sub tie into speaker wire

Subwoofers are essential for a top-notch home theater or music system, however, they can be difficult to properly install. Before you hook it up, one major factor to consider is the type of wiring needed. Typically, speaker wire is used when connecting a subwoofer.

If you’re looking for wiring that is strong enough to deliver reliable low-frequency sounds, speaker wire is the perfect choice for your subwoofers. With two input terminals, you’ll need to source two lengths of wire in order to connect the receiver and amplifier to the subwoofer. The end result will be a connection which is trusted to transport deep audio signals.

The thickness of a speaker wire to be used in wiring a subwoofer has to be chosen carefully. The American Wire Gauge (AWG) is used for this purpose, wherein the thicker the wire, the lower the gauge is. A higher number of gauge suggests the wire is thinner than a lower number of gauge which implies that the wire is thicker – for example, twelve-gauge speaker wire is more robust compared to sixteen-gauge speaker wire.

Electrical resistance of the speaker wire is an essential factor that influences the amount of power the speaker receives from the amplifier. An insufficiency of resistance will result in a weaker sound from the subwoofer, whereby too little power reaches it. Conversely, if there is an overwhelming amount of resistance in the wire, then it is possible that the subwoofer will be damaged due to an excessive stream of power.

To transfer low-frequency signals from the amplifier to the subwoofer effortlessly and without a drop in power, the experts vouch for 12-gauge speaker wire. Its robustness ensures that no musical talent is wasted in the process.

The terminals on the subwoofer must be correctly connected to the speaker wire. Generally, the positive terminal is red and the negative one is black. When there are binding posts, the positive is the one with a spring and the negative has a nut. Ensuring this is done right will deliver the clearest sound.

It is absolutely crucial that the speaker wire is properly hooked up to the appropriate terminals on the receiver and amplifier. For an effective connection, the positive terminal of the receiver should naturally be linked to the positive terminal on the amplifier, while its negative terminal must pair up with the negative side of the amplifier.

For an active subwoofer with a built-in amplifier, only one length of speaker wire should be used to bridge the gap between it and the receiver. Be sure to pair the positive terminal on the subwoofer with the corresponding post on the receiver, and likewise with the negative terminal – each respectively meeting its intended mate.

Many subwoofers come with a phase switch, conveniently located on the rear panel, that provides an option to adjust and align their phase in relation to the other speakers in the setup. This is essential for accurate sound reproduction.

When the subwoofer is in sync with the other speakers, the bass will reverberate with strong impact. Conversely, if the phases conflict, then the bass will come across flat and lack depth.

It is recommended that you maintain the phase switch in the middle if you are uncertain of whether the subwoofer is in or out of phase; this is likely to provide you with optimal sound quality.

To ensure optimal performance when connecting a subwoofer, it is essential to use the right size and form of speaker wire. Among the available options are copper-clad aluminum (CCA) which feature two slim layers of copper curtained around a thin sheet of aluminum.

Looking to keep costs down? If your subwoofer is of a more moderate standard then CCA speaker wire will do the job nicely. However, if you’re seeking a higher end performance from your speaker system, it may be a worthwhile investment to purchase oxygen-free copper (OFC) wire.

Those who are after the upper echelon of sound quality may find themselves perusing OFC speaker wire. Unlike budget CCA speaker wire, it harnesses a more powerful charge, owing to its single, solid copper core diminishing resistance and thus amping up the wattage – a must for smaller speakers handling higher frequencies. And, while this conductor comes with a heftier price tag, the results are well worth it.

The length of the speaker wire should be taken into account when making a decision. Resistance escalates correspondingly with length; which implies that it will weaken the power level as it reaches the subwoofer from the amplifier.

When it comes to the task of connecting your speakers to the amplifier, it is important to use the most compact length of speaker wire possible; however, should you need to guide the wire through walls or under floors, the use of a longer length may be unavoidable. In such an instance, employing a thicker gauged wire is recommended in order to reduce the deterioration in power delivery.

Crafting a great audio experience requires the inclusion of a subwoofer on any mixing console.

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