How To Connect A Powered Subwoofer To Passive Speakers on Pro Acoustics Tech Talk Episode 62

Today on Pro Acoustics Tech Talk, Nathan uses the Crown Audio XLS 1502 DriveCore 2 Series power amplifier to explain how to connect a powered or active subwoofer to a passive speaker in your sound system.

There are two general types of PA speakers - active/powered and passive. The simple difference between active and passive speakers is that active/powered PA speakers have a built-in amplifier, and unpowered/passive PA speakers do not.

If you have passive speakers in your sound system, you will need an amplifier. An audio power amplifier is an electronic amplifier required to amplify the power of an input signal to a high enough level to drive the speakers in your sound system. You’ll need to make sure you have an audio power amplifier (with sufficient wattage) and a mixer or a mixer amplifier combo.

You can set up your sound system with just these components but sometimes you might want to add more low-end sound. This is where a subwoofer would come in.

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In this video:

Crown XLS 1502 DriveCore 2 Series 2-Channel 300W at 8 Ohm Power Amplifier
*The Crown XLS1502 is a 2 channel power amp that features a sleek look, LCD display, and more DSP with higher capabilities ready to deliver a powerful, pure sound experience for any venue. The XLS 1502 is ultra-efficient with Crown’s patented DriveCore technology and can drive 1550W at 4Ω bridged (300W at 8Ω) with tons of headroom guaranteeing a clean, undistorted signal straight to your speakers.

CBI SNN142-50 14G Speakon Cable - 50ft

CBI SC12-100 Heavy Duty 12 Gauge Speaker Cable - 100ft

CBI BL Series 22 Gauge Balanced Wire Cable

JBL SRX812 2-Way 12" Bass Reflex Passive System

JBL SRX818SP 18" Self-Powered Subwoofer System

[DarkagleLetsPlay]

That's a lot for this Video! I was searching the whole Internet for this Information. This is such a quick and perfect Video for exactly this Information I needed!

[mattosborne]

Finally, thanks man. wish I'd come here first.. Subbed

[adeletovrea]

Thanks man. You talk where I can understand it. Not all hyped up and shit appreciate it man thanks.

[homesteadworks]

Hi, in your description your are showing the amp powering both the passive speakers and the powered sub? By powering the signal to the active subs is there any danger of damaging the amp built into the active sub? I always thought the active sub would only need a signal source from the mixer directly. And the passive signal would need powered by the amplifier. I’m a little old school, don’t know everything for sure... so old passive guys like me need all the help we can get... thanks for your input!
Todd

[AT-hyvo]

Hello, thank you for this video, I’m new to this whole audio set up game and have two JBL 530 tower speakers (passive), and a Sony receiver which has done me well the past two years. I was just gifted a Bose acoustimass 5 series ii sub and am struggling to set them all up, I was wondering what amps you’d recommend/best way of going about this! Thank you!

[davidmjdeutsch]

My Behringer KM750 has pretty much an identical Inputs section, with an XLR, 1/4 inch on each channel, and an RCA, but it doesn't not specify "Link/Out". I'm assuming it's the same though, right?

[denoirby]

I have aYamaha EMX5 12-input Stereo Powered Mixer and two passive speakers. I am in bad need of some more base. I only need one sub. What would you recommend Passive or powered? How would you set it up?

[PatRock]

My power amp doesn't have a link out (Behringer EP2000) doesn't have a "Link Out". The powered subwoofers I want to get have built is crossovers. Can I run my mixer main outs to my subs, then my subs to the power amp then power amp to mains?

[dannyalanis]

I need some help. I have a different issue. I have 2 powered pa speakers, and 2 powered subwoofers. I have the subwoofers hooked up through the powered pa speakers via rca. However there is only there is only one hook up available on the pa speakers. So I basically splitting the power and feel like my powered subwoofers full potential is not being met. How can I remedy that. They still sound great. However at the same time it still feels like there more there is being utilized. Should I get a mixer and if so what do you recommend. Or is there another way hook up the speakers with what I have now? Thanks in advance.

[DouglasBarrett-kw]

Great video! Could you help this novice understand how to hook up a powered sub to our band's Behringer PMP6000 when we have passive mains and passive monitors also coming out of it?

[Dxcter_Crgi]

hello ive got a question i dont know if its silly but, is it possible to connect an active subwoofers line output into an amplififers line input so i can use the subs input for music and the amps out for passive speakers.

[johndeal]

I ran into a sound system installation with a functionally similar setup like this but I don't think this is the right way to go. The solution here does restrict the sub to below the crossover point. However, the mains will try to reproduce all of the program material, including the lows the subwoofer is doing since the input signal to the amplifier is direct form the mixer and not going through a crossover (unless the amplifier has a built-in crossover). In most cases, the "tops" are not designed for reproducing the low frequencies, which the subwoofer can handle much more efficiently.

I feel the more standard solution is for the main outputs (line level) of the mixer be connected to the inputs of the subwoofer (all the active subwoofers I have ran into have a stereo pair of inputs). Set the desired crossover frequency on the subwoofer's crossover and level of subwoofer volume. Then take a separate pair of XLR cables and connect the subwoofer's high bypass outs and connect these cables to the input of the power amp and connect the speaker cables from the amp to the non-powered main speakers. Now you have the line level output of the mixer split with the lows going to the subwoofer and the rest to the power amp hence the non-powered main speakers.

One consideration is the sequence of powering on and off the system. I believe the proper power on sequence is mixer->subwoofer->power amp. The power off sequence would be the opposite.

This is the solution I came up with when I ran into a setup which was functionally the same as the solution presented here. The system became much clearer after I changed it to what is described above.

If I am totally missing the point here, please let me know!

[mszmandaa]

Hello if your amplifier doesn’t have link output can you just use channel 1 for midrange and channel 2 for powered subwoofer? Trying to run 2 midrange and 1 subwoofer but only have 2 inputs and 2 outputs no link like your amplifier

[kcatal]

hello. thank you for this tutorial. I have 2 passive speakers peavey impulse 500 + 1 crown xls 602 amp + 1 behringer 2642 console + 1 yorkwill active box. how to hook it up correctly. Thanks

[atiosreyes]

Can I connect powered subwoofers to my passive speakers which are connected to an amplifier?

[aleemjabar]

Could I connect a passive subwoofer to a pa speaker via speakon to xlr line out of my pa speaker ?

[kaynediaries]

thank you, learned sumthing important, , , god speed

[corymarcotte]

Don’t forget that some subs will come with hi amp inputs. Connect directly from your amp and then into your speakers.

[MakingmoveswithJohnnyJ]

Would like know how to connect 4 passive speakers, 2 each channel, to a amp, mixer and active sub.

[Marc-fujq]

Will the passive main speakers still take the low frequencies even if the sub has it?