2. speakers
  3. 1444402538

Peachtree Audio Nova - No subwoofer connection

I just switched from speakers (Martin Logan Ethos) needing no subwoofer to a pair of monitors (Reference 3A MMC Serie) which have an advertised lower limit of 40-42 Hz. This is fine for most of our listening but there are occasions, like when watching movies, when additional bass would be nice. I have a Polk Audio Micropro 4000 which seems very capable but the Nova has no dedicated connection for a sub. I talked to a Peachtree technician who said the only way to connect a sub is to use a splitter at the RCA pre-out connection dividing the signal between the Peachtree 220 amp and the sub. I tried this before and, of course, the sub works fine but it changes the overall sound in a not good way.....and I'm not good at judging minor changes.

I also use the Behringer Ultracurve 2496 in the system and separating the signal this way bypasses the sub's signal from the equalizer so auto room adjustments won't include the range of frequencies that would be produced by the sub. I suppose that if there was a dedicated sub out connection the result would be no different. Because base frequencies, though, are a big part of adjustments for the purpose of room equalization, this is a problem.

Because the 2496 has an unbalanced 1/4" aux out" it crossed my mind that it could be used for a sub. The manual doesn't seem to address this and I've not found discussions about this on the Internet. I've also not been unable to establish communication with Behringer for their help.

There's a good chance that I'm off base on some of these assumptions about this all works but if anyone has suggestions that might help with this dilemma it would be much appreciated.
128x128broadstone
zd542
5,339 posts
 
That's a good suggestion. Just run a cheap pair of speaker cables from your speakers to the sub. I know it doesn't sound like a good idea from an audiophile point of view, but there's really nothing wrong with doing it this way.
broadstone's avatar
broadstone OP
310 posts
 
Thanks. I was just given the solution; Behringer called back and assured me that the 1/4" unbalanced aux out jack was ok to use as the sub out connection, so I hooked it up that way and it works fine. All I had to buy was 2 mono 1/4" jacks to RCA adapters. This is another example of what an incredibly competent device this EQ is. Now I'm going to use it to rebalance the room for the new setup.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
What happened with your ML's? I thought they would be a good speaker for you.
broadstone's avatar
broadstone OP
310 posts
 
ZD, the ML's are wonderful and I still have them but when I was looking for a pair of speakers for my little garage system, I came across these Reference 3A serie's and just couldn't pass them up. I don't know if you've ever heard them (these are the originals and, supposedly, only 100 were made) but IMO and for my personal taste they are one of the best I've heard. I like them as much but in a slightly different way as my ML's which are 20 yrs newer, and I was having a difficult time deciding which to keep. With the 3A's I have more latitude in amplification choices should I decide to look again into tubes and partly because of that factor the I have the ML's for sale on Audiogon, eBay and Craigslist. This takes first place in difficult decisions for change especially since I've had them for such a short time and I wasn't even looking for a change.
broadstone's avatar
broadstone OP
310 posts
 
I appreciate the comments but I'm still having problems deciding how to go with this. I'm getting conflicting information not only from the Internet but from Peachtree Audio and Polk Audio as well. Peachtree says the only way to feed to the sub is to use a splitter from the pre out to deliver signal to the amp and powered sub simultaneously. I tried this and, of course, it worked but, and I have no idea why, it resulted in overall somewhat degraded sound.

Polk told me, and this is in the Micropro 4000 manual as well, that I should parallel out from the power amp to both the main speakers and the "speaker" terminals on the sub. These terminals look like speaker level inputs as would be the inputs on a passive sub and if this were the case that connection would bypass the sub's amplification circuitry; they assured me that this is not the case and all capabilities would remain operational such as volume, phase control, room balancing, filters, etc. I'm confused. Having a speaker level signal delivered to anything other than directly to a driver makes no sense unless their is some attenuation circuitry reducing the signal level. Also, what about the impedance reduction resulting from paralleling the speaker outputs.

I mentioned earlier that I have a Behringer DEQ 2496 that can accommodate a sub. I can put it back in the system if it comes to that but I prefer to keep it simple where I can. My experience with the use of subwoofers is limited to my years ago home theater listening at which time my amplification equipment all had dedicated sub outputs. As you all can tell my knowledge on the subject is also quite limited so I need help.
More to discover