subwoofer amp problems

ok so i got a amp. says its a 500 stero reference amplifier as well as a powered subwoofer that comes with 2 yamaha nx-e800 speakers. i know the speakers work cuz i hooked em up to somthing else and they work fine. when i play **** directly with a red audio cable to my ipod it plays the bass from the song.. i hooked up the speakers directly to the subwoofer where it says "to speakers" with the red to red and black to black.. and turned it on and i heard nothing not a sound from my speakers. so i found out i need a amplifier. went downstairs found a amp my family doesnt use anymore. it was used to play suround sound arund our living room. in the back there is 2 channels. also have the red and black. under this it says channel 1 output and channel 2 output. i hooked it up to this and then i i guessed and hooked up the amp output into the subwoofer where it says. "from receiver" then hooked up my audio cable to headphoen jack into the amplifer were there was a port and i heard nothing from my speakers nor my subwoofer. so im guessin i hooked it up wrong. in the amplifer in the front it has 2 nobs were u control from 0 to 54 and then to infinity. there r like 5 led lights. it goes from like -40db to positive then to CLIP then to PROT. when i turn on the amplifier it goes to PROT (red LED) and no mater what i do it doesnt go anywhere. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?? PLEASE HELP MEE