How to connect a kenwood powered subwoofer to a 7.1 onkyo receiver

You need a RCA sub-woofer cable (analog mono) to connect between the receiver's sub-woofer Pre Out and the sub-woofer. This cable has a single RCA plug at each end of the cable. The cable is somewhat thicker than some audio RCA cables. You can use any RCA cable temporarily.

The manual for the HT-R758 is available from Onkyo here: https://onkyousa.com/ht-r758 . The current link to the manual is https://assets.onkyo-av.com/product-manuals/HT-S6500_English_2022-11-02-204020_ivkn.pdf?v=1667421620 . See page EN-13 (page 13 of the PDF) for connecting to the subwoofer. The original package came with a 10' RCA sub-woofer cable, see page EN-1 (page 81 of the PDF) for the speaker list.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

It seems like you've tried various connections and settings to get your JBL135 subwoofer working with your Kenwood receiver, but you're still facing issues. Let's break down the situation and provide some recommendations:

1. Subwoofer Connection:
   • Using the LFE/Subwoofer Out: This is the preferred method for connecting a subwoofer. Ensure that the cable is firmly connected to both the subwoofer's LFE input and the receiver's Subwoofer Out port. Make sure you have enabled the subwoofer output in the receiver's settings menu.
2. Subwoofer Settings:
   • Gain: Adjust the gain knob on the subwoofer to achieve the desired bass level. Experiment with different settings to find the right balance.
   • Crossover: Set the crossover frequency on the subwoofer to blend with your tower speakers. Start with a conservative setting, such as 80Hz, and adjust as needed.
3. Receiver Settings:
   • Speaker Configuration: Set your tower speakers to "Small" in the receiver's settings menu to redirect bass frequencies to the subwoofer. This ensures that the tower speakers are not trying to reproduce deep bass.
   • Bass Management: Enable the appropriate bass management settings in the receiver's menu, which typically includes crossover frequency and speaker size adjustments.
4. Check Subwoofer Cable and Port:
   • Ensure that the subwoofer cable is in good condition and securely connected to both the subwoofer and receiver.
   • Try using a different cable or testing the subwoofer with another receiver if possible to rule out cable or port issues.
5. Factory Reset:
   • If you've exhausted all troubleshooting steps, you may consider performing a factory reset on your Kenwood receiver. This will reset all settings to their default values, potentially resolving any configuration issues.

If none of the above suggestions work, it's advisable to consult the user manual for your specific Kenwood receiver model or contact Kenwood customer support for further assistance. They can provide more detailed guidance based on your equipment and setup.

Get a RCA cable and connect from your amp where it said Sub Woofer in the Pre Out box in the back of the amplifier top left hand side and take it to the "Sub In" located in the back of your Sub woofer bottom right hand (White round connector).
Good Luck!

If you receiver has tape monitor outputs, you can hook the sub up to those.

It sounds like you're doing everything right. Did you define the sub to the Onkyo (Subwoofer = Yes, page 22)?

Let's prove the sub works. Set its volume about half-way, cutoff= 170Hz. Temporarily connect an RCA cable from its Line Input to one of the Tape Out connectors on the Onkyo and play some FM through it. If it's alive you'll hear the low end of the music.

Don't buy into the hype that there are different pedigrees of RCA (or speaker) cables that will make an audible difference. Save your money.

Unfortunately can't connect it that way. The pre out is only meant to go directly into an amplifier that has all of the same inputs (front/rear, center and surround), not a standard receiver. (Pre amp to amp only, not pre amp to receiver) If your Onkyo doesn't have all the same inputs as your Kenwood preamp has outputs you will just use your standard left/right outputs from the Kenwood to your Onkyo input (CD, Tape, Phono,DVD etc) then use the outputs (front/rear, center and surround) from your Onkyo receiver and connect directly to your speakers..

best way is threw the LFE or subwoofer pre out on the back of the reciever. it uses a standard rca cable.

a single male rca spliting into 2 male rca's ....a signal splitter

I believe the sub output that uses a RCA plug is not amplified and wouldn't work in your case.