Another Subwoofer Cable Topic

@guakus My answer was meant to address your question.  Sorry I didn't word it better.  

Here ae my thoughts:  I've used subwoofers with 2 inputs and instructions on which one to use if only one signal provided.  This has to be in the design since many people use 2 subs, one for each channel.  I have never had a problem with a sub unable to perform well with only one input.  As I said above, it just amplifies what is supplied to it.

So if your sub is performing poorly with one input, I'd contact the manufacturer.

Jerry

OP I understand what you said, and I explained WHY. You just proved it. If you look at most of the plate amp wiring the signals are combined in the plate to a mono signal. The difference (as you found out) is the signal strength is doubled if you plug into both L/R. 

There is a difference though. The signal is NOT a complete bass track. PERIOD.
You did not understand ME!. You are playing 1/2 the bass signal IF you only use the LEFT or the RIGHT RCA wire coming out of the head set.  With an LFE signal from a head set (most stereo preamps don't, HT preamps do), BOTH left and right make a LFE signal with a step baffle. It is NOT what is recorded.. DO YOU UNDERSTAND. It is hocus pocus sound effects...

It will play louder for sure, it's just not playing all the music or the way it was mixed.

I use Bass columns and subs. The columns play from 300hz and down to 80hz. If I play the left and right columns they image a THIRD phantom speaker, just like a stereo. WHY? The signal is STEREO not MONO. LFE doesn't work there does it?

You want to make sure you get only 1/2 the information there but deliver it to BOTH left and right inputs. Split the signal you'll be like 1/2 of the DBA crowd. It will smooth out the bass that's there though. :-)

There are a lot of sub makers. 20% are good at it.. 80% have great paint. :-)

NOW decouple your subs and the rest of the speakers. Wait till you hear that difference. :-) Go to Servos subs. Bigger :-) go with Columns. :-) :-) :-)

Have fun.

@carlsbad 

Where is the other signal going? In this configuration, the signal path is being provided by a powered speaker. That speaker has left/right outputs.  They aren't specifically for bass; they're just RCA outputs.  Therefore, they would produce full range.  The speakers are the same manufacturer. So they say just run one RCA down to the sub via one RCA.  However, I am using both.

So, is it that I am doubling down on the same signal and marring bass? Again, why do they put two inputs if you aren't meant to use two?

@oldhvymec 

Sorry, I am on Prednisone and it makes things a bit cloudy. :(

Columns are something I can aspire to in my main system, but not in the office. It's powered bookshelf speakers with a single powered sub. I wanted to upgrade the cable for the sub, but was trying to figure out if I should use two cables or one cable that is split.  I still don't understand why it has two inputs if you aren't meant to use both.

Somewhere, in the annals of the internet(s) I had found an audio discussion where someone explained it. On a basic level, the mono driver requires 2 incoming volts to properly drive. One single RCA output delivers 1 volt of signal. Using that one input will cause the driver to activate and make bass, this is true.  But using both RCA inputs doubles the voltage and the driver functions much better.

That's not how this works. Line level signal output varies from 0 to some number, like 1 or 2 volts, all the time.  That's how analog signals work. It isn't a fixed voltage.

On the receiving end, the sub amp is a voltage amplifier.  That is, whatever input you feed them they multiply it by some amount, minus any loss in a volume pot, to produce the final output.  Subwoofers usually have too much gain to adjust for being fed from 1 or 2 inputs.  If you use 2 lines, at best, you reduce the chance of noise. If 1 line has enough output and there's no noise you have no problem.