How to drive a passive subwoofer with a 7.1 receiver ?

You want to drive a passive subwoofer or amplify your Hi-Fi system with real Bi-amplification? Then this little trick will explain you how to do it with "Zone 2" option.

Most of 7.1 receivers have a Zone 2 option which enable them to work in 5.1 + 2.0 for another set of speakers located in another room (really ?)


We'll use that second embedded amplifier to power the bass !

I connected the LFE to DVD IN but any analog input should work.

My subwoofer uses two speakers so there is two ways to drive. You can easily solder a custom cable or buy one in your favourite online store :

Now we are ready to go ! Let's set up everything

I'm using another amp to drive my front speakers

Go in your receiver's menu :
For the main zone, make sure LFE is enabled and your speakers are set to small (setting your front speakers to large will automatically disable LFE when listening to music)

Switch on the "Zone 2" mode. Assign DVD IN (or the other input you plugged in) to Zone 2 and turn the volume up ( not too much ;-)

Here you go, you subwoofer is now powered by your receiver!