Sub Woofer hook up with McIntosh MC 501

Aball
Are you suggesting running a sub off the speakers will do damage? I don't understand where you are going with this.

Has anyone setup their sub to run from your speakers?

Yes Mitch, I think it "could" do damage in certain circumstances. It is all a matter of parallel or series circuits. In the former, you get a big drop in load impedance for the amp. In the latter, you get current sharing issues which can be quite complicated.

I forget where I read about doing it that way - I think it was a thread right here on Agon some time back. Maybe someone who has done it can chime in.

Mmitch: The speaker inputs on The sub are supposed to be used with a direct run from your amp and then run speaker cables from the sub to your speakers.. not two runs from the amplifier (which affects the load) But the first option will really affect sound quality on your main speakers.

I spoke with Albert Von Schweikert concerning this issue, since his VRS/1 subwoofer is the one I will connect to. He states the sub amp was designed to take a load from an amp as long as the connection is made to the high input on the back of the sub. He also states that his Von Schweikert circuits are designed to be compatible with one another, therefore they may be connected in either configuration.

Just quoting what the designer himself told me

All I'm saying is you shouldn't cause the Mcintosh to drive two output ohm taps. I know other amps would have problems.. The Autoformers on the Mcintosh can play low impedences but I'm not sure they will support playing 2 & 4ohm taps at the same time.. put both wires on the 4ohm tap and ground.

I would call Mcintosh.