Connecting A Subwoofer To A Vintage HiFi Stereo! This Is A Game Changer!

In this video we go over 3 different ways to connect a vintage amplifier/receiver to a powered subwoofer.
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We have owned and used every product we recommend
Kicker speaker to Line level adapter amzn.to/3D2ghyB
Recommended Subwoofers with high level speaker inputs
$250 10” Polk Subwoofer (with speaker level) amzn.to/3qp74sL
$100 6” Acoustic Audio (with speaker level) amzn.to/3d0YVaR
12” Polk Subwoofer (with speaker level) amzn.to/3DmBnaZ
Recommended Bookshelf Speakers
Klipsch B100 bookshelf speakers amzn.to/3xk9dd6
Elac Debut 2.0 speakers amzn.to/3LeI4y4
Klipsch RP-500m speakers amzn.to/3DuRROi
Recommended Turntables
Audio Technica LP60 Great entry-level “fully automatic” turntable for under $150 amzn.to/3eAPC1B
U-turn Orbit Plus- Skylabs favorite new turntable with a 3 year warranty for under $350 amzn.to/3delM2H
Recommended Phono Cartridges
Grado 3 series- Made in Brooklyn NY since 1953 amzn.to/3L9t8B7
Ortofon 2M Blue amzn.to/3d9fBNw
Recommended Phono Preamps
U-turn Pluto- awesome little preamp for under $100 amzn.to/3RHm01k
Parasound Zphono- excellent choice if you want to try moving coil cartridges amzn.to/3RJ31TY
#vintagehifi #vinylrecords #vintagestereo #marantz #pioneer #sansui #stereorepair #turntable #recordplayer #skylabs #skylabsaudio #skylabsiowa

[@richardjacobs7632]

Glad I found your channel. I have been out of the loop for hifi for a long time. Recently got reacquainted with my equipment enjoying listening and following again. Thanks for the info!

[@Brazill253]

Thank God. Finally a solution that caters to absolutely everyone....so many videos that offer this then go on to tell you "it only applies if ....." Great video. Subscribed. The end

[@markpanek1849]

The best tutorial on the internet regarding this topic! From the meter to the hookup, VERY well done, thank you!

[@jorgesifuentes4626]

Waited three years to actually see it, when you have to use the "pre out". Tnx An hour later got it all working and sounding beautifully. Again thanks a mill.

[@Nightrelic]

I never thought I would want a sub, but I won one in an auction lot and needed to test it to sell it. Most stuff I don't feel a need for it, but for bass heavy stuff like Funk and Disco, it added an extra oomph for parties I liked. I ended up keeping it. I just connected it to my B speaker jacks. It was great to find out I can just add another pair of speakers to it without a problem.

[@sethduffey9538]

Thx man.. Good stuff.. Nice to see a demo of what was tumbling in my mind

[@CarlosAnglada]

Yes - I've actually used #3 - it's not super sleek, but it does work! Good job!

[@atw4321]

Thanks for the info 👍 you guys will be my goto for any repairs i cant handle myself

[@angelakozak7256]

Thanks for this video - I have run into all of the scenarios you discussed in connecting subwoofers to a variety of vintage (and not-so vintage) home and car equipment. I'm a little embarrassed to say that I never thought to check the load with an ohm meter, as you did, by splicing the wires from the subwoofer and speaker. I really enjoy your low-key and informative style - please keep 'em coming!

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks!

[@pedrofernandez8729]

Originally I was using my vintage receiver minus the sub, but on some songs I could "feel" something lacking in the lower range. Adding a small sub at 50hz has taken care of that.

[@johnkuykendall467]

I bought a little line level converter from my local car audio store. The owner had never heard of using one for adding a sub to a vintage receiver. If you get one like this kicker with the attenuation pots, definitely start from the bottom and work you way up. I found on the one I bought that all the way "up" was full pass through. They ended up about 5% up from 0.

