What You Should Know
The subwoofer can bring life to any sound system. In fact, with the right connections, you’ll be able to amplify the volume, tone and overall audio of your stereo. If you can connect the subwoofer correctly, you will get the desired bass for your sound. The subwoofer is the perfect complement for any home theater setup or stereo system. However, a lot can go into finding the right subwoofer and connecting it to your system. One of the first things you’ll have to familiarize yourself with is the subwoofer. You may be able to find a collection of subwoofers. Each choice and model can give you something different.
Add a Subwoofer to a 2 Channel Stereo
Wattage and power are just some of the first things you should know. Depending on your stereo system, you will want to find the right type of wattage for your subwoofer. One example can include a 2-channel stereo system. A 2-channel stereo system will have two channels to distribute its power in wattage. Therefore, make sure that you invest in a subwoofer that won’t exceed this wattage limit because you’ll just be wasting power. On the other hand, you don’t want to get a subwoofer that is underwhelming in its performance and power. If your stereo system supports up to 200 watts, make sure to invest in a subwoofer that has 200 watts or around the same estimate.
The Connections You can Use
When it comes to connecting your subwoofer, you need to make sure that you have the right connections. The traditional connections for a subwoofer will include an RCA cable. This cable connects straight from the subwoofer itself into your 2-channel stereo receiver. Depending where you want to place your subwoofer, you can select your choice of cable length. If you invest in a short cable connection, you can always buy another one or invest in a coupler to extend the length. Aside from an RCA cable, you may also use speaker wire. However, an RCA cable will work the best. A speaker wire can be difficult to install if it’s not cut to the correct length or is not stripped.
Inputs and Outputs
As mentioned before, you can connect your subwoofer straight into your stereo receiver. The receiver should have a label named subwoofer. This is where you’ll connect the RCA cable. Afterwards, simply connect the other end of the cable into your subwoofer. Make sure that you always look for the inputs and outputs. If you connect the cable in the wrong spot, you won’t get any sound coming out of your subwoofer. Some subwoofers will have two inputs for the left and right speaker. In this case, you can get a Y-splitter to convert the signal into one component going into your receiver. Your cables will be connected in the output component of your receiver while the other end will go into the input components of your subwoofer.
Types of Subwoofers
When you’re shopping for your subwoofer, you may run into a wide range of choices. The preferable choice would be a subwoofer that has your traditional connections and components. However, most subwoofers that connect to a 2-channel stereo system will use high levels inputs. This allows your receiver to output the frequencies at an equalized level for all components, such as your treble, bass, midrange levels and more. Every subwoofer will have a low-pass filter to utilize the proper limit for the frequencies. Another thing to consider is the size of the subwoofer compared to the size of the room. Larger isn’t always better for the room. A good rule to follow is a small subwoofer for a small room or a large subwoofer for a large room. If you get a big subwoofer for a small room, you may distort the sound coming out of the sub. This is because the sound won’t travel far enough, which can cause an overkill effect for your subwoofer. Choosing the right subwoofer will give you more control for the sound you want.
Where to Place the Subwoofer
Aside from connecting the subwoofer to your receiver, you’ll have to find an optimal placement. You will want to place the speaker in a spot where you can get the most bass. By doing this, you’ll get the most out of your home theater setup. In the end, there won’t be a correct spot for every room. Since rooms can differ in sizes and layouts, it is ideal that you experiment with the wide range of spaces available. The traditional spot for a subwoofer will usually go in front of the person. This will allow the listener to receive all of the audio components of the subwoofer. However, a large room can be difficult to find a placement. In this case, it is ideal that you place your subwoofer near your chair or the viewing area of the home theater setup. The sound won’t have to travel far, and you are sure to feel the bass right next you.
Test It Out
Once you’re done connecting the subwoofer to the 2-channel stereo, you can go ahead and test it. Remember to start the sound level at a low volume. By doing this, you’ll lower the chance of blowing out the speakers or subwoofer. Managing the subwoofer levels will depend on your taste in audio levels. Although more sound can be good, you don’t want to push your subwoofer to the limits. You can run the risk of blowing out the speaker altogether. The sound level should work fine at about halfway or a little over.
Finding the Right Subwoofer
With so many brands, choices and different prices for subwoofers, it can be difficult to choose one. Remember to pick a subwoofer that matches the wattage capacity of your 2-channel stereo receiver. It’s also important to choose quality over a bargain price. Although an affordable price can be good at times, make sure that you invest in a good brand. You can find a wide range of choices online or at your local electronics store. If you want to make sure you’re getting a good subwoofer, you can always look for customer reviews on the internet.
The Results
Hopefully, these tips will help you add a subwoofer to a 2 channel stereo without any trouble. Although it can be rare, you may find some subwoofers that use auxiliary inputs. When this happens, you can connect the subwoofer to the auxiliary output of your receiver. If you want to get a different sound, you can invest in adapters that will convert your auxiliary connections to RCA. Rest assured that by finding the optimal placements, right connections and subwoofer, you will be able to enjoy your sound system.
