Rear speaker does not connect

I was trying to find an owner's manual or picture of the rear panel of the sub, but had no luck. The subwoofer is a powered type - or "active" speaker. This means it has a built in amplifier. These active subs usually provide for one or both "low level" and "high level" inputs. Low level signals are usually carried by shielded coaxial cables and have RCA type plugs on the end. The low level is also called "line level". This is an un-amplified signal that might be heard on cheap earphones - but that's about it. It is similar to the output of a tape deck, DVD or phonograph. These signals require an amplifier to be heard. If you have a sub woofer output on your receiver or amplifier, you could run a patch cable between the low level input on the subwoofer and the subwoofer output of the amp or receiver. You receiver or amp may call this output "low frequency effects" or similar. The front and rear speakers would then connect directly to the receiver or amp's corresponding connections.

If you lack low level outputs on the amp or subwoofer, you'll need to run speaker wires from the amplifier or receiver's front left and right speaker output terminals to the subwoofer's high level input terminals. High level signals are speaker connections or amplified signals. These are typically connections that accept bare wire connections. The front speakers would then connect to the subwoofer's front left and right speaker output terminals. The rear speakers connect to the amplifier.

I hope this helps - and good luck!

Hi there, the Pioneer VSX-815 amplifier only feeds out a mono LINE LEVEL output with the subwoofer signal. Therefore you would need to connect the SUB PREOUT jack at the rear of the unit to the "line level input" on a self-powered subwoofer. Hope this helps.. Cheers, Yusuf

If you only have 2 sets of pre-outs, you will either have to split the fronts into front and rear channels and use the other for a subwoofer signal, or else utilize an equalizer or other preamp that separates out a sub channel. I have an Alpine EQ that I send one stereo pair into, and it sends out front, rear, and sub outs. That allows for front/rear fade, and independent sub level adjustment.

Know Your Speaker SystemGenerally in systems all the cables from the speakers are connected to the subwoofer which comes with a set of wires to connect, that includes : a power cord to connect the system to the AC outlet, a power connector to feed the subwoofer and the subwoofer wires. Your system should come with at least three set of cables for connecting your speaker system to your PC. These cables are usually colored to help with the installation.

Start ConnectingYou should connect the cables matching the colors on the jacks located on the subwoofer. After connecting all these cable, its time to connect the rest of the cables like power, subwoofer and speakers. This is very easy if you pay attention to the subwoofer connection then you’d be able to follow the polarity that is written on the connectors. In the end, all your cables would be connected perfectly.

The above pic shows you all the ports to connect the wires to with all the color coded mannerism.
Knowing Your ComputerAll computers have atleast three connectors

• Line-In.
• Line-out.
• Mic.

Computers with six channel audio systems have two more connectors, i.e

• rear out.
• center/subwoofer out.

You’ll need to make sure if you have these extra connecters by checking the back side of your computer.

If your computer doesn’t have these two extra outputs: rear out and center/subwoofer out, it’s a disadvantage, you’d be able to connect your 5.1 anyway but you would require to use the line in and mic-in plugs as an alternative. Of course there is a really big disadvantage in using this configuration: you cannot use your microphone or line in inputs and your 5.1 speaker system at the same time. This is the reason that you should buy a motherboard with 5.1 system built in.
Configuration Of Computers With 5.1 Supporting Motherboards

• Front cable: To Line out.
• Rear cable: To the Rear-Out
• Center/Subwoofer cable : To Center/Subwoofer Out.

Configuration Of Computers Without 5.1 Supporting Motherboards

• Front cable: To Line-out.
• Rear cable: To Line in.
• Center/Subwoofer cable: To Mic-in.

Software ConfigurationAfter every single connection has been made, its time to setup audio configuration in operating system. Since we had Realtec drivers on our PC, Double clicking it opened up Speaker Configuration tab. In various options you should select 6 channel mode for 5.1 speaker output and check Only surround-kit if your PC has the separated rear and center/subwoofer outputs and leave it if you don’t.

Now everything is done, you are completely ready to enjoy surround sound experience and don’t forget to leave comments if you find this post useful.

Sounds like you have
1) the rear speaker cable is plugged into the wrong colored hole
2) the audio software thinks you have a subwoofer, but you don't? Check on the audio software for ways to configure the speakers, the latest chips auto-detect when you plug in a cable, and ask you what that was you plugged in.

Here are the directions according to the manual:

1 Use MULTI-CONTROL to select
SW CONTROL.
2 Press MULTI-CONTROL to display the
setting mode.
# Press BACK to return to the previous display.
3 Press MULTI-CONTROL to select the segment
you wish to set.
Press MULTI-CONTROL repeatedly to switch
the segment in the following order:
REAR SP (rear speaker setting)—PREOUT
(RCA output setting)
4 Use MULTI-CONTROL to select the desired
setting.
Turn to change the setting.
When REAR SP (rear speaker setting) is selected.
REAR SP:SUB W(subwoofer)—REAR SP:FULL
(full-range speaker)
When PREOUT (RCA output setting) is selected.
PREOUT:SUB W (subwoofer)—PREOUT:REAR
(full-range speaker)
# When no subwoofer is connected to the rear
output, select REAR SP:FULL.

Hope this helps.

For the rear surround speakers to work, the sound must be encoded in surround sound, and most games, if any, are not. The amp doesn't 'see' and information encoded in the sound signal for the rear speakers, therefore you get no sound.

Hope this helps, and please rate my advice.
Thank you, and good luck!!

Hey there Subaquakid, the nature of surround systems is to identify separate extra channels of information and send them to the right address, being the selected speaker. In order for the rear speakers to work they need to be sent a signal. The media which you are using may not have the rear channel encoded. therefore the rear speakers have nothing to announce. Please ensure your source cd has the suround feature encoded. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

OK, the fix for the missing rear speaker sound on the DELL WL6000 5.1 Surround Speaker System is relatively simple, just 7 simple steps (Verified by Dell at http://support2.jp.dell.com/docs/acc/P121646/multlang/srg/DAO/srg_dao.pdf..

First, power down everything. Second, disconnect the rear speaker and subwoofer from the power source and wait about 5 minutes. Third, be sure the power switch is off on subwoofer and the center speaker. Fourth, plug in the power for the subwoofer but DO NOT turn on the power yet. Fifth, plug in the rear speaker power cord. Sixth, turn on the swtich on the subwoofer (this is the start of the resync mode). Seventh, turn on the center speaker power and the system will change the rear speaker system LED from flashing blue to solid blue in 5-8 seconds. The surround system is functioning again. You may test this under sound in the Control Panel but I would prefer to use a modern music CD that has Dolby Digital Support for 5.1 sound or better. YOU WILL HEAR INSTANTLY THE SOUND DIFFERENCE WHEN THE REAR SPEAKERS ARE CONNECTED.