Subwoofers and Crossovers.


My system is Cary DMS-550 / Luxman L-507uxii / Spendor D7.2

 

After researching I decided to add an active crossover and two stereo subs to the system.

 

  1. I am looking at JL Audio CR-1 as the crossover.  This will take the pre-out from the Luxman and feed mains-in and setup the Luxman as separates. Is there anything else that I should look at?  I am only looking at analog solutions.
  2. After looking a REL, Rythmic, SVS, Martin Logan and JL, I am leaning towards getting two JL Dominion D110s.  Would these subs be sufficient or should I be getting JL E110s? I won’t be using the internal crossovers, so primary concern is fidelity.
  3. If I am unable to treat the room properly, I may be introducing a DSP solution just for the subwoofers.

 

I am looking for some advice from people who have walked this path before me on both the active crossover and the quality of D110s. 

I would appreciate any advice on this process of integrating subwoofers into a two channel audio system.

dimbhaka

I owned the predecessor to the 4000SB, not even close to musically as good as the Servo technology in a Rythymic. Its also listed on SVS for 1899 right now. Never owned a JL, have heard wonderful things about them. They compare closer to a REL. SVS way too boomy for me. It could hit the notes, and had the spl, but just a much different sound. But if big boom is what you want, yes the price is right, go for it. Everyone has diff. taste. For music you cannot be old fashion servo. If you had an older Velodyn before they ruined themselves, Rythmik servo is for you. The 12 for me was too small. I was thinking 2 15" ones but you run into cancelation and its hard to dsp with that. So I got the dual 15 version which avoids that. Add the CR-1 (this is really the must have for subs and music)  and Roon DSP paired with my Sopra 2 the sound is so seemless. Even the bass heavy Billie Eilish tracks sound smooth and not bloated.

Go for the Funk Audio active subwoofer with build in DSP set at the back panel as well as software programable by usb or lan connection. I have 2 JL212 and 2 Funk Audio 21.0LX. Now I used the Funk Audio for 2 channels and all 4 for HT. Fantastic, very happy.

Behringer 2496....

Yeah, it's 'pro gear', but it works and won't fry the budget....;)

I agree with Yogi.... try running the speakers full range with the subs low pass set low, around 60 to start .   Often times it sounds better....  A crossover that let's you experiment with the high pass is also advantageous.  80Hz is too high and the main speaker looses some "meat on the bones"   Too high of a low pass and the sub becomes directional.  You can hear where it is in the room.   

I use a Velodyne sms 1 for sub eq and to roll off the sub sharp at 50 hz.  You hardly hear it because my main speakers are full range but it integrates well. The JL crossover will let you do that....  

The Spendor D7.2 are different animals with respect to subwoofer integration.

Their quasi transmission line bottom firing port extends bass to 25Hz.  When attempting to add 3 sets of subs to them without high pass filtering the main speakers, the sound was horrible at worst- cancellations, hard sounding bass, lack of seamless integration, affected the sound overall in a bad way.  

Adding in a high pass filter and you lose that quick, tight quality that these speakers have.  

No subs for me and the Spendor D7.2 and I am more than fine with that.