How To Connect A Subwoofer To A Receiver Without A Subwoofer Output

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Home » How-to guide » How To Connect A Subwoofer To A Receiver Without

A Subwoofer Output
How To Connect A
Subwoofer To A
Receiver Without A
Subwoofer Output
June 7, 2020
1 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
So your receiver doesn’t have a subwoofer output.

You’re probably wondering what the heck you can do
about it, and you might be worried if you’ll have to
spend a lot of money for either a new receiver,
subwoofer, or both!
I’ve got great news – there are several simple

ways to connect a subwoofer to a receiver
without a subwoofer output.
Read on and I’ll show you several options along with

easy and clear diagrams to help. There’s no need to
throw away your old receiver or break the bank!
2 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
Contents
Home stereo subwoofers explained
How a subwoofer produces bass
Powered subwoofer inputs & controls you
may (or may not) have
Diagram & examples: Connecting a
subwoofer to a receiver without a
subwoofer output
1. Connecting a receiver to a
subwoofer with RCA input jacks
2. Subwoofers with speaker level
inputs
3. Connecting a receiver to a passive
(non-powered) subwoofer
Stereo vs surround sound receiver
subwoofer output differences
More helpful speaker info & diagrams
Home stereo subwoofers

explained
3 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
Comparison of non-powered (passive) vs powered

(active) home stereo subwoofer enclosures.
Home stereo subwoofers are available in two different

types: powered (“active”) and non-powered
(“passive”).
Powered subwoofers use a low-signal signal which

is boosted greatly using the built-in speaker
amplifier, power supply, and crossover. These types
are one of the most common and in many cases
use an RCA type input jack to connect to the
receiver for sound.
Passive (non-powered) subwoofers are simply a
4 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
subwoofer speaker inside the bass enclosure which

is directly wired to the speaker terminals or a
passive bass crossover inside. These types are less
common.
How a subwoofer produces bass
The subwoofer works by resting inside of an enclosure

designed for it and to produce deep bass when
playing music limited to low-end bass sounds.
In order to produce clean-sounding bass without

vocals or other sounds a subwoofer can’t properly
produce, a low-pass crossover is used to allow only
bass frequencies to pass & be produced. The problem
comes when you try to connect a subwoofer to a
signal without a crossover – it sounds terrible!
The subwoofer output jack on a receiver is normally

limited to passing bass only, either from stereo music
production or from the “.1” subwoofer channel
(dedicated subwoofer music content) of a surround
sound system.
For example, when you hear references to “5.1” or

“2.1” speaker systems or surround sound audio for
5 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
movies, the first number represents the number of

main speakers. The “.1” is used to represent a sound
channel limited to only bass for optional subwoofer
use.
Powered subwoofer inputs &

controls you may (or may not)
have
Example of a powered subwoofer with 2 types of

signal inputs (speaker level and RCA jacks) along with
sound controls. Note: Not all subwoofers have
6 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
speaker level inputs, which makes it a problem

connecting them to a receiver without a subwoofer
output.
Powered subwoofers usually have several inputs and

controls, but it always depends on the brand and
model. Here’s an example of what you’ll usually find:
Power input (AC outlet power)

On/off switch
RCA input jack or a pair of jacks
Subwoofer crossover adjustment
Subwoofer level adjustment know (the amplifier’s
boost level)
The subwoofer input jack usually connects to a single

mono (monaural, meaning both stereo channels are
combined into one) output jack on the receiver.
7 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
Example of the mono RCA subwoofer output jack

found on many home receivers. These connect with a
single male to male RCA cable to a powered
subwoofer.
Some models also include speaker level inputs,

meaning they can be used with any modern or old
home stereo receiver without a subwoofer output.
While that’s nice, if yours doesn’t have that feature,

ordinarily you’d need to buy a different
subwoofer and waste money.
In fact, some of the information you’ll find right now

on the internet says that you have to buy another
subwoofer if you don’t have a receiver with an output
jack. That’s simply not true.
As I mentioned at the beginning of my article there

are several ways to work around this problem.
Diagram & examples: Connecting
8 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
a subwoofer to a receiver without

a subwoofer output
9 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
1. Connecting a receiver to a subwoofer

with RCA input jacks
10 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
Left: Example of a powered subwoofer with 2, instead

of the typical 1, RCA input jacks. Right: An RCA Y
adapter that can be used with a line level converter to
connect to a subwoofer with a single RCA input jack.
For subwoofers with only 1 or more RCA input jacks

