3 ways - how to connect a subwoofer to a standard radio

1. How to connect tulips to a subwoofer amplifier
2. Cable for connecting the subwoofer to the radio
3. Connection diagram for a subwoofer with a built-in amplifier
4. Connecting a subwoofer to a car radio
5. Connection diagram for subwoofer to radio without amplifier
6. Subwoofer line connection

The low-frequency speaker system provides deep and rich bass sound. For proper operation of the speaker, it is important to connect the system to the sound source and power supply. Correct connection of the subwoofer must be done with special cables of the appropriate cross-section. This will ensure high-quality sound and eliminate the possibility of short circuits.

How to connect tulips to a subwoofer amplifier

Automotive low-frequency systems can be passive or active. A passive bass speaker is a powerful low-frequency speaker installed in a cabinet. This design can be connected to the output of a low-frequency system or directly to the car's stereo system. In order to highlight the low-frequency range and cut off frequencies not intended for reproduction by the bass speaker, the passive system is connected through an LC crossover filter. To get high-quality sound, you need to know how to connect the wires to the subwoofer.

RCA or “Tulip” connectors are often used for interconnecting consumer electronic devices. Connecting a subwoofer through tulips is quick and easy, since such connectors do not have rotary or threaded fasteners. Simply insert the plug into the appropriate socket. The disadvantage of this connection is its low reliability. Low quality Tulip connectors often lose contact due to oxidation of live parts. There are also frequent cases when they come out of their seats due to strong vibration and shaking.

Listening and impressions

Finally, quick listening is behind us, and you can slowly, comfortably and deliberately evaluate the results of the tuning.

Do you remember what happened when you were a child? You want some toy, you dream, you save money... Sooner or later you buy it. Joy! But then it turns out that this toy is even cooler than you imagined. Delight!

This is exactly the feeling I experienced. The sound picture became full, rich, deep and voluminous. My fears that the localization of the sub would ruin the imaginary scene were dispelled at that very moment. Everything happened exactly the opposite: the outlines of the instruments became even more tangible than before. Magic, no less!

In the compositions with a vocal part, another surprise awaited me: the vocalists’ voices received good, weighty support. Even in the case of female vocals, the changes are obvious: against the background of massive and precise processing of low frequencies, female vocals are perceived completely differently.

It is difficult to describe all the impressions of changes in sound, since in each composition nuances that were previously inaccessible come to light. This is the case when you want to listen to the entire music library again. Which is exactly what I'll do.

In the evening, when I began to feel pleasantly tired, I decided to turn off the subwoofer and listen to how it was before. I won’t describe my impressions for a long time - I’ll just say that it didn’t last long. The sound I was striving for starts after turning on the subwoofer.

A few words about the neighbors: at a volume that is comfortable for me, the subwoofer diffuser does not even reach its characteristic amplitude of oscillations. At the same time, its contribution to the overall sound of the system makes most of the floor-standing speakers that I have ever heard nervous. But by no means neighbors.

Cable for connecting the subwoofer to the radio

Passive and active devices can be connected to the car radio. The only difference is that in a passive acoustic system, the output signal from the music center goes directly to the speaker, and in an active system, the sound signal from the output of the radio goes to the input of the built-in bass unit.

You need to connect the subwoofer speaker to the car radio with wires specifically designed for this purpose. It is not recommended to use electric or low current cables. To properly connect the subwoofer to the radio, only one signal cable is used.

The car's music system has output connectors on the rear wall that are labeled “AudioOut”, “A-Out”, “SpeakerOut” or something else, but the “Out” designation must be present. In addition, the connectors are marked with the letters “L” and “R”, which means left and right channels, respectively. To properly connect a sub, you need to use the output of one of the channels. This can be the left or right channel. In order to avoid possible disconnection of connectors, the cable is firmly fixed in any possible way.

Types of low-frequency audio speakers

A subwoofer is a sound speaker made to reproduce the improved properties of low frequencies that are not available to ordinary audio speakers of standard car equipment. Subwoofers are divided according to their types:

The active subwoofer has a built-in amplifier to remove low-frequency loads from the main amplifier of the car acoustics. Also, its own crossover (a device for dividing frequencies into high, mid, low, etc.), which simplifies the coordination of the subwoofer with the acoustics of the standard radio.

