How to get a center channel and subwoofer working together??

[yoda313]

Hi,

I just bought a used subwoofer at a garage sale this morning (monsoon mm1000). For some reason I can't seem to get it to produce just the bass and direct the center channel to my center speaker.

I'm using the creative labs USB LIVE 5.1 adapter. Here it is:



As you can see I'm using the analoge jacks for the individual sets of speakers. The front jacks go to my front speakers (normal desktop stereo speakers). I have the rear going to my rear speakers (again normal desktop stereo speakers). My problem is getting the center and sub channel to split off properly. The output has the center/sub coming from one output off the soundblaster. I've tried numerous hookups but I can only get the center vocals and sub channel through the sub SIMULTANEOUSLY. I've checked the speaker controls on the pc and verified they're still working independently. I just can't get the center channel to split off properly.

Here is what I'm using for the center channel - it is one speaker of a two speaker set from Harmon Kardon (HK 195):





What I've tried to do is hook the audio input jack from the individual harmon kardon speaker to the center/sub output jack from the soundblaster. All I get is the bass in the center channel. However if I hook up a link cable to the subwoofer from the center channel I get the center AND bass going through the subwoofer. Here is the back of the Monsoon subwoofer:



What I can't seem to find is how to get the input to the subwoofer while splitting the vocal center channel to the center speaker.

How I used to do it on my old sub was it had input and output jacks. I would hook the soundblaster center/sub output to the INPUT jack on the sub. Then I would hook the output on the sub to the center channel and it would be proper 5.1 surround sound. Here is my old subwoofer:



If anyone has any suggestions for hooking the new MONSOON subwoofer to my center speaker I would appreciate the advice. Thanks.

Kevin

[thecoalman]

Have you looked to see if there's anyway to configure it in the SB CP? There's a speaker calibration wizard perhaps that will help.

[yoda313]

Hi,

Unfortunately it looks like its a physical problem. Like I said I can change the sliders for Center and Bass and they will change accordingly but they BOTH come out of the SUBWOOFER!!!!

Boy this has been driving me nuts.....

Kevin

[Xylob the Destroyer]

Creative cards do in fact output the subwoofer and center channels through one jack -- the same way it does both front signals from one jack and both rear signals from one jack. basically, the subwoofer is the "left" channel and the center is the "right" channel on this jack (or maybe vice versa)
you need an adapter.
go to Radio Shack.
their site is impossible to navigate, but here's what you need
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?MSCSProfile=745D84CBF04D14A48AA6FF9C89D722C0BA68...t%5Fid=42-2550


figure out which one is sub and which one is center and plug the subwoofer into the "input 1" on your subwoofer.
now you need yet another adapter.
though you didn't show it, I'm assuming your "center" speaker has the usual stereo plug on the end of it's "AUDIO INPUT" cable. get an RCA female to 1/8" female adapter and plug it onto the center channel wire from your Radio Shack cable and then plug your center speaker into it.
I know they make them (I have one), but I can't find it on their site.
if all else fails get one of these: http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?MSCSProfile=745D84CBF04D14A48AA6FF9C89D722C0BA68...t%5Fid=274-330

and one of these: http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?MSCSProfile=745D84CBF04D14A48AA6FF9C89D722C0BA68...%5Fid=274-1555

[yoda313]

Hi,

Thanks xylob. I've been experimenting using a ysplitter off of the center/sub output. However it might not be splitting it properly. I'll try to scrounge up a mini headphone STEREO splitter. Hopefully that will do the trick. Thanks

Kevin

EDIT - Thanks!!!! That worked. I used a headphone splitter jack that took it from the small headphone size to the rca plug and sent that to the subwoofer with one of those rca to headphone jack converters. All I got was bass!!!! Now I need an extra cable to hook up my center channel and walla - 5.1 again! Thanks xylob

Kevin