Two subwoofers for two channel music listening


Hi all , 
How do you hook up two active subwoofers? I have two SVS 1000 series subwoofers with both high level (speaker) and line level (RCA) ins.

Method one - Lets say the subs have high/speaker level inputs. So do you hook up the left sub from the left amplifier out and similarly right speaker out from the amp to right sub high level in? This set up is just like the stereo pair of speakers.

Method two - The alternate is from a preamp hook up the RCA line in of one subwoofer then daisy chain i.e. RCA out from the first sub to the RCA in of the second subwoofer. Not using a Y splitter from the preamp. Trying to use both red and white RCA from preamp to red and white RCA in of the first sub.

Which method do you prefer? Any benefit or disadvantage of one over the other? Thanks for your comments and inputs.
128x128confuse_upgraditis

Showing 3 responses by millercarbon

To everyone - thanks for chiming in. I just do not want to localize sub bass in either left or right side. - confuse_upgraditis

Your name is apt. 

Sub bass cannot be localized. Nothing you can do in the way of hooking them up or locating them on your room will ever change the fact we cannot tell where such low bass frequencies are coming from.
Audio Alchemy says NOT to hook subs up from their speaker binding posts, whereas Paul McGowan (PS Audio) did a video on speaker to sub

Right, but the OP specifically stated his subs have BOTH line level AND high level inputs.  

There is an interesting thing about connections, they are all designed such that if the plug fits, it is safe to use. Check it out. Works for everything.  

Technically, both line level and speaker level are the same. The only difference is the voltage. What do resistors do? Resist voltage. So any speaker level anything can be converted to line level voltage by simply putting a resistor in line. A sub that accepts speaker level, this is exactly what they do. Look at the circuit diagram, the first thing is a 20k or maybe 50k Ohm resistor. Or look at a Line Out Converter, this simple box is nothing more than a resistor with an RCA and terminals making it easy to hook up. Or you can do the same with solder in a few minutes. What I did to my amp, which didn't even have line out. So I modded it. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 Look at picture #26 to see just how simple this is to do.

Right. No difference. Sub bass is mono. Line level or speaker level, same result. Running from one to he next is fine too. I've done all three. No difference. Use whichever is most convenient.