I cannot get my subwoofer to work.?

Question

Hello,

Recently I purchased a Kenwood krf-v5050d amp, it works great. Now I just bought a Sony subwoofer, but I'm having problems.

The subwoofers connections are just two speaker cables sockets, but on my amps end, subwoofers connect with a phono type cable, so I bought a cable that goes two speaker wires to a phono type end that fits. Not getting any sound though.

If I plug in the subwoofer to a different slot like centre speaker slots on the amp with just speaker wire, then it works, but obviously it isnt getting the right sounds, since its plugged into centre.

I have a feeling I need a 'powered' sub, and I dont think the sub i have is powered. Could that be the problem?

I've fiddled around with the settings on the amp alot and tried resetting it.

There is a speaker test function on the amp and i get nothing on the sub through that.

Any ideas? :-(

Answer 1

It would have been nice if you gave the subwoofer model number too.  Does the subwoofer have a power cord and amplifier on it?  If so then you have a powered subwoofer. IF no power cord and amplifier then you have the wrong type of subwoofer and should return it ASAP and make sure you pick up a powered subwoofer.

Answer 2

You are trying to drive a subwoofer that has no power amplifier built in with a line-level signal.

A line-level signal is about 300 millivolts (.3 volts) maximum. This is the signal level you get out of the RCA audio out jacks on various equipment (cable box, video game, DVD player, etc.). These signals are supposed to be fed to a power amplifier (a receiver has a power amp in it), which puts out the audio signal levels - 50 watts, for example - required to drive speakers.

If your receiver is not a surround sound receiver, hook up your stereo speaker outputs to the inputs on the subwoofer. Then either use the speaker out jacks on the subwoofer to drive the left and right speakers. If there are no speaker output jacks on the subwoofer, hook the L & R speakers to the Speaker A outputs on the receiver, and the subwoofer to the Speaker B outputs.

If the receiver is a surround sound receiver, hook the front L/R outputs to the subwoofer and hook the speaker outputs on the subwoofer to the L & R speakers. If you have no speaker outputs on the subwoofer, you cannot use it for a surround system and must get a powered subwoofer.

Answer 3

Line level gets a low voltage signal (5v p-p) from the amp and then the sub amplifies it. Speaker level gets a higher voltage (the same as the front speakers). You can hook it up to the front speaker output or to a separate amp. A separate amp would be better.

Answer 4

Obviously you don't know anything about stereo systems/ Surround receivers, so before you damage something by hooking it up wrong, why don't you hire a professional to install it correctly for you or at least advise you of what components to get as I certainly wouldn't be buying a Sony subwoofer!

Answer 5

your amp is line level! and it sounds like the Sony sub is speaker level! that's a whole different ballgame! you want a line level hookup! the sub is most likely very cheap!!!! look into some real subs! sorry!and BTW your sub is passive!!!

Answer 6

DID YOU PLUG IT IN THE RIGHT WAY? JUST ASKING.