My Yamaha HTR-6140 Has a Subwoofer Output: Does it Need Another Amplifier?
- Yamaha recommends purchasing a separate powered subwoofer. To install it, connect it to the HTR-6140's subwoofer output with a single channel male-to-male RCA cable and provide A/C power to the subwoofer.
- A subwoofer is a three-part signal chain. Part one of the chain is an audio filter that separates the lowest frequencies from the rest of the audio. Part two is a single-channel audio power amplifier. Part three is a large speaker mounted in a cabinet. The HTR-6140 terminates at part one: it puts out a low-power, high impedance subwoofer signal that must be amplified. In contrast, its five other speaker channel connections are all amplified, speaker-level outputs.
- An all-in-one powered subwoofer is recommended.2.1 home theatre sound system. Isolated on white. image by diter from Fotolia.com
To complete the subwoofer piece of your Yamaha HTR-6140 home theater sound system, you must add parts two and three, the external amplifier and speaker. Your options are to install a single all-in-one powered subwoofer that combines parts two and three in a single unit, or to add two separate components: a passive subwoofer speaker cabinet and power amplifier. The Yamaha HTR-6140 Owner's Manual suggests that you choose the simpler option, a powered or "active" subwoofer.
