what is a subwoofer cable?

[tuongo]

I just got some new speakers and it says I need a subwoofer cable. I looked on amazon and radioshack's websites and it looks like a normal a/v cable. What's the difference? I also see some for $7 and some for over $100. what's the deal there?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

It's just a 75ohm RCA cable. (AV cable)

Sometimes a "subwoofer cable" will be color coded differently and sometimes will be made sturdier as it would tend to be put in harms way more often than a set of AV cables.

Essentially it will make no difference if you use a regular AV cable. Your best bet would be a yellow one (Video) since that should be 75ohms and match up to the subwoofer cable spec.

cablesforless, monoprice, and partsexpress are some good places to get cables online.

 

[tuongo]

cool, thanks. Sounds like marketing for audio noobs like me then.

 

[Auric]

75 ohm coaxial cable can be used universally for "cable TV/sat", composite, component, digital audio, powered subwoofer and even analog audio in short runs between devices (although it is more costly in that case than common analog cables). RG-6 is suitable for video but lighter RG-59 is fine for audio. Only for passive subwoofers and other speakers of higher power and at longer distances can lower gauge wire than those coax standards become preferable.

In short, yeah, any bog common el-cheapo "video" cable is suitable (indeed, often overkill shielding-wise) for powered subs and digital audio. An all too common mistake to be avoided though is using analog cables so the "AV" reference doesn't really apply; "V" sure, but not the "A"

 

[Twinpeaksr]

There are differences in the $7 vs $100. build quality can change considerably, mostly in the connectors though and not the cable. When you spend the extra money you are usually spending it to get better connectors, as has been stated, the cable is pretty much the same.

On the cable, as long as the bandwidth of it can support the frequencies that you are transmitting, there is not an issue.

I would watch out for the super cheap cables, I have seen many of the connectors fail or the plating on them chips off (if there is some on there, I question some). Best bet would be to look for a name you can trust (Monster, Belkin, Acoustic Research, Tera Labs, etc...) and check out Ebay, you can usually get a good one for a good price. Most online vendors will also have them at pretty good prices.

enjoy!

 

[bruceb]

Just use a decent brand of 75 Ohm Coax with Gold Plated connectors installed.
If you can see an open package of the product, it is easy to tell if the connectors
are properly done by the factory .. Monster and Belkin are both very good and
depending on where you buy them, reasonably priced.

I for one, do not think that just better connectors, justifies a cost difference
of over $90 for a piece of cable

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I would have to have a pretty darn good sub before I'd start thinking about a $90 cable for it

 

[The Boston Dangler]

How about this?
http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/subwoofers/subwoofers.html

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
How about this?
http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/subwoofers/subwoofers.html

which one?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Supercube II. I'm kinda disappointed I can only assault my neighbors with about 1 1/2 horsepower. Maybe I should get a second one?

 

[Auric]

Hey, they're cubes for a reason: easy to stack and make a wall.

Every time someone buys Monster Cable an angel loses his wings.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Yeah, I can't stack mine

Hasn't prevented me from thinking about getting another though. Maybe my theater will eventually look like the ruins of ancient greece with columns around the room.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Yeah, I can't stack mine

Hasn't prevented me from thinking about getting another though. Maybe my theater will eventually look like the ruins of ancient greece with columns around the room.

Ha, they'll find a deaf guy in a toga pinned under one of them.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Yeah, I can't stack mine

Hasn't prevented me from thinking about getting another though. Maybe my theater will eventually look like the ruins of ancient greece with columns around the room.

Ha, they'll find a deaf guy in a toga pinned under one of them.

Poor bassicus

 

[Twinpeaksr]

I am kind of partial to http://www.paradigm.com/Website/SitePar...igmModels/UltraCube10/UltraCube10.html

UltraCube 12 in 30 days, make my theater rock!!

 

[ericeash]

actually, these are the subs to get. SVS Subsor you can build one like mine that shakes the foundation. Big Boy Sub

 

[John]

Originally posted by: ericeash
actually, these are the subs to get. SVS Subsor you can build one like mine that shakes the foundation. Big Boy Sub

:thumbsup:

Here are my dual 20-39 CS+ w/ upgraded Plus 12.3 woofers