Balanced power amp and subwoofer connection.


Hello.

Can any one tell me how to connect a powered sub to a balanced Pass amp. I understand that there is a issue with ground which means normal connection using a three wire Neutrik Speakon connection cannot be used. I know as I had damaged a Pass amp and a sub some years ago by following the instructions given to me by a the sub manufacturer ( MJ acoustics )telling me to connect the three speokon wires to the speaker posts on the amp. I took their advise as I assumed a sub manufacturer would know!

Pass are very vague and say I should contact the sub maker and the sub maker say I should refer to the amp maker!

Anyone done this and know the safe method? Can an av and hifi amp be connected to one sub designed for Hifi and home cinema amp connections at the same time. Or should this be for one reciever with stereo and hifi capalities?

Thank you
james123
no, it a BK electronics, UK made, sub and XA30.5 power amp.

The MJ one was damaged and disposed of. Their quote for repair was too high and when I declined to have it repaired, they refused to send it back to me unrepaired and threatened legal action claiming I would try to sell it on an auction site as new which of cause is crazy. One call from my legal adviser had the dead unit back in two days. A very nasty company ! The unit was personally disposed of at a recycling centre.

Thanks.
Connect the red Speakon wire to the red output terminal of the right channel on the amplifier.

Connect the yellow Speakon wire to the red output terminal of the left channel of the amplifier.

Connect the black Speakon wire to the binding post on the rear of the amplifier that is labelled "ground" or "signal ground" or something similar. DO NOT connect the black wire to either of the black speaker output terminals of the amplifier.

This assumes that you are using just one sub, rather than a separate sub for the left channel and for the right channel.
Can an av and hifi amp be connected to one sub designed for Hifi and home cinema amp connections at the same time.
Looking at the manuals for a couple of the BK subs, it appears that some or all of them are designed to accept high level (Speakon) and low level (RCA or XLR) connections at the same time, with independent gain controls being provided for the high level and low level inputs.

You should not, of course, connect the high level outputs of two amplifiers at the same time, or damage will result.

If the sub provides both RCA and XLR low level inputs, I would also avoid using both of those low level inputs at the same time. I doubt that damage would occur, but depending on the specific design sonics may be adversely affected.

Regards,
-- Al