Connection diagram for a subwoofer with a built-in amplifier

It is more difficult to connect an active subwoofer to the radio, since in addition to the signal wire you will need a power cable. To properly connect the sound system, you need to know where to connect the power cable of the subwoofer amplifier. The subwoofer connection diagram is not difficult, but certain rules for connecting devices must be followed.

The connection between the subwoofer and the amplifier consists of three cable lines. The supply voltage from the battery is supplied to the low-frequency blocking device via the power wire, the signal from the output of the car radio is supplied to the input via the signal wire, and the body or “Ground” of the amplifier is connected to the ground of the car.

The subwoofer is connected to the positive terminal of the battery only through a fuse. Its rating depends on the cable cross-section, which, in turn, is determined by the power of the low-frequency channel. With a wire cross-section of 10 mm2, the fuse should be no more than 60 A; a cable cross-section of 20 mm2 allows the use of a 100 A fuse. A smaller value can be installed, but a larger one cannot be installed, as this can lead to a fire in the event of a short circuit of the positive cable to the housing.

Is it possible to connect the subwoofer directly to the battery. This is absolutely impossible to do, because short circuits in wiring cause more than half of all fires in cars. There are two types of fuses for connecting subwoofer power: AGU and ANL. The second type is much more reliable, so if you have a choice, then you should use it. The distance from the positive terminal of the battery to the fuse should not exceed 30 cm.

Where to install

The question of where is the best place to install a sub can turn into a problem: a successful solution is directly related to the model range of the car. The main nuance comes down not only to the settings stage, but also to finding a place for the amplifier.

Owners of a minivan or hatchback often stop at the trunk, since it has exaggerated parameters. With any sedan the situation is a little more complicated: there the device needs to be connected through the armrests or fixed on the shelf in the back. A convertible will be considered the most uncomfortable body type: such cars have a limited trunk volume, and turning on the subwoofer can be a big nuisance from a technical standpoint.

Connecting a subwoofer to a car radio

The subwoofer is connected to the car stereo using interconnect cables. They have a small cross-section and can be terminated with different types of connectors. In addition to the signal cable through which the sound signal is transmitted, the radio has a “REM” contact. This is a remote control line that allows you to control the power supply to the amplifier. Many people do not use remote power switching, but use a regular toggle switch for manual control. Subwoofer connection photo circuit.

Which radios can you connect a subwoofer to? Usually this is not of fundamental importance, since all models have output connectors for an external amplifier or speakers. To understand where to connect the subwoofer to the radio, just look at its back wall. All connectors there are marked with appropriate symbols. The connectors responsible for input signals are marked with the letters “IN”, the connectors for connecting an external amplifier or speakers are marked with the letters “OUT”, the supply voltage is supplied to the “+12 V” terminal, the “GND” terminal is connected to the vehicle ground. The REM wire can be used to turn on the LF system or use manual control. The connection diagram for the subwoofer to the radio includes only the output wires from which the sound signal is removed.

Terminology:

• Maximum sound pressure. Maximum subwoofer volume.
• Frequency range (Hz). The frequency range of the subwoofer can be divided into the area of ​​deep bass 20-40 Hz, medium bass 40-80 Hz, high bass 80-160 Hz. Top models from leading manufacturers can reach listeners with frequencies of 20-80 Hz. Higher frequencies usually rely on the stereo pair.
• Crossover (cutoff) frequency. The frequency at which the spectrum is divided by the crossover. If the subwoofer has a crossover frequency of 80 Hz, then all components with frequencies above 80 Hz will be attenuated and transmitted to the speaker system, but the quality of the acoustics plays a role here.
• Sensitivity (dB). The more sensitive the dynamics, the less the amplifier is loaded, the greater the sound pressure it produces at the same power.

The subwoofer formula is that the larger the area, and therefore the size of the diffuser, the more powerful and organic the bass.

The dimensions of the subwoofer are quite large. Basically, the subwoofer body is cubic in shape and made of standard materials for acoustics, for example MDF board made from wood fiber chips, made at high pressure and temperature. You can also find cylindrical and spherical systems, but they are not widely used. The low-frequency diffuser is located inside the subwoofer housing, and it is worth noting that the stroke of the speaker emitter can reach up to 7 centimeters! Subwoofers are divided into active and passive. The active ones already have an amplifier with them, and the passive one needs to be connected to a separate sound amplifier, the function of which is to amplify and transmit the signal to your Hi-Fi equipment (acoustic speakers, home theater speakers).