(no speaker level inputs), a simple way to connect
them to a receiver with no subwoofer output is by
using a line level converter.
What is a line level converter, and how do

they help?
Line level converters are small devices that accept

speaker wire connections and scale down the speaker
level signal to a low level signal (RCA jack) type
output that the subwoofer can
accept. They’re extremely handy in the car
stereo world because they make it possible to
11 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
connect a stereo without RCA outputs to any

amplifier.
They’re not commonly used for home stereos but still

really useful there, too.
Shown here are two examples of line level/RCA

speaker level converters that work well for home
receiver/amp to subwoofer use. A line level converter
takes the higher voltage speaker signal from an
amplifier or home receiver and scales it down
significantly so it’s safe to use with RCA inputs.
How much do line level converters cost?
Line level converters range in price (for a good one)

of about $15-$25 each. They’re connected to the
12 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
speaker leads of a radio, receiver, or amplifier. RCA

cables are then connected to the jacks provided. The
internal electronics not only scale down the speaker
output voltage from a receiver but also help prevent
noise from the audio path, too.
If you’re using a subwoofer with a single RCA

subwoofer input jack, you may want to pick up a “Y”
RCA adapter to combine both receiver channels on
the output side into one.
Subwoofers with 2 (stereo) RCA jack inputs, however,

will need a standard male-male RCA cable.
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2. Subwoofers with speaker level inputs
If you own a subwoofer with speaker level inputs

you’re in luck! You can connect these directly to your
receiver’s speaker outputs, either by themselves (on
unused speaker terminals) or at the same time with
speakers connected to the receiver.
14 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
These subwoofers with this feature contain internal

electronics that scale down the speaker signal from
the receiver before it reaches the internal amp that
powers the sub.
Additionally, there’s a low-pass crossover built in as

well to produce great-sounding bass and no
unpleasant parts of the music – just pure, low-end
bass.
Connect these directly to the receiver just like you

would another pair of speakers.
Note: Subwoofers with speaker level inputs and

outputs provide a way to easily connect both at
the same time. The outputs are internally
connected to the input connectors, making it
easier to add speakers and the subwoofer to a
receiver simultaneously.
3. Connecting a receiver to a passive

(non-powered) subwoofer
15 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
Example of a passive subwoofer low-pass crossover.

Passive crossovers, unlike electronic crossovers, work
using capacitors and inductor coils instead of
electronic components.
If you’re wanting to use a non-powered (passive) type

of subwoofer, there’s still hope, although it can be a
bit harder to find the right parts and set up vs using a
powered subwoofer.
To use a non-powered subwoofer, as shown in my

diagram above, you’ll use a low-pass subwoofer
speaker crossover which is connected between the
receiver and the subwoofer enclosure. These filter out
higher frequency sounds before they reach the sub to
help provide clear & nice-sounding bass only.
How to choose subwoofer crossovers and

where to find them
16 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
Speaker crossovers such as this are sold both in a

single (one speaker) or dual (2-speaker) model,
depending on the brand & supplier. They also have to
be matched correctly to the impedance (Ohms rating)
of the sub.
For example, subwoofer crossovers designed for 8

ohm speakers must be used only with those.
Otherwise, the sound filtering is radically different and
won’t sound as expected since the speaker load will
react differently with the design.
Normally you’d choose one with a low-pass frequency

of close to 100Hz or in that range. Speaker crossovers
are sold where speaker parts & related components
are sold as well as marketplaces like Amazon or Parts
Express.
Stereo vs surround sound

receiver subwoofer output
differences
17 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
Unlike older or standard stereo receivers, surround

sound receivers have a unique output that comes
from the surround sound movie or music source.
However, in regular stereo listening mode, they act
the same as regular receivers.
One thing to bear in mind is that when connecting a

subwoofer to a receiver without a subwoofer output,
you can’t get a separate “.1” bass channel as you can
with surround sound receivers.
18 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
On the other hand, it may not even be an issue. In

fact, the surround sound receiver “LFE” (low-
frequency) output is considered optional –
hence the “.1” name. There is a drawback, though:
for some movies, especially action or other types, the
bass channel can be very enjoyable.
Using a receiver without that output means you can’t

get the same effect, but that’s only for surround
sound mode. The good news is that in stereo mode,
both new and old receivers have very similar
subwoofer behavior when connected as you’ve
seen here.
Just something to be aware of if you’ve ever

considered upgrading later.
More helpful speaker info &

diagrams
I’ve got lots more information to help you get your
sound system going:
Here’s my article explaining what size speaker wire

you need.
Learn how to connect speaker wire to banana
19 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
plugs, speakers, and other wire.

Find out here how to wire a dual voice coil
subwoofer (with diagrams).
Got tweeters but they’re too bright? Here’s my
guide on how to reduce tweeter volume.
audio signal connections, home stereo receiver wiring,

speaker wiring, subwoofers
Your comments are welcome!
SebW
November 15, 2021 at 1:53 pm
20 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
Hi
I have a good old NAD C 320. It has 2 pre-outs (L & R),
connected with 2 big jumpers to “main in ” inputs. Can
you advice how I can connect to it an active Yamaha NS-
SW subwoofer, so that my NAD plays sound as so far on
column speakers plus on the Yamaha subwoofer?
Yamaha NS-SW subwoofer has only 1 input (RCA). I
would need to know if/how to keep pre-outs connected
with main ins and in the same time connect them (or
one of them? which one) to Yamaha’s 1 input.
Reply
Marty
November 16, 2021 at 8:01 am
Hello there. By looking at the NS-SW, I see it has

stereo RCA inputs. So you should be able to use
“Y” RCA adapters to keep the pre-outs jumpered
as well as provide two jacks you can use to
connect to the subwoofer’s RCA inputs.
Reply
SebW
21 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
Thanks for answering! This is Yamaha NS-

