speakers and cables

@immathewj yes, that's a cool thread. The last two comments got me confused though (what doesn't) 

I am going to hook up my Y connectors in an hour and I hope I will like it :)

@immathewj I plugged in the splitters and rewired the speakers.

The speakers definitely "came forward". The subs seem to have a weaker signal - maybe because it's low level, but I can boost the gain for sure. I will listen now for a couple hours to my usual test CDs and albums

@grisly, this thread and the many replies to it left me with a few questions about my own system (which is actually a good thing--to be periodically evaluating your system and possible changes that could be made to setting up the existing components),

so I finally got around to re-reading the manual for my ancient M&K sub to see if I could answer some of my own questions. Which is NOT to say that what applies to my old M&K sub/system applies to other sub/systems.

However, M&K stated emphatically (in bold print) that their subs (at least at the time, which was ’93) have no high pass filter (meaning to me--no crossover).

M&K, at the time, recommended using RCA versus speaker wire connections and stated it would give better bass performance from the sub.

They also explicitly said it was okay to use ’Y’ splitters from the preamp but they also said that "in many cases, the slight improvement this makes in bass quality may be offset by slight degradation of sound quality through the satellite speakers." They go on to say that they do not recommend ’Y’ splitters,, but "feel free to experiment." (As I assume you are presently doing.)

M&K really did seem to like, at the time, the idea of putting a high pass filter between the preamp and the amp and running the RCAs out TO the sub from the HP filter. I suppose that is why I bought one and went that route for a while. However, it should be noted that M&K also manufactured the HP filter they suggested that I use. (I may try it again as a result of this discussion, but if I do I’ll configure things a tiny bit differently--I’ll go balanced from my CDP into preamp, and then I’ll have to go RCAs out of my preamp the rest of the way.)

@immathewj I plugged in the splitters and rewired the speakers.

The speakers definitely "came forward". The subs seem to have a weaker signal - maybe because it's low level, but I can boost the gain for sure. I will listen now for a couple hours to my usual test CDs and albums

That actually sounds like a good thing to me?

Because you can play with your level adjustments on the subs and the setting of your low pass filters on the subs to see if you can bring more bass out?

Regardless, give it a good period of time to let that new sub break in and everything settle in.  

@immathewj 

I will probably go back to high level connections. So far I have mixed feelings about the splitter. I will give it another day of listening and then switch and compare. 

Overall, it also gives me perspective that these may not be the best speakers for me and I should go back an integrated amp, start with the latter first. I know a 45 year old amp (Hafler DH-200) will become more pain than fun eventually. I am working around limitations and it feels like I am always coming up short. 

Part of it is that I expect more and more and I feel I accomplish less - a purely emotional aspect.

Thanks for all your help, it's fun journey though :) I think the more complex the sound is the more critical we become.