What Are Subwoofer Cables?
The subwoofer cable is one of the plethora of cables that connect the components of a typical home theater system. But, while it only serves one function, its role is an important one nonetheless. To understand the use of the cable we'll take a look at several different aspects of its construction, function, and application.
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Purpose
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In a home theater or many home stereo systems, a powered subwoofer is used to reproduce the low frequencies of the music or soundtrack. This signal is the ".1" we know from "5.1" and other formats. The first number refers to the full-range audio channels, and the second to the low frequency info channel. Carrying the information to the subwoofer is the job of the subwoofer cable.
Design
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The subwoofer cable is a shielded two-conductor cable with a male RCA plug on each end. It's designed to pass a mono signal from the output of a home theater receiver to the input of the subwoofer. The RCA plug admirably serves its purpose -- the inner tip of the plug carries the positive signal, while the outer jacket carries the negative.
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Installation
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Subwoofer cables connect between a dedicated output on a home theater or stereo receiver, and a dedicated input on the powered subwoofer. The output for the receiver is usually marked "Sub Out," or "LFE" (Low Frequency Effects). The input on the subwoofer is marked "Sub In" or "LFE In." Other markings are possible. Check the manual for your receiver or subwoofer if you're not certain about the connections.
Length
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Subwoofer cables come in a variety of manufactured lengths. These are usually sold in multiples of 3 meters, ie, 3 meters, 6 meters, etc. Remember that a meter is a bit over 3 feet if you're shopping for a subwoofer cable. Lengths of over 50 feet are somewhat uncommon -- it might be necessary to have a custom cable manufactured if you need a longer cable.
Brands
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Subwoofer cables are produced and sold by many different manufacturers and dealers. Some well-regarded brands are Monster Cable, Definitive Technology, Velocity, and SonicWave. There are, however, many other brands available.
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