REL B3 connecting to Linn Klimax Solo help...

My source has a dedicated plug for ground on its rear ....

Yes, but is that ground connected to chassis/AC safety ground, or to circuit ground, or to both. If it is only connected to chassis and AC safety ground, without being directly connected to circuit ground, that could be the problem. Especially if connecting to one of the negative speaker wires works with reasonable volume (not sure if that is what you meant when you said it appears to work that way).

Also, I would expect that using circuit ground on the source, or connecting the sub's ground to one of the negative speaker wires, would be less optimal sonically than connecting to circuit ground on the preamp.

Regards,
-- Al

Hi Al,

The plug on the rear of the source (Klimax DS) is a dedicated ground that is to chassis. That is what I am using.

I actually think theres more wrong with the unit, I can barely get any output from the unit at any volume, any setting... The cone barely even moves...

This is playing a 20hz tone with REW. The gain is about 45%, push it to 50% and you can hear this awful noise

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dastrix/7696789160/in/photostream

If the Klimax DS does not have chassis ground connected directly to circuit ground, and it very well may not, using that ground could very conceivably be causing the problem. I would suggest proceeding as in my initial response.

Also, if you connect the sub's ground to one of the speaker leads, and use a test tone at a higher frequency that is more easily audible (e.g., 50 or 60 Hz), what happens?

Regards,
-- Al

Hi Al,

I have connected the subs ground to the speaker lead and I get the horrible output noise with no cone movement at 45% gain... The unit under any connection method wont go over 45% gain. I did try 40 and 50 hz with the speaker lead connection. Same issue

The cone barely if at all moves on any setting. Spoke to the distributor who said there should be alot of cone movemen on either high level or low level inputs and that it appears faulty.

Ok, then it does appear likely that it is faulty.

But when it is replaced or repaired, I would still suggest that to assure optimal sonic results you connect to circuit ground on the preamp, as determined per my initial response.

Regards,
-- Al