Sub-woofer connection question

Some people want to hear their sub(s) contribute something to the sound. Or in other words, they want to hear the subwoofer to "woof"so to speak. This may be ok for HT, but not really good for accurate 2 channel sound. I have Vandersteen speakers and recently purchased their 2Wq subwoofer. it contributed greatly to the sound of my system. Not so much that I could actually hear the sub, but it relieved the extra stress on my main amplifier. Schubert is right about the sub letting him forget everything below 80 hz. In 2 channel, this is the subs main purpose. The overall gain in SQ is more air and transparency in sound, greater soundstage width and depth and greater dynamics. The handful of hertz added to the bottom octave is just icing on the cake. Vandersteens sub is powered with an internal 300 watt amplifier. The hookup to your system is somewhat complex, but well worth the effort. You first have to determine the impedance input of your main amp. This normally is in the owner's manual or you can call the manufacturer and find out. Once you have that number , Vandersteen can send you a pair of crossovers approx. half of the input impedance of your amp. You merely place this crossover between preamp and power amp. If you have an integrated amp or receiver, you can insert them in a processor loop or tape loop. The next step is hook the supplied speaker cable from your main amps speaker terminals along with the cables that go to your main speakers. And yes, you can hook both main speaker cables and sub cables together on the one set of main terminals on your amp. Hook the other end of the supplied wires that came with the sub to the subs amp terminals. The terminals on the sub are banana jacks. You now have a direct connection from your main amp to the subs amp. The crossover  you put in will attenuate everything below 80 hz. at minus 6db per octave, or in other words,  a first order type of crossover. This is what relieves all the stress on your main amp and should make a vast improvement in it self. The attenuated frequencies 80 hz and below are still sent to the subs amp. There these frequencies are restored to their normal levels via the sub, as they should be.You also have controls on back of the sub for the volume level and a unique "Q" control, which can make the bass as tight or loose sounding as you prefer. I know this sounds quite complex and please forgive me if I have made any mistakes or left anything important out for those whom are really "in the know." But this method of sub hookup integrates and seamlessly blends the sub(s) with the main speakers which I feel is extremely important. Remember, this is just all my opinion and would hope it would be of some help to the OP.

Thanks mr_m,   my integrated amp doesn't have a tape loop, but I understand the function of the crossover.   I was looking at some external crossovers, like the one that B&W sell, and at $3k it would be more than I have in all the rest of my components put together.

So at some point, if I ever move up to separate components and better speakers, I will probably go that route.

But for now I am pretty happy with what I have, and am enjoying playing my (newly cleaned) LPs again after a couple decades.

Thanks again for taking the time to write such a long and detailed and helpful reply.

Eric

mr_m

You merely place this crossover between preamp and power amp. If you have an integrated amp or receiver, you can insert them in a processor loop or tape loop

It's not a good idea to put an xover in a tape loop, if only because its level won't be controlled by the preamp's volume control.

Cleeds.
You could be correct about the tape loop. I have a Rogue Pharaoh integrated with no way to separate the pre from the power section of the amp. I have a high level processor loop with a set of inputs and outputs like a tape loop. The Vandersteen X-2 crossover is nothing more than a pair of high quality caps with a male RCA jack at one end and a female RCA jack at the other end. All you need is one pair of short interconnects to complete the connection to the loops ins and outs. This crossover merely attenuates the signal in the loop to be 6db down starting at 80 Hz. The only connection to the sub(s) is the speaker wires that come off the main speaker terminals of the integrated amp. Thus volume is controlled by the main amps volume control to the main speakers and sub with unity gain. Does this make sense? As I said before the attenuated bass signals are then restored to their proper level by the subs internal 300 watt amplifier.

In my experience the high level inputs sound better because it integrates better with your main speakers. I have the JL Audio D110 subwoofer and it clearly sounds better using the high level connections- just connect the cables at your amplifier in parallel with the main speaker leads and terminate into the supplied connector plug.
REL makes the claim that this method is preferred for better blending and integration and I agree with them.
What are your main speakers?
There is a process you need to follow for perfect integration and I would be happy to help.   You do not need any external crossovers etc. to make this work.  
All main speakers have a natural low frequency roll off point (acoustic crossover)  and some have a built in high pass filter.