I may have wrecked a sub...

[Polk addict]

So, I own these speakers:
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/recent/amr70/

# Five-piece Sub/Sat surround system
# Compatible with all multi-channel analog soundcards
# Four shielded satellites with 2" full-range driver
# Powered subwoofer with vented wood enclosure and 4" shielded driver
# Wall mount brackets supplied for rear satellites
# Total system power: 40 Watts Continuous Average (RMS), 80 Watts Peak
# MSRP $109.95

AMR70

I had basically cut up the wires so that the left and right speakers are independent of the internal amp and are being powered straight out of a home receiver.

The problem is: The amp inside the sub got shorted or something, and it started smelling like smoke when I picked up the cabinet. There was physically no smoke coming out or anything, but the amp doesn't work anymore. So, now I have the sub running out of the center channel, with the center channel set to large instead of small.

So now, I'm wondering if running higher frequencies into it will damage it or something...

[quadzilla]

It's possible that by disconnecting the speakers, you changed the impedance presented to the sub's amp, causing it to push more power than it was capable of. Or maybe it just died, as electronics are wont to do.

[speakergeek]

Sounds like you shorted the wires when you cut them, and fried the amp...

[Polk addict]

Well the sub is working... So now I'm wondering, is there any way I can maybe by a separate cheap amp to power the sub instead of taking power out of the center channel?

I don't really want to push higher frequencies into a sub...