Connecting the AR ARS500 Subwoofer

Connecting the AR ARS500 Subwoofer

Your only connections are to the Subwoofers Audio Input jacks. Do not try to use the Subwoofers Output to Speakers terminal. If your pre-amp or processor has a Subwoofer or Mono Output jack that is controlled by the master volume control, use a single audio cable to connect that output to the Subwoofers Left Audio In jack. This connection is preferred due to improved signal isolation and reduced cable effects, but otherwise will give results identical to the connections described above.

Polarity: All speakers in a system have to be connected with the same polarity Speaker wire is marked for polarity so that at each end, you can tell which wire in the pair is which Polarity is shown by a color stripe on the insulation of one conductor, by ridges molded into the insulation of one conductor, by different insulation colors, or by the colors of the wires, one copper and one silver.

Important! When you connect your equipment using speaker wires, always connect the red (+) terminal on a speaker the red (+) terminal on the Subwoofer, and the black (-) terminal on a speaker to the black (-) terminal on the Subwoofer. The same is true for connecting the Subwoofer to the Amplifier, red (+) to red (+), and black (-) to black (-). When you make connections, make sure that the power switches of all components, including the Subwoofer, are set to OFF.

Option 1: Subwoofer connection with Speaker Level Inputs.

Note: This is usually the easiest way to connect your Subwoofer.

1. Connect speakers wires from the Amplifiers Front left and Right speaker outputs to the Subwoofers "Speaker Inputs from Amplifier" terminals. Connect Left channel to Left, and Right channel to Right. Be sure to observe polarity!
2. Connect speaker wires from the Subwoofers "Output to Speakers" terminals to each Front speaker. Connect Left channel to Left, and Right channel to Right, again, observe polarity!

Option 2: Subwoofer connection with RCA type audio cables.

Note: This connection usually provides the highest possible sound quality.

Stereo Systems (two channel): Using RCA type audio cables for your connections means that you will have to use "Y" adapters to feed the output signals from you rpre-amp to the Subwoofer and to the power amplifier at the same time. Connect ta pair of audio cables from the pre-amps output jacks (if necessary, through "Y" adapters) to the Subwoofers "Normal Input" jacks. Connect Left channel to Left, and Right channel to Right.

Surround Sound Systems: Most newer surround sound amplifiers and virtually all Dolby Digital/AC3* amplifier/processors have dedicated Subwoofer outputs. If this is the case with your system, please do the following:

1. Use a single RCA type cable and connect on end to the surround amplifier/processors "Sub Out" connector and attached the other end to the Subwoofers "LFE Direct" input. This connection will use the internal crossover circuitry in the surround amplifier/processor. You may also use the "Normal Input".