Why aren't my subs turning on?

Plato- I am leaving the in the auto-on mode all the time, but they don't turn on when I start playing.

Jameswei- The SMS-1 does "work"; at least it goes through auto-eq or manual eq, emitting frequency sweep tones and teh eq can be adjusted.

All- the subs show a red light when plugged in, in the auto-on mode and in "stand-by" They are supposed to switch to green when activiated by a signal. That does not happen unless I manually turn them off and then turn them back on, while music is playing.

Only just begun dialing them in. Still trying to get over the embarrassment ;~)

Pzuckerman- Perhaps I should have posted more detail. This is a music only system and the SMS-1 is an outboard x-over equalizer. My mains (Merlins) are recommended to be run full range and they get their signal from the main amp which is fed by the Merlin Bass Augmentation module, which in turn is fed by a pass through from the SMS-1. LFE is the label Velodyne uses on the SMS-1 for the equalized and crossed over, line level output. the SMS-1 gets its signal from the output of my volume controlled APL 3910 U-player. Se we have CDP to SMS-1 to sub (all line level) and CDP to SMS-1 (looped out aka pass through) to BAM to amp to main speakers.

RubenT- Understood. As you can see, I am powering the subs from the main L&R outs from my pre.

Geared4me- Unfortunately, that means going to each (I have a pair), reaching behind, shutting them off and then back on after about 30 sec. A real PITA. Hopefully VSA has a work around.

I will look for the nanual. I have the L and R pre-amp output (not stereo, the SMS-1 does not output stereo) going to the SMS-1 which IS an external x-over, so I have the internal crossover OFF. The switch is set to Auto-on with the red LED lit (which is stand-by, I think). It goes to green if I turn it off and on manually, and seems to play correctly after I do that. I turned the SMS-1 output (called volume) up to about 60% and still did not get it to turn on when the CD starts up, but it will come on when cycled off and then back to auto-on.

I've downloaded the manual and the subs are set up (at least I think they are) the way its recommended. Pre-amp level outputs to SMS-1, equalized output of SMS-1 to sub (there are three equalized (aka LFE) outputs to use so you can run 3 mono subs at once if you desire. No way to run stereo subs without 2 SMS-1s (I asked Velodyne). I will try the 100% output on the SMS-1 and turn the sub volume way down and see what happens.

OK, color me red!!! I just went back to swap right for left at the sub input in case it made any difference, picked up the sub end of the i/e and the other end was dangling loose!! I guess they won't work if they are not connected. Problem solved. Thanks to all who made an effort to assist one dumb-a$$ audiofool. Happy holidays, all.