[@grantstanden9702]

Hi Kevin Thanks to your clear and concise explanation I have just used method one to connect a 10" powered sub to a Dual CV31 integrated amplifier from 1973. Amp at 10 watts/channel, sub at 150 watts all at 8 ohms. I did the easy thing of high pass out to speakers back. It worked beautifully and sounded great even spinning my licorice on an AT Sound Burger. Thank you for the new skill and the extra fun it will bring. G

[@rahullahiri25]

It’s an awesome video and it was incredibly well-explained. It completely cleared up all my doubts. 🎥✨ I just wanted to thank you for sharing. Your recommendation was spot on! 🤗

[@adsph]

Great explanation of the options. Thank you.

[@flewidful]

Very informative video and worked like a charm. I just hooked up the Kicker converter to my Onkyo TX 1500 and my humble 2.1 system sounds incredible. Been watching your videos for quite some time. Thanks for the entertainment and the knowledge.

[@rocketsredglare8440]

Hi Kevin, Thanks for making this video, After watching I stopped using the preouts on my Marantz 2275 to my 2 Infinity BU-1's & used the High level inputs instead & used the High Level outputs of the subs to my Shure SR112W's, What a audible improvement! I thought the RCA inputs were the better method to use instead of the High levels, The y adapter on the main in & pre outs was also very enlightening, Love your videos and straight forward presentation style, Nice thumbs

[@Sunrayman123]

Enjoyed those concise explanations.

[@supermopar7497]

Outrageously informative. I’m great full for this info. Just picked up a bunch of older Pioneer material with a Boze subwoofer, now, I know how to deal with it. Saved the flick though.

[@72vespa]

another great video Kevin. I just got a sub. I have it hooked up to the "B" speaker outputs so I can easily switch it in & out to compare the difference in frequency response & set the gain level .....

[@charlesking678]

Great simple easy to understand video!

[@johndrx165]

Great information. Thank you!

[@michaelmorris7552]

This is great information !! Thank's... almost blown my Marantz 2225. Love the knowledge.

[@jorgem50]

I have an old jvc ax-44 2ch stereo and have been using a sub with a pac sni-35 LOC. Been working great. Gonna try the y splitter way to see if I can hear a difference.

[@djcsound]

Hey bro thank you so much, this is exactly my situation right now. I'm gonna connect my 18" Sub to my home stereo receiver that has no sub output connection. Thanks for your insightful video and I love the way you patiently explain it all and don't rush through it. Kudos my brother. Take care stay up and stay Blessed †

[@ImageportCa]

Awesome, thanks so much for this video! Was about to give up on a sub I picked up for my garage. Pioneer SX-1300 receiver with Sony bookshelfs and wanted more bottom end. Never thought of wiring the speakers and the sub together like that, works perfectly. Cheers!

[@karen222222]

those type of thumbs are perfect for hitch hiking

[@lepod]

I'd never had a subwoofer, but I found my new 20 watt valve amp just didn't have enough bass so I bought a second hand Velodyne and I was blown away by how well it worked. Very useful video, thanks.

[@skylabsaudio]

Very nice!

[@digitalman269]

Thank you for all that you do for us that do not know. Could you do a deep dive into speaker cables and the different connectors?

[@montanalou7711]

I just learned how to do scenario #2 on Sunday by a young election. As always, I greatly appreciate you hardwork.

[@johndrx165]

Going to try this soon. Thanks!

[@billhunt7862]

I used your solution 1. My bookshelf loudspeakers now sound more balanced being fed the full range output of the receiver. My receiver serves as a power amp for the stereo DAC, so the “point one” of the 5.1 feature of its sub out wouldn’t be missed anyway. As you showed, the hi level inputs of the subwoofer connected with the wire to the speakers worked perfectly. Thanks.

[@jimthvac100]

I been using method 3 for a while now works great.

[@utp216]

Thanks you for this one!! My two channel receiver doesn’t have a sub-out and I want to add one. This has been very helpful! Rock on!! 🤘

[@houseontherock3105]

very informative, thanks again

[@TomlynAdvisors]

This is a great subscription. Down to earth, practical and very honest - thank you !!! Can you do a video on how to connect a Blue-Tooth to a vintage receiver. Thanks again . . .

[@skylabsaudio]

Thank you, Thomas. will do!

[@davej3487]

Your recommendations are spot on! Wish this was common knowledge 20 years ago when I got into a PI$$ING match at the high end sales store where I was shopping for a 12" Sub with 'High Level' speaker inputs for my Kenwood Model 11. My Kenwood Model 11 was sold in the US Military Audio/Photo shops in Germany so it does not have Serise I, II or III but is 80 watts. Maybe not the best THD but works well for me. Been recap'ed 15 years ago. I knew the Sub's High Level Inputs were well over 60 ohms and basically a ghost to the receiver. But the Model 11 also has a switch to separate the Pre-Amp from the Amp but I wanted to do the High Level. The sales man kept trying to upsell me a new 2.1 amp with a sub output. He and his store did not get the sale. The store is now long gone.

[@chrisdanca9918]

I’m really enjoying your channel, keep it up ! Because of you I just acquired a vintage Toshiba SA-7100 monster receiver to pair with my recently acquired Thorens Td-160. I brought my Sansui SP-X8000’s out of the mothballs. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks

[@skylabsaudio]

Appreciate that. Enjoy! Sounds like a fun system :)

[@ericpott3944]

Best explanation I've seen that features all scenarios, and highlights the preferred one. Thank you.

[@joeldrubin9832]

Wonderful video. What if you're working with 4 ohm speakers and want to use the speaker inputs and outputs on the sub?

[@badkarma148]

I gotta say,u do an awesome job of exsplaing.🤘

[@RHJ3]

Looks like all these connections will work, nice. The drawback might be that the sub crossover is not limiting the bass to the little main speakers? Thanks for the vid.

[@patricknicolucci5073]

I have used passive Subs for years love the them as long as the crossover in the sub is of good quality and can produce either 120hz - 30hz or 80hz-20hz My DBX 15" bottom firing sub woofer shakes the walls with my my baby Advent II's. powered subs would be my next upgrade.

[@jamesaandf]

Thanks very much. Solved my problem.

[@holyvanguard]

Thank you so much for this video. My sansui has a second set of pre out plugs and the u shaped plugs for the other pre out and in can I use the second preout for the sub?

[@PatricioGarcia1973]

I used first scenario. I have a Polk powered subwoofer, run speaker wires to the sub, and from the sub to the speakers. Sub has a built in crossover. Runs fine on my SX-450 and Polk bookshelf speakers.

[@donnystrife1908]

A lot of newer subs don't have the speaker level input. I use a similar adaptor in my system. It sounds better using the speaker out to an adaptor than a sub out. Even when using modern gear.

[@dogratco]

An excellent bottom-dollar option: A pair of the original series of Boston Acoustics A40 (as seen in the bookshelf speakers video) going through a passive Realistic Optimus Pro SW-12 subwoofer. Replace the surrounds as needed, of course. I ran this combination for years with an NAD 3120 integrated amp, and had no need for the loudness button.

[@mauriceprudhomme5296]

I lucked out with my Sansui au-5500 the preamp out/in are internally connected via a switch. the output rc’s signal I went off to line level input of sub. Externally jumpered would require the y-cable as you have shown.

[@armand1574]

Great Break down

[@rdss2010]

Good Video, Thanks

[@andykeena8767]

My brother used to be able to push his curvy thumb back and touch his forearm.👍 I have done version 1 with my little Class D Nobsound bluetooth receiver. People can't believe how much sound comes out of my little tiny setup in my kitchen, with a hidden sub.

[@paulf.5261]

I just took a line from my headphone socket out to RCA in on the sub. I’m sure that’s probably not right, but it works, and has for the last few years without issue😬😉

[@aristidisgioulis8044]

I have a Yamaha CA-1000 mkii connected to an emotiva xs10 subwoofer which only has line level rca inputs. In my system you do not have to decouple the preamp of the yamaha to get preout for the sub and feed it back again into the main in for the power amp. I just run an rca cable from preout to the sub and that's it. You do not need the y adaptor for pre out main in.

