@hilde45 and @decooney , I thank you both very much.
Duke
Duke
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
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
- ...
- 49 posts total
Adding a sub(s) is one of the most challenging things to get the sound response you want. Ideally, what millercarbon suggests is the most sensible approach to this challenge. The approach to adding multiple subs (sometimes referred to as "swarm") is ideal. However if you are not ready to get multiple subs you can look at the various wiring techniques mentioned here. Or, you can look into integrating a sub(s) by using an active crossover with bass management capability. Those crossovers can be from reasonable in price to very expensive. My solution was getting an Outlaw ICBM crossover. Original retail was $250. Don't believe it's still in production but can be found in the used market. A crossover of this type, with sub out connection, can be connected between the pre and power amps to perform bass management as well as adjusting crossover frequency to the mains. Not the supreme setup but can make integration of a sub much easier. That's the most important thing rather that how you wire up the sub. |
Optimum solution is to roll the very bottom out of the main amplifiers and feed a low level signal to the sub. This is effectively an increase in main amplifier power if you listen to material with real low end, i.e. deeper than most 40Hz limited material. Sub must either be very efficient or have lots of power for a realistic bottom octave. The sub must have continuous phase, multiple crossover slopes and polarity inversion along with the normal XO frequency and level controls. Martin Logan X and some JL Audio series have all of the above. Without these controls, the optimum position maybe in the middle of the room. REW and a microphone can ease the integration task, but the learning curve is steep. see http://www.ielogical.com/Audio/SubTerrBlues.php for perils and solutions for sub integration. Two subs are optimum for stereo. A swarm gives even level at the expense of coherent phase. Discount most advice on audio forums as FanBoy prattle. As composer once opined of my system "Every OTHER subwoofer I've ever heard just boomed!" |
- 49 posts total