AudioNervosa
Systemic Development => Amplification and Preamplification => Topic started by: malloy on February 14, 2018, 11:12:03 PM
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Don't know if this has been answered here before. Outside of car subwoofers, I have not tried any for home audio.
Suppose I want to do a 2.1 system - a low power SET amp and some horns then connect an active subwoofer to it through the speaker taps, will this damage anything, assuming the amp is enough to power the two main speakers? Would I need to use a Y-cable/splitter and use the RCA line level instead?
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A very good method. A Mapleshade recommendation actually. Give it a go. Use solid core or coaxial wire to speaker and be happy.
charles
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Dont think any harm will done.
Tried it with my 300B amp but much preferred the RCA line level from the preamp.
The way I understand it speaker line level is preferred because the subwoofer is getting the same signal which is to say the same sonic characteristics of the amplifier as the main speakers resulting in a better blend of the two. This may explain why I preferred line level since 300B amps are not known for their bass.
my 2 cents
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I think Emil hit the nail on the head. Using the line out will feed the sub a signal with the sonic signature of the preamp whereas using speaker level inputs will have the sonic flavor of the power amp.
Which is right, that's easy, neither.
I don't think there is any right answer, only what is right for you, with your combination of gear in your listening room.
If your amp and pre have similar characteristics, it's probably a toss up us whichever input is easier.
If you have a SS Pre and tube amp you might want to think about using the line outs to take advantage of the faster and tighter SS bass.
But all of these are just guesses, the only way to know for sure is to try both ways and see which one you prefer. (Hopefully you have some spare cables or some local audio pals that can hook you up with some loaner stuff so you can try without committing funds to the one you choose not to use. Or maybe just buy the cables from an online dealer like Audio Advisor that allows you a thirty day return period so you can send back whichever ones you decide not to use.
But in all likelihood the differences between the two inputs will not be that great and in fact will be far less that the differences you will get from your choice of where in the room you place the sub. I have found over the years that subs involve a lot of plain old trial and error.
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The best sound is off speaker terminal which you will find out. Try both.
charles
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There have been any number of times since I started in this hobby that something that now way should have happened, did.
My point was that this is a pretty easy one to try both ways, so why not, the no matter which ends up being better, you will know for sure.
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The best sound is off speaker terminal which you will find out. Try both.
charles
The best sound is off the preamp which you will find out. Try both. :lol:
Ok Malloy. Try both and report back
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The best sound is off speaker terminal which you will find out. Try both.
charles
The best sound is off the preamp which you will find out. Try both. :lol:
Ok Malloy. Try both and report back
Love it.
charles
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Thanks to all the replies! Will report back when I get the system going.
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Well, any progress ?
charles
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Hi Charles,
Unfortunately, everything is still in the stores for me to buy. #-o I'm waiting for another month or two before I pull the trigger (again).
That's the problem with these plans of mine. They get more and more grandiose. I know Nick was wanting to mess around with single driver speakers a few months back. Seeing as how I will be using this new system on my desktop, I've been looking to go the same route. I was about to pull the trigger on these https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/2-way-speaker-kits/fostex-p1000e-diy-kanspea-4-full-range-speaker-kit-pair/ (https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/2-way-speaker-kits/fostex-p1000e-diy-kanspea-4-full-range-speaker-kit-pair/). And then I stumbled on the DIY speaker forum. Very bad for me. Trying to stay under $500 for everything since I'm such as cheapskate. :lol:
Deciding between the Fostex Kanspeaker kit and doing the Mark Audio with a custom cabinet. Option B is more expensive but might fend off upgrade-ititis for a while.
Paul
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Option B is more expensive but might fend off upgrade-ititis for a while.
Well that's not in the cards for anyone who hangs out here.... [-(
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I was afraid someone would say that. Actually, I've been telling myself the same lie over the past 25 years. "This is the last equipment upgrade for me. Period. Then it's more records and music."
Right.
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When my wife asks me when I will finally be done upgrading the stereo my answer is " When the throw the dirt on me." :rofl: