Convert speaker cable to Coaxial

anything I don't mind · 30 Sep 2010 at 21:28

I was given an old surround sound system and the sub has only speaker cable inputs so it does not connect to new A/V receiver sub outputs. Do you know of any way to convert the speaker cable in to those modern A/V receiver sub outputs, otherwise i think i might have to buy a new sub.#

I was thinking of just buying some 16 gauge and then cutting the end off an RCA and connecting it and then plugging it in, do you think that will work?

Shimmyhill · 30 Sep 2010 at 22:15

The Coax is a digital signal designed to hook up to a amplified/active sub.

The sub you have is passive, it cant be connected to a sub out.

anything I don't mind · 30 Sep 2010 at 22:27

ok thanks for the response.

someone gave me a old surround system kenwood nv701, it has dolby setting and using the optical audio cable and ac3 filter playing x264 blu ray rips, it sounds alright seeing as it cost me a optical audio cable. But the amp is broken and after a while it makes this terrible humming noise which makes the whole thing useless. I was thinking of buying a new A/V receiver new, the cheapest one I can find.

The speakers are 6 ohm with 5.1 the front two are 120w and the other four are 80w with the sub at 80w. Is it worth keeping these speakers ? would i be better off throwing it all in the bin and just saving up for a proper system ?

Could i get a way with buying a new A/V receiver and a new sub for £200 altogether, would that be wasted on the speakers ?

MikeHunt79 · 30 Sep 2010 at 22:29

A simple mono amp will turn your passive sub into an active one.

anything I don't mind · 30 Sep 2010 at 22:40

i can get a new sub for £100, what is the cheapest mono amp you can find ?

thanks for the reply though, that is what i am looking for.

MikeHunt79 · 30 Sep 2010 at 22:51

groen said:
i can get a new sub for £100, what is the cheapest mono amp you can find ?

thanks for the reply though, that is what i am looking for.

I quite like this little amp module myself, the THD specs blow many more expensive amps away:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250690668577

but I'm afraid it will need a PSU and case, these could be had for around £50 so if your main concern is cost and convenience then you're probably better off just going for a new sub.

anything I don't mind · 30 Sep 2010 at 23:26

ok thanks

rG-tom · 1 Oct 2010 at 16:37

keep your eyes on the Members Market, I just got a Marantz sr4200 for £40, a more than capable AV receiver.Not a patch on my Denon AVR-4306 but for this kind of thing can't complain!

Tom.

Corasik · 1 Oct 2010 at 20:40

Shimmyhill said:
The Coax is a digital signal designed to hook up to a amplified/active sub.

The sub you have is passive, it cant be connected to a sub out.

Actually sub out is a mono analog output, with a peak output generally ranging from 2v to 4v. IE its a "pre-out". Its certainly not digital.
Unfortunaltly if you did try to connect it to the sub outs, it would work, but most likely it would simply be way too quiet.

While its true that SP/DIF is a digital connection, the pre-outs, and sub-out are simply low voltage analog outputs.

BTW, a small number of active subs have speaker level inputs with enough gain to still work on pre-out levels, but these are not very common. Your sub is most likely a purely passive one, so not much you can do with it.