How to run polk RT2000i passive?

MAZ
MAZ Posts: 22
Picked up a pair for $150. 1 amp doesnt work. Not fond of plate amps and thought i might be able to power them off one of these new tiny chinese amps ( the newest ones out are small but actually powerful)

Not sure what i will need to do beside bypass the stock amp. Being the stock amps are not very good im sure some have already done this.

Literally got them yesterday and havnt opened anything. 1 amp is not working. Other is.

Answers

  • The things you'll have to consider:

    1). providing a low pass filter to roll off the upper response of the woofer.
    2). providing the correct EQ for the enclosure's bass tuning.
    3). providing a variable volume level to balance the woofer's output to the rest of the system.
  • MAZ
    MAZ Posts: 22
    Thanks !

    Yea. Now im considering just replacing the amp. I dont have time to properly do this.

    I do have some parts but it would take time to research for compatability and all that.
  • MAZ
    MAZ Posts: 22
    The things you'll have to consider:

    1). providing a low pass filter to roll off the upper response of the woofer.
    2). providing the correct EQ for the enclosure's bass tuning.
    3). providing a variable volume level to balance the woofer's output to the rest of the system.


    So this speaker is listed as a 2 way. So does that mean the subs are fed low end off the same xover

    Or are they totally separate like 2 speakers in one enclosure?





  • SeleniumFalcon
    SeleniumFalcon Posts: 3,831
    edited November 2023
    From the owner's manual:

    d9j1ujvqzhg6.png

    If they are being used with a receiver instead of a preamp and power amp then the binding post jumper plates would be left in position.
  • MAZ
    MAZ Posts: 22
    From the owner's manual:

    d9j1ujvqzhg6.png

    If they are being used with a receiver instead of a preamp and power amp then the binding post jumper plates would be left in position.

    I am talking about inside the speaker's wiring , not how to hook it up on the outside.


    its a 2 way speaker but it has a tweeter / a mid and 2 subs. so the internal crossover splits between the tweet and the mid with the subs being dealt with by themselves ??

    I guess when I open it I will find out. in normal situations this speaker would be a 3way if not having a powered sub if I am thinking correct.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,643
    I dont have time to properly answer that.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,199
    F1nut wrote: »
    I dont have time to properly answer that.

    Basically how I was going to respond.

    You want to use a Powered speaker passive, why wouldn't you think you would have to put some work into this?

    In your case, just find someone to fix the amp, maybe rebuild the working one anyway as all plate amps fail over time. In my experience, power towers and subwoofer stand alone models all fail. I have 2 Velodyne DD10 Plus Subwoofers which are pretty high end, I had one of the plate amps on one go.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
  • SeleniumFalcon
    SeleniumFalcon Posts: 3,831
    edited November 2023
    My reason for showing you the connection diagram was to answer your question. If the speaker is given a speaker level signal to the top set of binding posts with the binding post jumper plates in place the bass amplifier reduces this signal to a line level signal filters off everything below 80Hz, performs the necessary EQ for the characteristics of the box, woofer and port, amplifies it and gives it to the two woofers. The incoming speaker level signal also goes to the passive network of the mid range and tweeter where a passive high pass filter (a series electrolytic capacitor) rolls off frequencies below 80Hz. Then additional passive components create the frequency spectrums for the mid range driver and the tweeter.
    If you want you can think of the speaker as a two way design with self contained bass amplified woofers. Or, if you prefer, a bi-amplified three way speaker system.
  • MAZ
    MAZ Posts: 22
    If you want you can think of the speaker as a two way design with self contained bass amplified woofers. Or, if you prefer, a bi-amplified three way speaker system.

    yea thats what I concluded. and stated above. the 2 way is not including the sub drivers . they are separately connected and controlled. if I ran this passive it would need a 3 way network.




  • MAZ
    MAZ Posts: 22
    mantis wrote: »
    F1nut wrote: »

    In your case, just find someone to fix the amp, maybe rebuild the working one anyway as all plate amps fail over time. In my experience, power towers and subwoofer stand alone models all fail. I have 2 Velodyne DD10 Plus Subwoofers which are pretty high end, I had one of the plate amps on one go.

    because I am not spending the kind of money they are asking for an amp that absolutely blows by comparison of the amps they make now for less than $100.

    so yes, I am going to take the time to make them passive seeing as the other option is throwing away money. ive built amps 100 times better than these plate amps. I dont run them. not in my main system or ever. they all fail because its poorly built amps made to fit on the back of a box.


  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,199
    MAZ wrote: »
    mantis wrote: »
    F1nut wrote: »

    In your case, just find someone to fix the amp, maybe rebuild the working one anyway as all plate amps fail over time. In my experience, power towers and subwoofer stand alone models all fail. I have 2 Velodyne DD10 Plus Subwoofers which are pretty high end, I had one of the plate amps on one go.

    because I am not spending the kind of money they are asking for an amp that absolutely blows by comparison of the amps they make now for less than $100.

    so yes, I am going to take the time to make them passive seeing as the other option is throwing away money. ive built amps 100 times better than these plate amps. I dont run them. not in my main system or ever. they all fail because its poorly built amps made to fit on the back of a box.



    I get all of that. You can block off the amp cut out, run external amps and call it a day.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
  • MAZ
    MAZ Posts: 22
    Well.. i bought a replacement amp for cheap off ehay that matches the other amp that still works.

    This to get them running again. I think i want to find some sda instead.