How do I hook-up my sub properly with my system???

mlebler

I'm a newbie and want to do this right and to be honest I'm downright confused on how to properly setup my PSW505 sub with my stereo system. I want to set it up so the lower frequencies go just to my sub and filter the rest to my speakers. Here is my system:

Emotiva XDA-1 PreAmp-->PS Audio HCA-2 Amp-->Polk Monitor 70

Now how do I go about doing this? Or do I need one of those electronic crossover devices to do it properly?

kawizx9r

Welcome!

Your Emotiva XDA-1 should have a dedicated subwoofer output in the rear section. Run an rca cable from that dedicated output into your subwoofer. I can't recall if the 505 has a single LFE input or a stereo set of inputs (one white/one red).

After that's said and done, keep the gain/volume on the sub at a low to moderate volume. If your subwoofer is new, you will want to properly break it in which can take anywhere from 60+hours of playing time.

Regarding the crossover question, your subwoofer has a built-in crossover. You can adjust the cut-off on the rear of the subwoofer. As far as what your speakers will play and cut out at will be determined by the settings left on your receiver.

kawizx9r

Oh and before I forget, remember to play with sub locations! Connecting and adjusting the crossover settings and gain is only half the battle. One important step is finding the right place for your sub.

For instance, a subwoofer in a corner or against a wall will create a more 'boomy' sound as opposed to it being in in the middle of the room.

You should also have a phase switch on your subwoofer. This switch basically allows you to set the subwoofer to play 'in phase' with your main speakers. You'll know if a subwoofer is in or out of phase because if your speakers and sub are out of phase, bass notes will be cancelled out. In other words, your Monitor 70's are literally competing against your PSW505 subwoofer so overall bass reproduction will sound very weak.

mlebler

The XDA-1 Preamp doesn't have a sub-out.

Here are pictures of the rear of my system components, in this order: XDA-1 Preamp, HCA-2 Amp, and the PSW505 Sub:

kawizx9r

Oh ok. Thanks for that, I'm not familiar at all with Emotiva gear.

Anyway, what I recommend is using a y-splitter on each of your RCA outputs of your preamp and feed those secondary outputs to the L and R inputs on your subwoofer.

kawizx9r

PS my post above regarding the y splitter is only necessary if you're already using the unbalanced outputs (rca).

If you're using the balanced ins and outs of your preamp to your amplifier, then you can just run an RCA cable from your unbalanced outputs straight to your subwoofer.

Drenis

You could use the speaker level input/outputs on the sub amp. This will allow you to integrate it.

mdaudioguy

Drenis wrote: »

You could use the speaker level input/outputs on the sub amp. This will allow you to integrate it.

I would do this. ^^^ Your speakers will run full-range, which is great for music, anyhow. Then, just adjust the crossover setting on your sub to fill in and support the low end. Enjoy!

mlebler

Drenis wrote: »

You could use the speaker level input/outputs on the sub amp. This will allow you to integrate it.

So let me get this straight:

1) If I simply use the left and right RCA outs from my preamp to my sub left and right line-in and use the balanced XLR cables to my amp for direct connection to my speakers; then my speakers will run full-range correct?

2) If instead I run my XLR cables to my amp then run speaker wire from my amp to my sub's speaker-in then run speaker wire from my sub's speaker out to my speakers, then my speakers will only receive frequencies above what my sub's crossover setting is set to?

tonyb

#2 is the ticket

mlebler

tonyb wrote: »

#2 is the ticket

Forgive me, but that option seems a little counter-intuitive to me.

I invested a lot in a separate preamp, amp and quality wiring. Using extra wiring, and running the signal from my $1000 amp then through my $200 sub just seems wrong.

Can I expect a loss of sound quality running the signal through my sub to be "filtered"? Or am I being too paranoid? :cheesygrin:

tonyb

Try it and find out. The speaker in/outs on the sub is just a pass thru basically. You use the crossover in the sub to seperate the lows for the sub and the rest to your speakers. Don't know if the Emo has that ability as I'm not familiar with it. I also don't know if the Emo allows both sets of outputs to work at the same time which #1 seems to describe. Guess you could try both ways and see which you prefer.

Drenis

Also, some subs have a built in high pass filter for speaker level outputs when it doesn't send full range signal. However, some subs can be variably adjusted while others either are set by the factory at a set freq. (e.g. - 80hz).

My Velodyne sends only 80hz and up from it's speaker level outputs so the variable adjustment controls where my low pass starts. This works great for bookies I'll be using but for large towers that hit lower, some may find that too high and want a sub that caters to that.