How do you hook up a passive subwoofer?
Emily Sparks
Published May 02, 2026
How do you hook up a passive subwoofer?
You can connect a passive subwoofer to an AV receiver by treating it as a loudspeaker and linking the subwoofer directly to your AV receiver via the speaker connectors. You can also power it with an external amplifier and treat it as a powered subwoofer that connects to the pre-out.
Are passive subwoofers any good?
The passive subwoofer is generally a better bet if you’re going to be using it in a small room, where space is a concern and where you don’t need a more powerful sound. They produce a deeper, more impactful sound, and don’t require the purchase or use of any extra components or parts.
Can you connect a passive subwoofer to an active subwoofer?
Interestingly, you can use passive speakers with an active subwoofer. However, you will need to connect a designated amplifier with the speakers to provide them with a power source since the built-in amp in the active sub does not supply power to external speakers.
How can I make my passive speakers active?
In order to turn a passive speaker into an active one, you have to run the speaker through an external power source and amplifier. This amplifier is often seen in the form of a pedal activated on a pedalboard to provide additional power. This pedal can be activated for the instruments.
How do I connect passive speakers to my computer?
How to Power Passive Speakers without an Amp
- Position your equipment – speakers, PC, jack.
- Make sure the computer is turned off.
- Plug the speakers into the power socket.
- Find the 3.5mm RCA jack at the back of the computer tower.
- Plug the jack into the audio source to get a good connection.
- Turn on your computer.
How do you hook up a subwoofer to a vintage receiver?
A subwoofer with speaker-level inputs is especially easy to connect to your older amplifier or receiver! To do so, just connect to the speaker outputs on the source unit using speaker wire and then to the matching inputs on the subwoofer. You can even power speakers from the amp or receiver at the same time.
How can I connect a passive subwoofer to a receiver?
Instead, the company suggests the following steps: Connecting your passive subwoofer to an external amplifier. Using the subwoofer pre-out slot. Connecting your AV receiver to the input of the amplifier. Alternatively, you can also try connecting your passive subwoofer right where you would connect your speakers on the receiver.
What’s the best way to hook up a subwoofer?
If you have passive speakers, method 1 would be the best option. The reason is that with an external crossover, you would be able to divide the frequencies in Hi, Mids, and Lows, then send the corresponding frequency to each amplifier. Instead, if you are using powered or active speakers, method 2 would be perfect for you.
Can a Bose subwoofer hook up to a receiver?
This method of subwoofer hook-up is very common for those that use Bose speaker systems, or anyone with a passive subwoofer. The receiver’s “yes” or “no” setting for the subwoofer only applies if you own a powered subwoofer connected to the receiver using a line level RCA style cord.
How do you hook up a subwoofer to a PA system?
Basically, you would connect a cable going from the “Aux Send Output Connectors” to the subwoofer’s input. Then you would increase or decrease the Aux knob on each channel depending on which one you want to send to the subwoofer.
Instead, the company suggests the following steps: Connecting your passive subwoofer to an external amplifier. Using the subwoofer pre-out slot. Connecting your AV receiver to the input of the amplifier. Alternatively, you can also try connecting your passive subwoofer right where you would connect your speakers on the receiver.
This method of subwoofer hook-up is very common for those that use Bose speaker systems, or anyone with a passive subwoofer. The receiver’s “yes” or “no” setting for the subwoofer only applies if you own a powered subwoofer connected to the receiver using a line level RCA style cord.
How can I tell if I have an active or passive subwoofer?
To begin with, on the back of your receiver you will see a setting for either “Yes” or “No” which is linked directly to your subwoofer. This is referring to whether or not you have an active or a passive subwoofer. With your passive subwoofer, be sure that the setting is on “Yes.”
Can a subwoofer be set to ” Yes ” in a receiver?
Most people using size logic set all the speakers in the receiver to “small”, and subwoofer to “yes”. While logically this is correct, it is not correct settings in this setup. What happens is that all bass information is removed from every speaker, and redirected to the line-level sub out jack on the back of your receiver.