[@Audiorevue]

I suggestion in addition to this that I often have employed with vintage receivers in the past. is I don't know about a lot of other people but I have tended to listen to a lot of my music at a particular volume without really deviating too much from that volume. so what I've done in the past is use one of the tape outs or the tape out on any particular receiver and plug that directly into a subwoofer. now of course one of the problems with doing that is as you increase or decrease the volume the subwoofer won't scale with the volume of the amplifier but in my specific case where I don't really change the volume a whole lot the volume control on the subwoofer itself is all I needed.

[@PoppinWheeliez]

Out to the sub and back to the amp effectively makes the sub wiring a sonic filter. If you avoid it in the chain, it is one less component to filter and / or add electronically induced noise. I run dual subs. R / L subs via a Y output per pre out to a Y and run each sub in mono off off a single output channel. Powered subs add miniscule load to the system because they are self powered.

[@chrisinsley5880]

Hi Kevin, love this video and just subscribed. This video made me curious because you were offering solutions for powered subwoofers and old school systems. I just finished a refurb and resurrection of a vintage audio system at my home and it incorporates old school gear and new school gear after I did a bunch of research on what I wanted to have in my audio room. The old school part is a bunch of home theatre stuff I had from circa 1997 and is the following: Sunfire Cinema Grand amplifier (I'm only running it as as stereo amp instead of 5 channel) wired in "Current Input" mode. I have a B&K Reference 20 pre-amp. The stereo speakers are Dynaudio Audience 7's and I have a Sunfire MKII powered subwoofer also to embellish the bass. I have a Sony DVP-S7700 CD player as part of this setup for those occasions when I listen to CD's . For the new school part I am front ending this system with a windows laptop to run the Qobuz streaming service in Wasapi mode and sending that signal to a Geshelli J2 DAC via a USB cable. This setup proves to be amazing and with the backend system, it would be expected but....the game changer is that DAC on the front end using the digital streaming input. The DAC creates a massive sound stage and has such fine precision across the sonic frequencies. Love my vintage gear with the modern front end! I have a another vintage amp/pre-amp combo I want to also try this with.....an older Yamaha (circa late 1980's gear) MX-1000 and CX-1000 . The amp is currently a bit broken and needs some work but that is my next project. Cheers brother! Chris

[@jasonspence9516]

For the converter, I have used a Russound ADP 1.2, these are made for home Hifi, not car audio, so no extra wires! Just thought I'd share that. Russound calls it a speaker level to line level interface. Love the channel, keep the info vids coming!! (Also works for using an old, small reciever with no pre-out to connect to an amplifier via RCA or "line level"). Any thoughts on the Pioneer HPM 100's? Looking at a set, never heard them, good, bad?? Please share! Cheers!

[@patrickkerns2022]

ok kev i bought one thanks for the video my klipsch only has 2 rca inputs no outs hope this will work

[@TheFreightOfficial]

This video is so helpful! Thank you!! Questions- if I have two subwoofers do I send left and right audio to both or one give one sub left one sub right like speakers?

[@brettkowalewski9535]

Thanks for the video. I have a question. Can the wire to RCA converter be used to connect a vintage receiver to powered speakers/studio monitors?

[@SirTinnlee]

Great, thank you on this.

[@TheAgeOfAnalog]

Thanks for that Y-connector out/in method. I never though of that. One question though, is the sub volume going to attenuate this way, in conjunction with the mains, via the receiver's volume control?

[@bdisaac1]

Great video and I connected my Kenwood KR-7050 receiver with no issues using your method. Question…I also have newer Cambridge AXR-100 receiver and use the LFE connection via RCA/Sub cable as well. Should I disconnect the speaker connections to the sub before switching to the LFE connection? Or can they both remain connected?

[@leftygreeneyes13]

Dude! You are the man much appreciated 🙏

[@skylabsaudio]

Happy to help!

