Home theater subwoofer setup (2024)

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ight, well-defined and, yes, DEEP bass is a key component of any home theater. A powered subwoofer is a must for bringing those explosions, crashes, and other big-time action to life. Here's how to hook it up and dial it in.

1. How to connect your subwoofer to your receiver

All powered subwoofers require two connections: power and signal.

For power, you just need a nearby outlet. We highly recommend plugging your sub into a power protection device to guard against surges.

For the signal, use a subwoofer cable to connect your receiver’s subwoofer output to the LFE (low frequency effect) input on the sub.

Many stereo receivers and amps also have subwoofer outputs for these connections. Don't have an LFE option? See our bonus tip below.

2. How to choose the right place for your sub

Typically you should try and put the subwoofer near your front speakers. But let’s be honest: most people put their subwoofer wherever they have room. And that’s not necessarily a bad idea.

The low-frequency waves we hear as “bass” are less directional than higher frequencies generated by full-range speakers. That means that even if the subwoofer isn’t close to your TV, your ears will have trouble telling the difference.

Some manufacturers recommend placing your sub in a corner. The walls can help bounce more waves back toward the seating areas. If you’re after very full, exciting bass response, this is a good option.

If you have a few placement options and a long enough subwoofer cable, you may want to experiment with different placement options. Fire up some music with some good bass. Then sit in your primary seat and listen. Does the bass sound weak? Or maybe too boomy?

Now move to a couple of different spots and listen. You’ll probably notice that the bass can sound very different as you change locations.

To tailor the bass to your “sweet spot” use the popular method known as “crawling.” Start with the subwoofer at or near your primary listening position. Then stand in different spots the sub could go and listen to your chosen sample music. When you find a spot where the bass sounds just right, that’s where you should put your sub.

Not enough bass? Try two subs

If you have a very large room that’s bass-challenged, we recommend adding a second subwoofer. It’s the best option for evenly distributing bass response in a large space. Most newer receivers offer a second subwoofer output for connection. Or you can simply use a Y-adapter.

For some suggestions and diagrams of speaker setups for different floor plans, check out our article on home theater speaker placement.

3. Tweak it

Most receivers include a calibration microphone to optimize the performance of your speakers. Usually, these room correction systems do a very good job of adapting the sound to your surroundings. Check out our Home theater receiver setup guide for more info and to watch a video about auto calibration.

But what if your receiver doesn’t have auto calibration? Or you’ve tried it and still aren't completely satisfied? You can make some manual adjustments.

Setting speaker size — Go into your receiver’s settings menu and find the speaker setup. There will be a size setting for your front left and right speakers. This actually has less to do with the physical size of your speaker. It's more about bass management.

Try setting the speakers to “small,” even if you’re using floor-standing speakers. The “small” setting will send more of the low frequencies to the subwoofer.

Crossover — Setting the speaker size automatically sets a crossover point. But you can fine-tune it manually. For bookshelf speakers, you’ll want a crossover frequency around 120 Hz. For large tower speakers, try 60 Hz.

Phase switch — If your sub still feels a little off, your subwoofer may be out of phase with your speakers. Most subs have a two-position phase switch on the back. Toggle it to the other setting and see if you get better bass.

Level control — Most subs have independent volume controls. It’s an easy way to get a little more oomph or dial back a particularly loud soundtrack. You may need to make adjustments from movie to movie.

Put your sub on a platform — If your floor, walls, and ceiling vibrate to the beat of your sub, you get unwanted resonances that color the sound of your bass. To stop the vibrations, place your sub on a sound-absorbing platform.

Bonus tip

What if my receiver doesn’t have a sub output or my sub has no LFE input?

Depending on your available connections, you may be able connect your sub using one of the following two options:

To use stereo preamp-level connections, you may have to switch your sub out of LFE mode.

With some subs, you can connect your receiver's front speaker outputs to the sub's speaker-level inputs, and then connect your front speakers to the sub's speaker outputs.

Our tech support team is here to help

If you purchase your home theater gear from Crutchfield, our Virginia-based Tech Support team can help you with setup, connections, and fine-tuning. Give them a call at the phone number found on your invoice and shipping confirmation email.

Need help choosing a powered subwoofer?

Need help choosing a sub? Check out our Subwoofers buying guide. Or contact us today.