hook up subwoofer as stereo or mono?

[seannorek]

Current setup:

Sony STR-DE835 5.1 receiver - 100W per channel
Polk RC85I in-wall surround speakers (5) – 8 ohms 100W per channel
JBL HTI88 in-wall passive subwoofer – 250W max
Onkyo M-282 2 channel amp 100W per channel at 8 ohms, 125W at 6 ohms

I have the Onkyo amp connected to the JBL sub. The sub has 2 8" woofers, and my Sony receiver has 2 sub outputs. So should I set it up as mono or stereo? I have the JBL installed vertically on the wall, so the Right would be on top and Left on bottom if stereo is used. Is there really a noticeable difference?

[markw]

You need to feed that ".1" subwoofer/LFE output to a mono (single channel) amplifier that can handle a four ohm load, and that amplifier's output to the subwoofers, which would be hooked in parallel. I'd recommend a plate amp from parts express or something similar.

Either that, or you can use a stereo amp that can hanble eight ohms for each subwoofer. It's your choice.

In either case, your sony won't drive them. It'll have it's amps fully utilized by the other channels.

[seannorek]

thanks for the advise. I already found out my sony won't drive them. So I figure the M-282 can handle it since I'm not using that amp for anthing else. I am trying to find out whether to hook it up as a mono or stereo output. Since my Sony has 2 RCA outputs (though neither are designated L or R) I first thought stereo would be the way to go.


You need to feed that ".1" subwoofer/LFE output to a mono (single channel) amplifier that can handle a four ohm load, and that amplifier's output to the subwoofers, which would be hooked in parallel. I'd recommend a plate amp from parts express or something similar.

Either that, or you can use a stereo amp that can hanble eight ohms for each subwoofer. It's your choice.

In either case, your sony won't drive them. It'll have it's amps fully utilized by the other channels.

[musicman1999]

You can hook it up in stereo mode,but i think the only benefit you would get is a little more volumn.If you do hook it up this way make sure that you remove the strips or it could be bad.The LFE output is not a stereo signal anyway.

bill

[Vardo]

If you just have one JBL sub, then there is no need to hook it up
in stereo....If you buy another sub in the future then maybe hook
it up stereo....I have 2 sub outputs on the back of my B&K preamp,
and at one time had two subs ( HSU VTF-2's) but I never hooked them
up in stereo, just ran a second sub cable from the first sub's output
to the second subs input. Chances are your JBL sub has a left and
right input...which confuses alot of people because they only have
one sub output on their receiver. If you use a "Y" adaptor into the
the left and right inputs on the sub, and /or the receiver, I dought
it will make any difference sonically....maybe a slight increase in
volume as musicman has pointed out......vardo

[seannorek]

Thanks everyone. I hooked it up mono and it sounds great. That amp really pushes the JBL sub. I might look into a plate amp for it so I can use the Onkyo sub for my rears which are currently powered by my Sony.

[musicman1999]

I don't believe your reciever has pre-outs so you would be unable to do so.If it does however use it for the front speakers,you would get more use from it.

bill

[seannorek]

Thanks Bill. You are right I checked and I dont' ahve any pre-outs. I'll be getting a new receiver in the next 6 months so that problem will be fixed.


I don't believe your reciever has pre-outs so you would be unable to do so.If it does however use it for the front speakers,you would get more use from it.

bill

[musicman1999]

Happy to be of assistance.

bill