Running more than one sub on an Onkyo 805

[tonyvdb]

How does one go about hooking up more than one sub to a receiver that only has one output? Can a person just Y the signal?

[avaserfi]

Using a Y adapter is perfectly okay. The only possible "problem" that could occur is that less voltage from the receiver is being sent to each sub so you might have to turn the gain on the subs up slightly. You will see if this is needed when calibrating your system.

[tonyvdb]

Thanks that was what I thought. I just didn't want to damage anything on the receiver by drawing more power.

[avaserfi]

tonyvdb wrote:

Thanks that was what I thought. I just didn't want to damage anything on the receiver by drawing more power.

No worries, my dad is currently running a Y adapter off his 805 with no problem and has been for the past couple months . It will just split the power between the two.

Great receiver BTW. I am thinking about getting one to use as a pre-amp.

[Ron Temple]

My understanding is that there is no loss of signal using a Y. I had no problems when running duals.

[avaserfi]

Ron Temple wrote:

My understanding is that there is no loss of signal using a Y. I had no problems when running duals.

As far as I understand there is a certain amount of power "loss" or rather split. Since the receiver cannot tell that there is a Y adapter plugged into it so if it only sends out X amount of power to a single sub it will send the same amount to a pair of subs connected through a Y adapter. This means that the power is split when sent over a Y adapter so it can reach both subs. I never said this was really a problem (hence the quotes) as there are a few easy fixes such as turning up the gain on the sub or simply going to the receiver's option for speaker loudness level and turning up the subs. Either way a larger signal will be sent to the split path allowing for no actual loss. The real key is make sure you level match your speakers after using a Y adapter and adding a new sub and you will be fine either way and in reality you should do that any if you are adding a sub anyways.

[salvasol]

I'm using "Y's" to split the signal to my two subs and buttkickers ... and I don't have any problems ... My receiver is an old Sony STR-DE897 and I'm sure your 805 has better specifications than mine ....

[warpdrive]

Yup, splitting the signal is perfectly valid. You may have to change the gain (you just have to recalibrate anyway).

What I would do.
Use a sound meter. Use a fix output gain on your LFE setting. Calibrate each sub's onboard level control to achieve the same SPL using the test tones.
They add the Y splitter, and hook up both subs, and recalibrate again but this time adjust the receiver's gain setting for the sub (don't touch the sub knob)