Adding a second sub

Bob, Thirsty93 is lucky to have someone available with your knowledge of the operation of his reveiver. I'm amazed about the operation of the LFE output. I've never had a complex receiver and this is all new to me. You can actually electronically insert a crossover into the circuit at that point. Amazing! :-) Certainly makes it simple to incorporate a sub (or 2).

Question - Do you think this method is optimum, or just more convenient? I would have have thought that sonically it might be better to take out signals from a Line Level out, run the satelites full range, and set the cross over to blend the sub with the bottom end of the satelite, thereby minimizing the effect of the subs incursion into the upper frequencies, assuming of course that the subs are being located in areas of the room to smooth out bass response etc, not necessarily in the immediate area of the satelites. And, where did you find a diagram or manual for the SA2 - I couldn't find one anywhere. Interesting........

(I would have have thought that sonically it might be better to take out signals from a Line Level out, run the satelites full range, and set the cross over to blend the sub with the bottom end of the satelite, thereby minimizing the effect of the subs incursion into the upper frequencies, assuming of course that the subs are being located in areas of the room to smooth out bass response etc, not necessarily in the immediate area of the satelites)This is how i use mine in the current config.
Are you saying it would be better to run the 1.5's as satilites?

Thirsty93, Whether you run the 1.5's full range with the subs just added to the bottom of the range or use the 1.5's as satelites with the subs taking over all of the mid and deep bass duties depends a lot on the speakers being used, the crossovers being used, and in your case where you are placing the sub woofer(s).

I find nothing wrong with Bob's opinion. Either methodology works and each is dependent on many varibles including equipment and personal preferences. I think it is hard to blend subs and satelites properly - there is a lot of stuff to be considered if you are fussy and want to get it 'right'. Most satelites have some bass response and, typically, all one 'needs' to do is agument it.

With the right (matching) speakers and a crossover with great flexibility including not only cross over points but slopes it can be done perfectly, well almost anyway. Afterall that is what a manufacturer of a full range speaker has done. But, FWIW, the road to audio hell has been paved by folks who have high quality speakers and have tried to match them with subs using crossovers which had insufficient slope or low enuf cross over points, not to mention what distortions might be added by more electronics, IC's, etc put into the signal path to the main speakers.

For example, an 80hz crossover point with a 12db slope, is allowing a fair amount of signal to pass at 160hz and that frequency is in the 'stereo' range. So signals at 160 hz will originate at 2 locations in each channel. Thats OK if your subs are right next to/below the main speakers as it will blend and sound like one source, but if your purpose in using subs is to smooth out bass response as well as agument it, you are going to be placing your subs quite a distance from the mains and you are going to get a 160hz signal from two locations. Some folks will not hear the -12db signal as such, many not at all, but it has the potential to muddy up the upper bass/lower mid range and folks with acute listening skills can/will hear it.

The main problem with just keeping it simple, i.e. only using the sub as agumentation, is that it will not relieve the mid/bass driver of the main speaker of its responsibility of producing bass and the mids can get a little stressed when you are playing loud bass heavy music, so in theory at least, you can play your music louder and still keep it clean.

I'd guess that in your case, since NHT has made all of the speakers at least you will not have a sonic integration issue. The would have similar sonic footprints. And, since you can, by making a simple comparison by using Y splitters at either the LFE or Line Outs, you can come to your own conclusions as to which works best for you in your situation.