2. speakers
  3. 161067-151379

Adding a sub woofer?

Running a Planar 6 to Icon Audio Ps1 Mk2 to Quicksilver Mid Monos into Klipsch RP8000F speakers. Want more low end, thinking of adding a sub. The mono blocks don't have a dedicated sub output so I was thinking about something like a PSB 250 which has both pre amp and speaker level inputs with speaker level outputs. A couple of questions.

What are the pros and cons of using the sub's preamp level inputs vs the speaker level inputs in this application?

And more importantly, right now my setup is pretty much tube analogue the whole way (and aside from the soft low end, I absolutely love the overall sound) - but does an inline sub like this do any processing, will it color the mids and highs in some way or is it just a clean pass-through in terms of sending the signal along to the speakers? 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 
Ryan
spotconlon
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,931 posts
 
Pick your so called expert carefully, there is a massive difference between line and speaker level as the latter passes the sonic signature aka transfer function to both the sub and main speakers which results in better more coherent sound. Those with a poor understanding of bass fundamentals AND harmonic content will not get it. Bass, coherent bass is alive well above 100 hz.
for a phd in active bass with high pass mains research Vandersteen subs.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,931 posts
 
And REL is hardly a Fad only ego would sputter so....
giantsalami's avatar
giantsalami
227 posts
 
I have 2 REL T-9I's and they are fantastic. No problem at all integrating with the mains. The subs are one of the best components I have added to my system. 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,974 posts
 
Extended discussion on this, started by me:
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/how-to-connect-monoblocks-to-a-single-rel-sub-with-one-rca-in...

Here’s the short version: I connected the monoblocks to the speaker taps. Red to Right, Yellow to Left, Black to Left. No problems and it sounds better then sending the preamp RCA out to the RCA input on the sub.

Here's REL's position: https://rel.net/we-take-the-high-road/
Here's PS Audio's: https://www.psaudio.com/askpaul/the-best-way-to-connect-a-subwoofer/

I find one sub to be excellent. People have told me to get a second sub, or four. I am being cautious at the moment because I’ve heard that the interaction between multiple subs can cause problems (which can no doubt be solved) but for the moment, I’m liking what I hear so I’m not pressing the issue.
audiokinesis
2,743 posts
 
"I’ve heard that the interaction between multiple subs can cause problems"

Hilde45, I try to stay informed on the pro’s and con’s of using multiple subs. Would you be willing to share what these problems are, that you have heard of? I’m not trying to challenge or persuade you, and if you’d rather not, no problem.

Duke   
disclaimer: I’m commercially involved with a distributed multisub system.
More to discover