Speaker Level Output into powered RCA speakers - Will it explode?

[Xionor]

Hi!

I just got a powered subwoofer with RCA inputs but only Speaker Level outputs.
My computer has only 1 output jack which i am connecting to the Subwoofer via Stereo->2xRCA.

I need to transport the rest of the signal to my speakers which have RCA inputs and their own power supply.

If I cut the RCA input wires of the speakers and plug them right into the speaker level outputs, will my powered speakers explode?

 

[adason]

no

 

[Xionor]

Will they produce sound?

 

[NEO Dan]

PC speaker outs are ~5v IIRC, so you should have plenty of signal. Hopefully you have a "good" on board sound codec/chip.

 

[Xionor]

PC speaker outs are ~5v IIRC, so you should have plenty of signal. Hopefully you have a "good" on board sound codec/chip.

What I'm thinking about is, the subwoofer has an in-built 300W amplifier. And Speaker Level output gets Amplified by the subwoofer, right?

Since my speakers also have their own amplifier, won't the signal be too strong for them?

 

[Cal Weldon]

Why don't you split the signal before the sub amp and run half of it to your powered speakers?

 

[Xionor]

Why don't you split the signal before the sub amp and run half of it to your powered speakers?

That is a possible solution but I wanted to get away without having to buy any new cables or splitters.

Reason is i live in Norway and here for a 3.5mm stereo splitter costs $25 and the cheapest RCA cable $20. So i'm trying to do with what I have.

 

[shredhead]

I'm not totally sure I understand what you are doing but if your sub has speaker level outs, that is for when you feed it speaker level ins and it scabs enough signal for line level while it passes the rest through to the mains. So no, you can't do what you're thinking of and get signal. The sub's amp isn't connected to those L&R outs.

Can't you put 2 Y-jacks on the stereo out of your computer and feed it into your main L&R speakers and the sub L&R input? Sorry if I misunderstand what's going on here with your setup, maybe a diagram would help.

 

[Cal Weldon]

if your sub has speaker level outs, that is for when you feed it speaker level ins

Right, no in, no out, It's simple first order high pass though.

So no, you can't do what you're thinking of and get signal. The sub's amp isn't connected to those L&R outs.

Right

Can't you put 2 Y-jacks on the stereo out of your computer and feed it into your main L&R speakers and the sub L&R input?

See my post #6 and his reply.

 

[Xionor]

Hi!

I think I understand now, the Speaker Out is a passthrough for the Speaker In. It won't output signal coming in from Line In, right?

If so then I guess I just need to cash out for a splitter and an extra cable

 

[Cal Weldon]

Yes and yes.

Also, you are now free of moderation so your posts will appear right away.

 

[shredhead]

Hi!

I think I understand now, the Speaker Out is a passthrough for the Speaker In. It won't output signal coming in from Line In, right?

If so then I guess I just need to cash out for a splitter and an extra cable

Yeah, then you're stylin'!

Just make sure that when you connect that sub jack it doesn't make your stereo L&R turn into mono. It shouldn't because your sub input is probably designed to sum L and R without adding to crosstalk but I play it like the Xfiles and trust no one.

 

[Cal Weldon]

Hi!
the Speaker Out is a passthrough for the Speaker In.

The speaker 'in' also powers the sub amp.

 

[cbdb]

Or just supplies signal for the sub amp, no power.

 

[shredhead]

Or just supplies signal for the sub amp, no power.

Agreed. There is a power cord for the sub's amp, right? It's a passthru that steals a line level signal from the L&R speaker level signal to feed the sub's power amp.

 

[Cal Weldon]

Yes, misworded.