SW100 and it has only 1 RCA input. Can I
then use Y adapter on one of channels
while keeping the original jumper on the
2nd channel?
Reply
Marty
Ah ok sorry for the

misunderstanding. I would use
speaker inputs instead in that
case. Using only a single Y cable
will affect the stereo channels on
the preamp unit. Using only one
RCA channel to connect the amp
would mean that some bass will be
missing during some music since it
won’t be mono.
Using the speaker level inputs will

avoid that.
Reply
22 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
SebW
November 17, 2021 at 2:05 pm
This is clear. Thank you!
alan
Hello! I have hooked up a 5.1 system to a receiver, I

checked the wiring and polarity, etc. It’s a powered sub
with speaker lever hook up. All the speakers are working
fine except the sub. It’s on, but claims to not be
receiving anything. Is it just broken?
Also, the setting for the sub in such a set up is “off” or

“no/none” right?
Reply
Marty
Hello Alan are you sure it has a signal? I’d try

connecting the subwoofer to an RCA connector
source or other speaker inputs to verify it’s
23 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
working. If you’re referring to the LFE

(subwoofer) RCA output jack setting, it’s off or
no/none if you’re not using that connection.
Generally speaking the receiver will play
subwoofer bass through the front/main speakers
instead.
Reply
Alex
Hi Marty,
Thanks for the really interesting and detailed info!

I have a question since I’m a bit lost on what to do with
this lol
I have a simple JBL sub that has dead amp board

meaning it’s now basically a box with the woofer in it
(single + and – coming straight out of the woofer). This
means I have to somehow amplify it (fixing it would cost
more than a cheap Chinese board).
Now here comes the issue – I have a Marantz PM6006
stereo amp that only has A+B outputs.
I have no idea what type of amplification should I buy –
meaning what inputs it should have. I didn’t find
anything cheap that has high level inputs and outputs.
24 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
There’s this one that supports a 0.1 mode and has a line
in and a line out: https://i.ebayimg.com/images
/g/3wsAAOSwj3VbcuVw/s-l1600.jpg
but my Marantz is connected to my PC via optical so I
can’t really use that.
Any creative ideas I could use? :)))
Thanks!
Reply
Marty
Hi there. You’ll be better off finding a subwoofer

amp somewhere like Parts Express as they have
some with both high level and RCA inputs.
About Me
Hi there - I'm Marty.
25 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
I'm a car audio fanatic and professional electrical engineer. During

college I was a professional installer and even had a side business
doing it. I still love speakers, home & car audio, and all kinds of
projects related to enjoying the sound we love.
Everyone's welcome and I'd love to help you too, my friend!
You can do it yourself!
26 of 27 12/10/21, 10:34 AM
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Home » How-to guide » How To Connect A Subwoofer To A Receiver Without

So your receiver doesn’t have a subwoofer output.

I’ve got great news – there are several simple

Read on and I’ll show you several options along with

Home stereo subwoofers

Comparison of non-powered (passive) vs powered

Home stereo subwoofers are available in two diﬀerent

Powered subwoofers use a low-signal signal which

subwoofer speaker inside the bass enclosure which

How a subwoofer produces bass

The subwoofer works by resting inside of an enclosure

In order to produce clean-sounding bass without

The subwoofer output jack on a receiver is normally

For example, when you hear references to “5.1” or

movies, the ﬁrst number represents the number of

Powered subwoofer inputs &

Example of a powered subwoofer with 2 types of

speaker level inputs, which makes it a problem

Powered subwoofers usually have several inputs and

Power input (AC outlet power)

The subwoofer input jack usually connects to a single

Example of the mono RCA subwoofer output jack

Some models also include speaker level inputs,

While that’s nice, if yours doesn’t have that feature,

In fact, some of the information you’ll ﬁnd right now

As I mentioned at the beginning of my article there

Diagram & examples: Connecting

a subwoofer to a receiver without

1. Connecting a receiver to a subwoofer

Left: Example of a powered subwoofer with 2, instead

For subwoofers with only 1 or more RCA input jacks

What is a line level converter, and how do

Line level converters are small devices that accept

connect a stereo without RCA outputs to any

They’re not commonly used for home stereos but still

Shown here are two examples of line level/RCA

How much do line level converters cost?

Line level converters range in price (for a good one)

speaker leads of a radio, receiver, or ampliﬁer. RCA

If you’re using a subwoofer with a single RCA

Subwoofers with 2 (stereo) RCA jack inputs, however,

PAC LP3-2 L.O.C. PRO

PRO Series 2-Channel High

Single dial, precision

2. Subwoofers with speaker level inputs

If you own a subwoofer with speaker level inputs

These subwoofers with this feature contain internal

Additionally, there’s a low-pass crossover built in as

Connect these directly to the receiver just like you

Note: Subwoofers with speaker level inputs and

3. Connecting a receiver to a passive

Example of a passive subwoofer low-pass crossover.

If you’re wanting to use a non-powered (passive) type

To use a non-powered subwoofer, as shown in my

How to choose subwoofer crossovers and