[@jdastro]

Thanks for this video. I am converting woofer speakers into a pair of subs. Here in Brazil speaker prices are 3x what they are in the U.S. Could you make a short video on best hook-up solution, mono and stereo for passive subs?

[@pedrofernandez8729]

I simply connected my sub to my Marantz secondary speaker output and set it at 50hz. Works just fine.

[@redbeacon4871]

Thank you !

[@stevebarnes9694]

You only need one line level to make this work correct? Thanks Great vid

[@laorhino9702]

Hey Kevin, can you explain why Y cable is not a preferred method? I’m thinking about using Y cable to split signal from pre-out to a sub and a powered amp.

[@brunoespinosa5907]

Have a Kenwood kr 6160 1970 receiver. Supports 3 pairs of speakers, only use one pair. But this receiver has a RCA mono jack that supports a center speaker or sub out. This jack output is located on the rear panel next to the speakers terminals. One RCA cable to my pioneer active sub works. Output on the mono jack is always present. Nice surprise on this receiver.

[@luisdiaz3887]

Great. Thanks

[@guyb7005]

Thanks for this video - no one else offers info this clear! Q: I may have to go with option 1, ---- but for option 2, my int.amp (Rotel A11) only has pre-out (no Main-in) and my sub (PolkAudio PSW10) only has line in. Would I still need 'Y' cables and if so, they would go from the int.amp pre-out to ???? thanks again!

[@MarkSmith-om2zj]

I really enjoy your straight-forward approach to your videos! My question is can I connect my Sub High Level Inputs directly to my left and right speakers as opposed to connecting to my receiver speaker terminals?

[@slyspy9819]

NO Mark that won't work...sub- speaker level (outputs) will go directly to speaker terminals. Speaker (inputs) on the sub will connect directly to the speaker terminal on the receiver

[@11chorizo]

I have a Fisher 500c that I'm trying to connect to a powered subwoofer with RCA L and R inputs, along with an LFE input. There are no speaker wire inputs. My Fisher has a Center Channel speaker terminal. Would I connect the Center speaker terminal to the Sub RCA inputs, using a line level adapter? Thanks so much for your informative videos.

[@user-ul2fs2mx4u]

Curious, could you hook up 2 sets of speakers and 2 subs off the A & B speaker outputs? In order to have a set of speakers and a sub in two different rooms running off the one receiver.

[@decleafs4]

Hi Kevin, regarding the first way with one sub and two speakers...say I run the powered sub (with only line inputs) to the right speaker (as you did), would I then just hook the left speaker as I normally would (to the amp)? Thanks, man!

[@vigt548]

THANK YOU.

[@radoo2341]

Question: in terms of sound quality, which option is the most recommended? I do have the same Amplifier Pioneer SX 780 and I am looking to add a subwoofer to my existing Kef tower speakers Q950

[@josephtibbs]

First, great video! I’ve always done the 1st option with main speakers in A and sub in B. As you mentioned, it’s nice to turn the sub off if you want via turning off B. But also, I have high quality speaker wire that’s thick with banana plugs at the ends, making it hard to put both into A like you were with basic speaker wire. Even with a banana plug adapter, for older receivers that aren’t set up for banana plugs (like the Pioneer in this video) it would be hard to connect the speakers and sub to A

[@pwklau]

I have two different make of subwoofers. Can I hook up the speaker out of one sub woofer to the second sub woofer instead of going to the speakers?

[@jimdistad7459]

So does this work the same way if it's not a powered Sub

[@mikel5582]

I think I might have a possible 4th scenario. My slightly over 20 year old integrated amp has a "Pre-Out 2" with its own volume control. I'm considering adding a sub-woofer and thinking that would be the best connection option (it doesn't have a sub out). Apologies if you covered that option. 😊

[@joshstoddard3131]

Okay, so if I wanted to hook my speakers up the first way you showed there would be two sets of speaker wire going to my hi level input on the back of the sub? I would need one to the L spliced to the L bookshelf speaker and one to the R spliced to the R bookshelf?