The main thing is your perception of the music and your feelings. Rely on them, and the chosen acoustics will delight you every time you listen. With the right choice, even inexpensive components can achieve maximum quality; all that is needed is a balance between them.

Connection diagram for subwoofer to radio without amplifier

Connecting a subwoofer directly to the radio is easy even for an inexperienced user. Standard acoustic speakers are connected to the radio via a rectangular Euro connector, which is installed on the rear wall of the device. For additional speakers, front and rear “Tulip” type connectors are used. You can connect the subwoofer to the radio using a standard cable designed for speaker systems. Since the output power of the car radio is small, you can use wires from a ready-made kit to connect the subwoofer to the radio. Conveniently, they are already equipped with “Tulips”. How does a subwoofer play without an amplifier in a car? You should immediately note that connecting the subwoofer directly to the car radio will not provide normal sound. The connection diagram for a passive subwoofer to the radio is limited to one cable line.

The output power of the low-frequency channel built into the radio cannot ensure the effective operation of the low-frequency speaker. The passport for the device indicates that the power of the car radio is 15-20 WRMSTHD 10%. This means maximum sine wave power at 10% THD. With such distortions, listening to music is undesirable, as it is harmful to hearing. A distortion factor of 0.5% is considered the norm, but the output power of the radio should be significantly less. Therefore, when connecting a subwoofer directly, the level of low frequency reproduction will be low.

Determining the power of the audio system in a car

Calculating the power of the audio system will allow you to choose the right power cable. To do this, you need to know the rated power of all amplifiers installed in the car. You can look it up in the instructions or find it by the name of the active subwoofer or amplifier on the Internet.

If, in addition to the subwoofer, an amplifier is also installed on the speakers, the power of all amplifiers should be summed up.

For example, your car has 2 amplifiers. The first is for a subwoofer with a power of 300 W, the second is a 4-channel with a channel power of 100 W, installed on speakers. We calculate the total power of the audio system: 4 x 100 W = 400 W + subwoofer 300 W. The result is 700 W.

It is for this power that we will select the power wire; if in the future your audio system is replaced with more powerful components, we advise you to choose wires with a reserve.

How to connect a subwoofer

The connection diagram of a passive subwoofer to an amplifier in a car is determined by its location and the type of speaker system. For the low-frequency channel to work correctly, it must be connected through a storage capacitor.

A large capacitor plays the role of an additional source of electrical energy. This is necessary for the following reason. The voltage of a car battery is an almost constant value that can decrease, but never increases beyond a certain limit. When playing powerful bass, the current consumption of the system increases so much that even the most powerful car battery is not able to provide it. Despite the large thickness of the wires connecting the audio devices and the power source, there is a voltage drop across them. At such moments, the sound in the low-frequency acoustic system disappears. In the circuit for connecting a subwoofer through an amplifier, a powerful capacitor is connected in parallel with the amplifier and the car battery. When there is a lack of voltage, it almost instantly transfers the energy stored in advance to the amplifier and there are no sound drops. In addition, the storage capacitor protects the woofer and reduces distortion.

In the circuit for connecting a passive subwoofer to a low-frequency channel, the relative position of the elements plays an important role. Since in most cases the low-frequency speaker system is located in the luggage compartment of the car, a capacitor must also be installed there. The wires from the LF unit to the drive should be as short as possible. Since the battery is usually located at the front of the car under the hood, the power cables must be thick enough to handle the large current. The wiring diagram for a subwoofer in a car necessarily includes a fuse. It does not protect the amplifier, since it has its own fuse, but only the cable wiring from possible fire. In the event of a short circuit, the thick wires will heat up so much that the insulation will ignite and a fire in the car is inevitable.

Laying wires

Fixing the power cables and supplying audio signals becomes the initial plank during the adjustments made. Before starting installation, you should decide on the initial location for setting up the amplifier: according to the standard rule, the cable should be laid under 300 mm (including the spare part), and the laying itself should be left under the interior trim. At the same time, the wire can be connected to the battery terminals or to the power cable of standard electrical wiring (as an additional option).

