Subwoofer connection question

You want to hook the sub RCA inputs to the Preamp output if your pre has an extra one. If the sub has inputs that look like speaker terminals then you can hook your amp speaker output to the sub.
What model is the sub? That may help if someone here has the same sub.

I have a Totem Dreamcatcher sub and I have found out that I do have an extra output on my passive TVC preamp. So I guess the easy answer is to run a speaker cable from my sub inputs to the extra pre-amp output and I should be all good.

Now I am just curious: if my pre did not have an extra set of outputs what would I have done...just run the sub cable from the sub inputs to either the left or right channel speaker outputs?

Dude - your preamp outs are line level RCA connections - you can't run speaker cable from them. You run interconnect cables with RCA connectors from the preamp to the sub - one right, one left.

Alternatively, if your sub has speaker connections (aka binding posts) as well, you could run a second set of speaker cables from your amp's binding posts to those on the sub.

Don't use both methods at the same time by the way.

If your preamp did not have the extra set of outputs you could use the speaker cable connections outlined above (assuming your sub has spaeker connectors or create a virtual second set of preamp outs via the Y-cables that Rlwainwright mentioned.

The jury is still out on what connection method is best.

Is there a chance of running into problems if he is using a long interconnect from the "passive preamp"? I know most subs are anywhere from 3 meters(or even more) from the rack. Will the cable lengths make a difference with a passive instead of active preamp?