How the fudge to i connect this sub to my amp (Onkyo605)?

LeperousDust

LeperousDust

LeperousDust

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This is doing me in, i'm back home visiting the rents, and as usual i've been handed a list of things to fix whilst i'm here, and for the most part i don't mind.

Mum has went on a (terrible) spending spree, not knowing what the hell she's doing and taking advice of friends (who probably also don't seem to know what they're doing). She's bought ceiling speakers (and i've already told her they remind me of a shop) and a sub.

Parentals already own an Onkyo 605 (this was my call :p), so i've connected everything up as you'd imagine, speakers work but the sub is being a pain in the ass.

Sub is a "monitor audio" VW-8 (never heard of this myself but forgiving that). Here's a picture of the back of the sub and the back of the Amp:
IMG_2883.JPG

IMG_2884.JPG


So i've connected the "Sub Pre out" (the only sub output on the box) which is a coaxial output to either the 'L' or 'R' and turned the sub on in the settings menu but i'm getting faff all response from it. Parents have lost the manual to the 605 so that does help i can't read it (i'm going to look on their support site now for a pdf).

I didn't realise subs have stereo inputs, why the hell would they? The sub only came with one coaxial cable as well, apparently it accepts a digital AV signal through the 'R' input and will auto detect but either way i can't get it doing anything....

Any help?
So
 
The 605 is probably configured with no LFE. You'd need to go into it's menus and turn it on, these things are normally fairly easy to figure out once you get into the menus.

Subs have left and right because they can also be used for stereo amps with pre-outs. Usually you'd just connect left or right to the lfe-out on the Onkyo.
 
LFE being? I've messed with the crossover making the satelites higher and tried the LPF on a range of settings, and a few other settings in the speaker config area but nothing springs it into life. I do feel its a setup issue, first i was blaming the sub, now its the amp but from what i can see apart from some random wrong setting i dunno what else. I've found the owners manual having a read over things now :)
 
Have you got the amp outputting with the sub included, i know i have to put mine onto stereo or all channel stereo, if its on direct or dts and no dts or other surround signal is being pumped out that utilises the sub it wont come on.
 
That power switch to the far left of the group of 3 i take it the top setting is off and bottom is on, just with it being pixilated it looks liike its the other way round lol.
 
Wow just posted exactly the same time! The DTS thing is a valid point actually, something i hadn't considered, but when i use the level check and i move round the speakers, ie front left, front right, center. A hissing sound is sent through each individually, apart from when i reach the sub. Now i wouldn't expect to hear much, but at least enough sound to activate the sub and wake it from its auto sleep surely?
 
Ahaha sorry man yeah the sub is in its off state there when i took the picture, but i assre you i've tried it in on, and auto (auto to check if its even reacting to inputs). And i've tried the dials in various positions...
 
so have you put the amp in all channel stereo mode and played music through it with the amp settings up full??
 
I did have music playing through an aux and cycled through the different output modes like "neo6" DTS and All channel etc... Nothing apart from all the other speakers... THis is puzzling and i'm worried that the sub pre out isn't working... :(
 
Done that, got a dvd player connected to the R and L and yeah sadly (ha!) it worked, which lead me to believe its either my setup (i can't see a problem, its not that difficult) or the Amp itself (if this is the problem, thats a disaster).
 
not familiar with the onkyo, but on yamaha you need to firstly, enable the sub, and chose your routing - and enable LFE. i.e. you can have it dedicated to the LFE channel, or route low frequency sounds at a particular cutoff to it as well., you can also adjust levels independently.
 
Yeah i've read through the pdf manual and tbh a lot of it's going over my head. I will have a another play when i'm fresh tomorrow and see what i can do. I did not imagine it to be this difficult!
 
Right well, after deciding i refuse to give up. Having a play around i can make it make sound, and maybe i'm just expecting too much from such a poor sub? If i set the other channels to their lowest -12dB and the Sub to +12dB. Switch the output to "all channels" mode and turn the sub right up it does make low sounds. But watching heavy bass stuff on virgin before with DTS enabled etc... i just get nothing? Putting an fairly expensive AV Receiver like the Onkyo on "all channels" seems like a bit of a waste to me?

Am i expecting too much? Can't find any DVD/BD's atm but i'll try a DVD in the HDMI bluray tomorrow and see if the DTS gives better results...
 
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Monitor Audio is a fairly decent make, are you sure you've got sub enabled? I've got an Onkyo 607, I had the same problem with the rears at first because I didn't actually tell the amp that I had them.
 
Yeah, its defo enabled, i guess it just need a lot more messing around and tweaking. I need a decent DTS/DD/Anything! Track to really test it and see if its working properly i'm kinda running blind right now, its a nightmare... Might be easier to go and rent something than find it at my parents :p

//Edit: Also i didn't realise it was an OK make i don't know much about AV stuff, but i've not heard of it as it goes. I pointed her to some KEF 1500.2 for £299. But she was intent on buying ceiling speakers for some reason and ended up with 4xC165 and the VW-8 Sub for ~£550 i think. FWIW i don't feel she got a good deal but at the end of the day i'm still going to have to set whatever up :D :p
 
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Onkyo 505 user here.
You've definitely connected the sub to your amp correctly (it matches my setup, as well as the setup defined in the setup guide).
On the amp itself, go to 'Speaker Config', then into 'Speaker Config'. It should have an option to turn on the Sub (/LFE).

If this doesn't work, try disabling the EQ (in the same menu as before).
 
have you used the set up mic that came with it? (the amp that is) I know i added a centre speaker to my Onkyo set up the other day and it woulnd not do anything until i used the "set-up mic" now its great.
 
Even the world's cheapest, nastiest sub will make some noise with standard stereo music etc so I'm pretty sure it's user error :p

Have you adjusted the level control on the back of the sub?
 
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