A protective fuse must be fixed in the circuit: the installation point must guarantee free access for careful examination or replacement. If, when trying to connect a capacitor, the gasket needs to be directed through the body partition, then it should be routed to non-standard channels. If they are missing, it is recommended to create holes protected with special plastic clips.

Subwoofer wires should not come into direct contact with sharp metal edges, be pinched by sheathing, or be located in areas susceptible to condensation damage.

Grounding

Correctly connecting the ground or negative power wire can be done in parallel with the positive wire setting. To install the cable in question, it is recommended to use special bolts that are in the car (on the body).

To achieve good contact performance, you need to thoroughly clean the metal from any signs of corrosion, paint residues and primer.

The edge of the wire must be supplemented with a special terminal, which is secured as tightly as possible with a nut.

Subwoofer line connection

Sometimes a stereo ULF is used for a low-frequency system. Often household appliances are updated and the old low-frequency unit is used to connect the speaker system. In this case, to properly connect the subwoofer, you need to assemble a simple circuit, which is a voltage divider and a channel mixer. The signal is taken directly from the amplifier's outputs, so its output voltage must be limited.

To connect the wires to the subwoofer, a well-insulated speaker cable is used. This method is also used if the standard car radio does not have an audio output for connecting external speakers. You can make a linear converter yourself or purchase a finished product. When using a ready-made converter, you do not need to connect the wires to the adapter. It is better to install the converter in close proximity to the radio.

List of required components

To begin with, let’s decide on a general list of parts, namely their name and function, and then give a recommendation for selection.

1. Power wire. Supplies power from the battery to the amplifier. For a medium-sized sedan you will need 5 m of “plus” and 1 m of “minus”. You can get more accurate dimensions by measuring your car yourself.
2. Bulb with fuse. An important component. Serves as protection in the event of a short circuit in the power cable.
3. Terminals. Allows you to simplify the connection of power wires to the battery and car body. You will need 2 pcs. ring type. If the connection to the amplifier is on the blades, you will need 2 more pieces. fork type.
4. Tulips and control wire. Transmits an audio signal from the radio to the amplifier. Can come complete with interconnect cables or be purchased separately.
5. Speaker wire. Transfers an improved signal from the amplifier to the subwoofer. You will need 1-2 m. If you have an active subwoofer, this wire will not be needed.
6. Additionally, a distributor may be needed if two amplifiers are installed.

Turning off Demo mode

Immediately after purchasing and connecting the radio, you should figure out how to disable the demo mode, intended for displaying the device in the store. It is possible to use the radio in this mode, but it is inconvenient, since when you turn it off, the backlight does not go out, and inscriptions with various information run across the display.

Disabling demo mode is very simple:

• We go to the hidden menu by turning off the radio and holding down the SRC button.
• In the menu, turn the wheel to reach the DEMO item.
• Switch demo mode from ON to OFF.
• Exit the menu using the BAND button.

You can also set the date and time in the hidden menu by going to the System section. The time display is switched here (12/24 hour mode). Then open the “Clock Settings” item and turn the wheel to set the time. In the System section there is also a language setting (English/Russian).

Thus, after purchasing a modern Pioneer model, you can easily set up the radio yourself. By correctly adjusting the audio parameters, you can achieve very high-quality sound even from a simple audio system and get a good sound picture at minimal cost.

Radio setup

Even your favorite music recorded on a flash drive or USB drive can get boring over time. Therefore, many car enthusiasts like to listen to the radio while driving. Setting up the radio correctly on the Pioneer radio is not difficult and can be done in just a few steps - you just need to select a band, find and save stations.

There are three ways to configure the radio:

• Automatic search for stations. To do this, you need to find the BSM item in the settings menu and run a search. The car radio will find the station with the highest frequency in the radio range and stop - it can be saved by pressing the button with the number 1-6. Next, the search for stations will continue in the direction of decreasing frequency. If nothing is found, in the hidden settings menu you can change the search step from 100 kHz to 50 kHz.
• Semi-automatic search. While in radio mode, you need to hold down the “right” button. A range scan will start and a search will occur, the same as in automatic mode.
• Manual setting. By short pressing the right button in radio mode, you can switch to a specific frequency. The station is then stored in memory.

When all 6 preset stations are full, you can switch to the next memory section. There are 3 of them in total. In this way, you can save up to 18 radio stations.