Adjust RCA level with wireless remote control?

King Mustard · 4 Apr 2019 at 18:06

I have a Wharfedale Diamond SW-150 subwoofer, which does not have a remote control.

Unlike my previous AV receiver, my Yamaha HTR-2071 does not have subwoofer volume up and down buttons on its remote control. You have to go into menus to change it, which is annoying.

Is there something cheap I can pop between the subwoofer and the AV receiver (basically, an RCA passthrough) that lets me adjust the subwoofer with a wireless remote control?

I can't seem to find anything online.

lucid · 5 Apr 2019 at 12:35

Have you thought about using the control app?

King Mustard · 5 Apr 2019 at 12:36

lucid said:
Have you thought about using the control app?

Neither my AV receiver nor subwoofer support Wi-Fi, so I'm a bit confused.

hornetstinger · 5 Apr 2019 at 13:58

Why do you need to? Once it's setup it should be left alone.

You'll need a single channel ir controllable preamp.

King Mustard · 5 Apr 2019 at 13:59

hornetstinger said:
Why do you need to? Once it's setup it should be left alone.

You'll need a single channel ir controllable preamp.

I like different amount of bass depending on what I'm viewing (film, music, game), what time it is (other people are in the house) etc.

I'll look into one of those - thank you!

lucid · 6 Apr 2019 at 10:24

King Mustard said:
Neither my AV receiver nor subwoofer support Wi-Fi, so I'm a bit confused.

Wouldn't expect your sub to have Wi-Fi and an app, but saw the tablet on a quick look at your link and presumed that was for an app. A closer look today shows it's just for some kind of guided set-up procedure. My apologies.

There were a couple of products that would do what you need, but they were pricey. The Exton was well in to the £200-£300 price range because it was commercial product so high performance and high reliability.

There's a small box from LHR for around £35, but it is rumoured to be very noisy electrically, so you could end up with a lot of background hiss.

The other options involve building up a kit. Again, hiss may be an issue and it's likely that the remote transmitter would be weak if IR LED light kits are anything to go by.

Depending on the IR codes available for your HTR, it may be possible to get direct access the buried functions. This could then be programmable on a colour touchscreen remote which would also give you full system control of the TV, amp and any other IR sources plus IR lighting if you have it. I tend to use Nevos and Prontos for this.

hornetstinger · 6 Apr 2019 at 13:31

The £2500 svs ultra series have remote control via phone.

keylion · 6 Apr 2019 at 20:44

Could you program the button sequence required to carry out the operation into a logitech harmony remote so it is then available under one command? I'm not sure if this is possible but I know you can group a series of commands into a single action.

hornetstinger · 6 Apr 2019 at 21:45

Nah too messy and complicated

That would work if he had discrete ir commands to set specific sub level . Ie doesn't matter where he is in menus, ir command for -3b,or -6db etc.

If his avr had specific DSP mode that could be done, ie on my lexicon you can set specific channel levels per DSP so for 2 channel I have sub at -3db, with logic 7 dts/DD (movies) it's at +3db and for logic 7 music (DD/dts) it's at -3db.

So if I'm watching a movie, music video, or cd the sub level is suitably hot or cold