in. And I'm pretty sure I have one or two lying around so I wouldn't have to buy it.

By my practical, logical. "engineering brain" say's that's one unnecessary part and a couple of more connections that could potentially fail.

I say "mild ODC" because I'm a terrible housekeeper! Or I suppose it could be "selective OCD". In reality, I'd soon forget about how it was connected. And it wouldn't keep me up at night or anything...

 

[Keith_W]

We do not recommend using a Y-splitter for this connection, as it may lead to sound quality issues with the Revel B10 if the cable used is of inferior quality.

I would ask Revel exactly what they mean by that. Specifically, what is the difference between a "high quality cable" and an "inferior quality cable".

 

[dedobot]

I'm slightly confused by the logic here as I assumed the pre-out connections on the back of the Sony receiver are LFE mono-signals. I did not believe there was a L&R channel for the subwoofer pre-outs, and that the reason there are two pre-outs labeled "subwoofer" is so that you can use 2 subwoofers if you desire, but both subwoofer pre-outs carry the same LFE signal. (I do have LFE turned ON on my Sony receiver.)

LFE out is just one channel, stereo LFE doesn't exist, in a same time your AVR obviously have 2 sub outs. So there must be a way in the AVR to switch between LFE mode (fixed at 120hz cutoff frequency ) and regular L/R sub outs (variable 40~80hz cutoff frequency). I will check the AVR manual later today .

P.S. Hmmm at first glance looks Im wrong and both sub outs are LFE only for 2 subs playng the LFE content w/o option for manual setup of frequencies. Single sub is shown connected to the right output in the picture above.
From the manual:

"Connect 1 or 2 subwoofer(s) to PRE OUT subwoofer jack(s)."

I think this is the answer of OPs question.
Also there is on/off LPF(cutoff freq) for subs out , but its adjustments are only in the "IMAX adjustments" section. Sony documentation is total mess!