17 replies to this topic

[jamo]

Hi, this will probably sound like a stupid question but I have an ONKYO receiver with Pre-out jack for subwoofer. Problem is, the sub I bought second hand is a non-powered unit with positive and negative wires coming out of it. I can connect these to one of the speaker jacks on the receiver but this appears to do nothing. Is there any way to connect the sub to the pre-out jack?
I asked the guy at jb hifi who gave me an rca plug adaptor, male one end and two female (white and red) at the other. The idea was to cut the female ends off, strip to bare wire and solder each onto the subwoofer wires. But that didnt work either.

Any ideas please?

[Nigel]

G'day Jamo,

the sub you have needs an amp to supply power. Feeding it from a preamp will be insufficient.
The other thing you need t sort out is t filter the signal that goes to it so that it only receives bass frequencies.
Google "crossovers" and have a read....

[68premier]

Can you supply details / brand / model of the sub? If we know what connections / adjustments it does have, someone may have a solution.

[CP_]

Two options for you. 1. Get a new, active sub so you can use the pre-out. They needn't be expensive, as little as $100 used will get you going. 2. Buy a separate sub amp, even a plate amp, with crossover, and use that between the pre-out and your existing sub. This will be messier in terms of wiring, and potentially more costly depending on the sub you have.

[LogicprObe]

Yes, please post a pic or the model of the sub, then we have more to go on.

[jamo]

Thanks everybody, some helpful info there. The sub is an LG FE-5620WE (originally part of a budget home theatre setup I think but didnt cost me anything so no loss if I can't make it compatible) and the receiver is ONKYO TX-SR508.

There's not many second hand subs around just from looking on ebay & gumtree. I'm almost tempted to buy a complete new setup just for the sub at this point and then re-sell the receiver and speakers. Harvey Norman have a Pioneer setup for about $300 and a Yamaha setup for $400

[68premier]

I wasn't able to dig up any info on your sub. LG site had nothing. I'm surprised you got no sound at all when you hooked it up to some speaker outputs. Did you have it connected to the Zone 2 outputs? If so did you ensure Zone 2 was turned on and a source playing through it? Even if that worked the result would have been unsatisfactory as I suspect there would be no low pass filter inside the sub. The sub would therefore have a fullrange signal sent to it which will be a bit of a disaster.

There is a way to make it work, but it would mean spending cash and I really think your cash would be better spent on a new / secondhand sub.

I have just seen a brand new Accusound sub on ebay for $300 with free P+H, so they are out there.

As you're in SA, if you're in Adelaide and can stretch your budget to $595, Adelaide Speakers has 2 models for that price, $425 less cabinet. Edward is fairly accommodating, he may even be able to build something around your budget.

I'm sure if you hunt around for a while something will turn up.

I would research those cheap all in one setups VERY carefully as most of the ones I've seen DON'T use active subs, so you will basically end up with what you already have. Besides, shifting one without the sub may prove problematic.

Good luck in your quest and keep us updated

[jamo]

For some reason I can't upload photos. I found a JBL set of speakers on gumtree for $200 and wanted somebody's opinion.
The woman who is selling them doesnt know what the model number is but said they are about 10 years old. Here is a link
to the ad.
http://adelaide.gumt...QAdIdZ336103751

what do you think? looks in good condition and supposedly has excellent sound.

otherwise, there is also this sony set on ebay, currently only at $50 and ending soon. Not sure which way to go.

http://www.ebay.com....984.m1438.l2649

Edited by jamo, 04 January 2012 - 09:26 PM.

[Bus_Boy]

I would buy the JBL's from the lady if i had to choose. The Ebay seller has over 700 items currently for sale, like some sort of prawn brokers of something, like most are just full of junk that people never went back for.

Why don't you ask her if you can have a listen to them, and take your receiver around there?

What sort of performance are you expecting? Honestly for $200 they look like they are in good nick, if that sort of thing was for sale near me i'd probably snap them up and put them in the spare room for guests.

Edited by Bus_Boy, 04 January 2012 - 11:32 PM.

[LogicprObe]

Geeze, those Sony's are ugly!
I'd take the JBL.........as Bus_Boy has said.

[jamo]

Gday Guys, back again. I've put the speakers on hold for now until I find something decent. But now I have a different issue. The receiver I bought is second hand and although not very old I'm worried it might be overheating or something. To paint the picture, here is my setup.
Samsung 2010 model 40" LED
Samsung 2011 model Bluray/HD recorder (BD8500A I think)
Onkyo TX SR508 7.1 CH receiver

The receiver has 4 HDMI in and 1 HDMI out. The TV has 4 HDMI in (1 DVI, 2, 3, and 4) and the Bluray HDD has just the one HDMI out.
I have a Belkin cable going from the Bluray HDD to the Receiver BD/DVD input, and a Crest cable going from the Receiver output to the DVI input on the tv.
Both the cables I believe have audio return capability etc.
In addition, I also run the antenna through the surge protected powerboard out to a signal booster and then into the Bluray HDD, the obviously another antenna cable from the bluray HDD to the tv.

This setup at first seems to work fine. Until you try to watch recorded tv or standard DVD, the sound and picture cut out intermittently and when it happens I notice the receiver makes a clicking sound and the PCM light on the receiver LCD goes out (when working normally this stays on) also when the picture goes out, the tv sometimes says resolution not supported.

Does anybody know what's going on?

[biologist]

Is the 'Crest' cable between the Onkyo and the TV a HDMI cable? If not this may be the problem....

[jamo]

Yep, both cables are HDMI

[IgglePiggle]

Swap the HDMI cables or flip each cable end to end or try new ones.

[Time_Lord]

There's not many second hand subs around just from looking on ebay & gumtree. I'm almost tempted to buy a complete new setup just for the sub at this point and then re-sell the receiver and speakers. Harvey Norman have a Pioneer setup for about $300 and a Yamaha setup for $400

I have a spare Yamaha sub that I am planning to dispose of down the track.

[jamo]

IgglePiggle, my kids like your show ha ha.

In response, both HDMI cables are virtually brand new. I think I might have to ask around and see if somebody has a receiver I can borrow to do some testing.

Is anybody else out there running a bluray recorder through their receiver? If so are you having any issues?

[jamo]

Timelord, thanks for the offer. Though postage for something like that I think might be a bit pricey and risky.

[IgglePiggle]

IgglePiggle, my kids like your show ha ha.

In response, both HDMI cables are virtually brand new. I think I might have to ask around and see if somebody has a receiver I can borrow to do some testing.

Is anybody else out there running a bluray recorder through their receiver? If so are you having any issues?

Ive had a few as new cables and they have had droputs etc .....a couple I have just flipped the cable around and its then been fine......