How Do I ... Run Unpowered Subwoofer Audio?
Unpowered subwoofers are just big speakers. You can use regular speaker wire for them. Since they are relatively high-power, you will want to use heavy gauge wire. At least as big as you used for your other home-theater speakers, if not larger.
If your amplifier does not have a powered subwoofer output, you can use a separate amplifier. See our
P2100.
The wiring for connecting an unpowered subwoofer varies depending on the subwoofer, your main amplifier, and your subwoofer amplifier (if separate.) Refer to the instructions that come with those devices.
To bring powered subwoofer signals through a wallplate, use
5-Way binding posts or bananna jacks.
Note: It is not possible to run unpowered subwoofer signals through coax or cat5 cable. (Without amplifying them out at the subwoofer. Then you are essentially creating a powered subwoofer.)
Powered subwoofer level audio is the subwoofer signalbeforeit's amplified to speaker level. It is a specific form of line-level audio. For information on how to transmit line level audio over coax, see