Subwoofers and Crossovers.


My system is Cary DMS-550 / Luxman L-507uxii / Spendor D7.2

 

After researching I decided to add an active crossover and two stereo subs to the system.

 

  1. I am looking at JL Audio CR-1 as the crossover.  This will take the pre-out from the Luxman and feed mains-in and setup the Luxman as separates. Is there anything else that I should look at?  I am only looking at analog solutions.
  2. After looking a REL, Rythmic, SVS, Martin Logan and JL, I am leaning towards getting two JL Dominion D110s.  Would these subs be sufficient or should I be getting JL E110s? I won’t be using the internal crossovers, so primary concern is fidelity.
  3. If I am unable to treat the room properly, I may be introducing a DSP solution just for the subwoofers.

 

I am looking for some advice from people who have walked this path before me on both the active crossover and the quality of D110s. 

I would appreciate any advice on this process of integrating subwoofers into a two channel audio system.

dimbhaka

I am using a JL CR-1 crossover along with 4- JL F-113 subs. I have my speakers about 8 feet out from the back wall. This allows some very open soundstage albeit at a loss of the low bass that usually comes with closer rear wall reinforcement.

Adding the subs to crossover at about 55hz. brings back that low bass that is missing.

It also frees up the main speakers to sound there best.

ozzy

@dimbhaka  @kenjit 

To low Pass Filter or NOT to Low Pass Filter. That is the question. I am a Rel fan and have had them for 20 yrs. Here is their take on the Low Pass Filter. Make what you will of their position

Low Pass Filter?

@ozzy  thanks for the information. Do you see the benefits of high-passing the mains at low volume too or just at high volume?

 

At first, I ran the main speaker's full frequency and used the subs to fill in just the very low bass. After getting the CR-1, I found that removing the bass overlap not only sounded better but also reduced the need for the main amp (tube) to produce the lowest frequency.

I was initially afraid that the added circuitry may color the transparency. Too my surprise the CR-1 seems to be pretty transparent and only proved to provide benefit.

ozzy