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Dual-Use Subwoofer?

Not quite sure where to put this question - hope it’s in the right place.

My HT and audio systems are separate because my ’good’ stuff is reasonably good, my ’ordinary’ stuff is pretty ordinary, and I don’t want to ’taint’ the good stuff with ordinary stuff.

HT ’boxed’ system:
HK AVR254
Infinity surrounds & sub (sub fed by LFE from the AVR)

Audio:
Krell KRC-3
Bryston 4B-ST
Martin Logan reQuest
Polk PSW650 (signal fed by the preamp)

Because I live in a space-constrained home and want to give the ML’s the ’breathing room’ they really need, I’m wondering if it might be possible to ’consolidate’ by using only one Sub. The Polk unit is the more musical, definitely more than adequate for HT, has both LFE and Left/Right analog inputs, therefore would be the obvious choice.

Do you guys think it would be possible - or at worst, risky - to use the LFE input from the AVR and use the L/R analog inputs from my preamp for the higher-end stuff? I just don’t know my ass from a hole in the ground about electronics and don’t want to risk burning anything out in either the sub, the receiver or the preamp.

Thanks in advance!
parabolic
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,718 posts
 
Let us know what happens.  We're all ears....well, eyes, anyway. ;)
northernescape's avatar
northernescape
43 posts
 
I was considering a similar situation. However, I have Mac c2500 which has Home Theater Passthru and Marantz 7011 for HT. Hooking the sub up to both, and using the way most preamps treat passthru, you cannot have both amps ever driving the sub at the same time. In other words if the HT Marantz is on, pass thru on the Mac pre shuts off all but the Main, output 1 to monoblocks, for the fronts, and other amp outputs 2, such as to a sub, are disabled. Hence, the sub will be driven by HT if it is on, and if it is off, passthru is off and the 2 channel pre works like normal including the now the sub. The sub cannot be dual energized. I do not know what the Krell has as functions and connections, so none of this may apply to a possible solution for you.
parabolic OP
106 posts
 
Though I'm not going to be listening to both at the same time, it is possible that both might be powered on at the same time.  But for argument's sake, what might happen if accidentally signal were sent to the sub from both sources?
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,718 posts
 
Mmm....mostly likely 'sum', and you'd get 'musical MixMaster'.  As long as it's not up to 10 on both or either....IMHO, I haven't tried such with mine.

I do listen to 'odd stuff', but I pass on the straight up involuntary or even intended.  Per the later, I'd opt for some sort of control if only for the amusement of it.  But 'delays' show up in even the most benign or unforeseen places, unexpected echos(os,os,os,os,s.s.s....)

Just go forth with a little trepidation and conservative levels, as see what the results are.  As long as the volume isn't maxed, should be kewl.  Worse is a visit by the feedback daemon and you jerk the plug ("Don't Do THAT!" *L*).

Standing by....;)
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