Setting up openback headphones with a subwoofer.

[Loppysaurus]

Hello everyone, I am trying to use my Sennheiser HD 598 SE (running through a fiio 17k alpen 2 using my PC as a source via SPDIF) with a subwoofer (https://www.amazon.com/Polk-10-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer-Single/dp/B0002KVQBA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510063391&sr=8-3&keywords=polk+subwoofer) and I was wondering how I could accomplish this, someone on another site told me I could use a Y adapter coming out of my fiio, with one signal going to my headphones and the other going to a 3.5mm to RCA cable that goes to the subwoofer. Is this safe for the subwoofer? Because I thought that subwoofers took line out signals, not headphone out signals.

If this solution does not work could someone tell me how to make this possible using a different setup?

Thank you in advance.

 

[dark_lord69]

Hello everyone, I am trying to use my Sennheiser HD 598 SE (running through a fiio 17k alpen 2 using my PC as a source via SPDIF) with a subwoofer (https://www.amazon.com/Polk-10-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer-Single/dp/B0002KVQBA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510063391&sr=8-3&keywords=polk+subwoofer) and I was wondering how I could accomplish this, someone on another site told me I could use a Y adapter coming out of my fiio, with one signal going to my headphones and the other going to a 3.5mm to RCA cable that goes to the subwoofer. Is this safe for the subwoofer? Because I thought that subwoofers took line out signals, not headphone out signals.

If this solution does not work could someone tell me how to make this possible using a different setup?

Thank you in advance.

Is this safe for the subwoofer?
Yes,
Headphone out = line out (There's really no difference)

I would recommend you do what that other person told you.

On the other hand I would have gone with bass shakers with your headphones instead. I would have mounted those to my gaming chair.

 

[Loppysaurus]

Hello everyone, I am trying to use my Sennheiser HD 598 SE (running through a fiio 17k alpen 2 using my PC as a source via SPDIF) with a subwoofer (https://www.amazon.com/Polk-10-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer-Single/dp/B0002KVQBA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510063391&sr=8-3&keywords=polk+subwoofer) and I was wondering how I could accomplish this, someone on another site told me I could use a Y adapter coming out of my fiio, with one signal going to my headphones and the other going to a 3.5mm to RCA cable that goes to the subwoofer. Is this safe for the subwoofer? Because I thought that subwoofers took line out signals, not headphone out signals.

If this solution does not work could someone tell me how to make this possible using a different setup?

Thank you in advance.

Is this safe for the subwoofer?
Yes,
Headphone out = line out (There's really no difference)

I would recommend you do what that other person told you.

On the other hand I would have gone with bass shakers with your headphones instead. I would have mounted those to my gaming chair.

Are they the same? I read that there were impedance differences, I know that if I try to run my headphones through the line out on my fiio e17k they will be barely audible.

If it turns out that that this solution works (the one you suggested), then thanks!

 

[dark_lord69]

"I know that if I try to run my headphones through the line out on my fiio e17k they will be barely audible."
On many devices the difference is just that the volume can be adjusted on a headphone jack.
The line out is the same signal but volume is often set to a fixed level to avoid issues. This means the line out is expecting that the signal will be amplified outside of the device. Which is true for your subwoofer.
Headphone jack is already amplified (enough for headphones not speakers, so it's likely safe for your subwoofer).

Bottom line:
Connect a Y splitter to your headphone jack. Plug your headphones into the Y adapter and plug the 3.5mm jack to RCA cable into splitter and the subwoofer.

 

[Loppysaurus]

"I know that if I try to run my headphones through the line out on my fiio e17k they will be barely audible."
On many devices the difference is just that the volume can be adjusted on a headphone jack.
The line out is the same signal but volume is often set to a fixed level to avoid issues. This means the line out is expecting that the signal will be amplified outside of the device. Which is true for your subwoofer.
Headphone jack is already amplified (enough for headphones not speakers, so it's likely safe for your subwoofer).

Bottom line:
Connect a Y splitter to your headphone jack. Plug your headphones into the Y adapter and plug the 3.5mm jack to RCA cable into splitter and the subwoofer.

Thanks for the help!