[@martinmelucci4383]

I use the second pair of speaker level outputs on a Marantz 2238B. I like the way that works, especially when dialing in the powered subwoofer as it makes it very easy to compare the sound with and without by switching it on and off at the receiver and not having to power down the woofer. It's very instructive to be able to do this so easily as you can be sure you are doing no harm with the overall sound with the woofer and that it really is entirely making an improvement only. Though I do not ever plan to use a second pair of speakers in another room with it, a person that wants to could temporarily hook things up like this while setting the subwoofer the way they want, and then move it's wires over with main speakers in the first set of amplifier outputs when done. I do want to high pass the main speakers (as low frequency wise as sounds good), but have not bought anything to accomplish that just yet.

[@JohnKelly2]

Would this work with a passive sub, or does it require an active sub? I'm thinking about the old passive sitting in the garage.

[@chigozieokonkwo-eje4832]

Good day, need to ask, is it okay to connect from the high level of the amplifier directly to the RCA of the sub using RCA to bare wire connectors? This is without using a converter. Saw a couple of premium RCA to bare wire connectors and was wondering if this is what they are used for. Would really appreciate a reply on this. Thanks.

[@jakebedi]

Since the Sub is powered, does it draw any of the Amplifiers Juice? Also, i am guessing the HPF is being done @ the SUB level when you set its frequency?(is it cutting unwanted mids/highs) ?

[@brightshadowdenmark]

Love this video :D

[@j.t.cooper2963]

👍🏻😎Both of my systems have amplifiers that don't cut power when both the A and B channels are selected and neither one is new enough to have subwoofer outputs. I run a pair of speakers on each channel (a pair on A and a pair on B) and a dedicated subwoofer hooked up speaker level on each channel for a total of 2 subwoofers. I think that configuration sounds the best to my ears. I had a friend tell me a long time ago that I was stupid for running it that way (speaker level Vs. low level) without hearing it first. Needless to say he doesn't come around anymore and I don't ever hear from him anymore either so it must have been a complete shock to him just how good it sounds that way. He thought the only way to hook them up was low level. I think that even if I had an amp with subwoofer outputs I would still hook it up speaker level.

[@MashBill]

Back in the 80's Carver made the Z-Coupler to convert speaker level to line level.

[@gshoemaker1]

I just plugged the Kicker Kisloc into the B or Remote speakers and ran the RCA to my sub which only has RCA imputs. I am using a Marantz 2220b. Seems to work fine. Any problems with this method?

[@mikeryckman]

If the subwoofer has outputs, either speaker or rca, does it apply a crossover filter to the outputs or is it just a passthrough?

[@johnbooker7153]

What if you have a passive 8 ohm woofer with a low pass filter on it...could you put that on speaker B???

[@gjonesy6224]

I understand you can do this with and integrated but I’m trying to figure out a way to hook a sub up to a PAS 3 with Heathkit W5 monoblocks? Is there a way? Thank you!

[@denniswaske]

when using bare wire as you show, do you recommend tinning the wire or not? thanks, enjoying the content. love vintage gear. have done this with a marantz receiver & elac sub.

[@skylabsaudio]

In my opinion, tinned wires are better than loose braids.

[@ceefaxer]

how long has it taken me to find out its fine to put wires from two speakers into one post. Thanks or this video

[@KIRIAKOOUTDOORS]

if your sub has a high level output, will this take advantage of the built-in cross-over and only send the higher frequencies to your speakers? or is it sending the same signal regardless if you splint the signal right at the amp?

[@WorldMoneyWins]

In scenario 1 do you also need a second set of wires twisted together for the L channel? Or do you only need one channel going to the sub? Meaning can you just have the sub wire going to the R, and not the L with the L only going to the regular speaker. Hopefully I explained that right LOL

[@leo.girardi]

Talked to someone at Quill & Nib. Said I could send my equipment to them, and they would walk it into your shop. =8^)

[@PureBlood42]

I give this 2 thumbs way up and way out! 👍 👍 😉