Using speaker cable to connect to my subwoofer

DanUK

DanUK

DanUK

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Joined
16 Apr 2017
Posts
8
Hi guys. I hope you can help me please.

I need to hook my subwoofer (RCA input) to my AV unit (RCA out) but unfortunately I only have the following speaker cable running between the two. I cannot run any new wires as the wires were pinned, plastered and painted and I am in rented accommodation.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00YOYJEHI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Is there any way to use that speaker cable and 'add on' RCA jacks to either end? I have a subwoofer cable which I can split the ends off, but I just wanted to check that:
  1. it's worth trying - i.e. actually plausible
  2. whether the non-shielding will just create problems
  3. what the best way of doing this is... I know inside the subwoofer cable there are strands 'loose' which are the negatives (to be connected to the black speaker cable), and inside a white sleeve are the positives to be connected to the red)
    1. should these be soldered?
    2. or could I use a junction box such as: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003ZWE7HW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks in advance!
 
Hi Grimley. Thanks for the response. As mentioned I cannot run any wires through the rooms - the only things I have available is a speaker cable (or HDMI lead).
 
Amplifier L/R out speaker level, using speaker cable
Speaker cable into the low level converter
Outout from low level converter is L/R RCA, which goes into sub
Sub will receive full range audio, use the subs own crossover to filter out <80hz or so.

Power draw through the low level converter should be negligible.
 
Thanks for your response :-) much appreciated. Sorry, I have to admit that did go a bit over my head... I'm new to this so I just want to check I'm understanding correctly:
  • an ideal converter would be the one I linked?
  • I would need two of these converters... one from the AV and one to the sub
  • speaker cable into the 'input' leads (connect these with a wire junction box?)
  • then connect a RCA lead (split into L/R) on each end

Does that make sense?

Thanks again!
 
You would need to set your L/R speakers to full-range for the subwoofer to receive a full range signal, because you need the speaker cable signal to be full-range. If you use bass management in your AVR then the speaker (aka your sub through the converter) will only receiver >80hz. But that means speakers receive full-range, and you may not want that. Plus AVR's have lousy power so stressing amps a lot.

No you just need one of those, as it's stereo input and stereo output. You will need two RCA cables
 
Thanks again! I am still a bit confused, sorry!

Just to add a bit more info my AV receiver is this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B014Q2LOMA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
As you can see, the 'SUB OUT' is an RCA port.

The subwoofer and receiver are in totally different locations - the speaker cable is through the wall/ceiling.

Is my understanding above incorrect? If so, I can't see how it would work.
  • if I purchased the converter I pasted above from Amazon just on one end, how would the other connect to the AV 'SUB OUT' RCA?
  • on the other end, (near the sub), I'd be connecting the converter to the speaker wire 'INPUT' then the end of an RCA cable to the L/R of the converter

What am I missing?

Thanks for your patience in explaining this to me.
 
if your avr has sub and you want to use that, you need a low level to high level converter, then near the sub a high level to low level converter.

Basically what you wanting to do is not worth the effort. Just buy another amp and put it in the other room. Or if sending audio, do it over your wifi network. Less hassle.
 
Thanks. Yeah, the AV unit connects to ceiling speakers etc, so the sub needs to be connected to the same unit as everything goes through it.

I did look at wireless options - through research though there seems to be issues with them (interference, drop outs, slight lag) so I'm trying to get around having it hard wired to eliminate those.
 
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