How to Hook Up a Subwoofer to a Subwoofer Output Line
Installing subwoofers used with a home theater receiver is a fairly straightforward process. The inputs and outputs for wiring them up are labeled for function. In addition, most receivers "expect" a subwoofer. Media such as DVD and Blu-ray disc incorporate a special channel just for the subwoofer, making the addition of the speaker a wise choice.
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Instructions
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Access the back of the home theater receiver. Locate the "SUB" or "LFE" RCA jack on the back of the unit. This is located in a cluster of RCA jacks typically called "PREOUT."
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Push the RCA subwoofer cable into the appropriately-labeled jack. Observe the arrow on the cable, if present. Plug in the RCA cable with the arrow pointing towards the subwoofer. This indicates that the drain shield inside the cable prevents interference from electricity or radio frequencies from reaching the subwoofer.
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Access the back of the subwoofer. Find the "LFE" or "IN" jacks on the subwoofer's amplifier. Plug the other end of the RCA subwoofer cable into the LFE jack. If there is no "LFE" input, plug the cable into the red RCA jack on the unit's amp.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a coaxial cable with special screw-on RCA adapters for a cheap subwoofer cable.
Adjust the subwoofers "Crossover" knob on the back to blend with your speakers. In most home theaters, you are able to move the knob all the way to the right, getting it out of the way of the crossover in the receiver. Plugging the RCA cable into the "LFE" input bypasses the subwoofer's crossover automatically for this reason.
Set the unit's volume or level knob to the centered position.
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