If ICs matter...

mhartman29
mhartman29 Posts: 257
edited January 2008 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
... and they affect the sound quality of your system, what affect does using Y cables to split the signal have on the system? Especially, if you aren't using high quality y cables -- do they exist?

Sorry if this is a silly question, but I've been pondering using y cables to split the L & R signals coming from my preamp so that I can feed the LFE into my subwoofer. The reason I have to try this method is that my preamp (Emotiva lmc) does not send LFE output to the subwoofer output when the speakers are set to LARGE. Setting my speakers (RT3000s) to small have a negative impact on the soundstage, imo, so that isn't a viable option for me.
Emotiva LMC pre/pro
Emotiva LPA amp
Fronts LSI15
Center LSIC
Rears LSI7s
Dual MFW-15s
Oppo 980H
Signal Analog II ICs
Signal Ultra speaker cables
Post edited by mhartman29 on
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Comments

  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited January 2008
    Added a splitter is adding a connection, a source of signal loss. Generally, this is of little concern. The loading on the preamp won't be significant. You should just try it and see considering the cost involved.
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  • mhartman29
    mhartman29 Posts: 257
    edited January 2008
    Where can one find higher quality y-cables to minimize the signal loss? Or will any type (radio shack) suffice?
    Emotiva LMC pre/pro
    Emotiva LPA amp
    Fronts LSI15
    Center LSIC
    Rears LSI7s
    Dual MFW-15s
    Oppo 980H
    Signal Analog II ICs
    Signal Ultra speaker cables
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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited January 2008
    The length of the cable is not really a factor, so you're just looking for decent connectors. Any splitter will suffice.
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  • cambir
    cambir Posts: 1,046
    edited January 2008
    mhartman29 wrote: »
    Where can one find higher quality y-cables to minimize the signal loss? Or will any type (radio shack) suffice?

    don't know if higher-quality will make that much of a difference on a y cable, but audioquest makes one.
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  • jabrax
    jabrax Posts: 315
    edited January 2008
    Mhart - See if your LMC sub function has a setting for enhanced or somthing similiar.

    I have the MMC. It has an option under speakers - sub - enhncd.

    In this mode, you can set speakers to large and the sub will run always for movies and music.
    TV...............Hitachi 42hdS52a plasma (sexy one with the swival)
    Pre/Processor - Emotiva MMC
    Seven Ch AMP - Emotiva LPA
    Fronts - Tyler Acoustics 7U's
    Center - Polk LSIC
    Sub - DSWPRO600
    DAC - Music Hall 25.3CD - Marantz cc4001
    Blue Ray - PS3
    Speaker cables - Audioquest cv4 dbs
    Interconnects - MIT AVT1's
    Power Filter....Monster HTS 3500 MKII
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  • mhartman29
    mhartman29 Posts: 257
    edited January 2008
    jabrax, unfortunately, it does not. Under speakers --> sub my only options are On or Off. So far I love the LMC, but it is making it very hard to get my SW hooked up properly.
    Emotiva LMC pre/pro
    Emotiva LPA amp
    Fronts LSI15
    Center LSIC
    Rears LSI7s
    Dual MFW-15s
    Oppo 980H
    Signal Analog II ICs
    Signal Ultra speaker cables
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,205
    edited January 2008
    mhartman29 wrote: »
    jabrax, unfortunately, it does not. Under speakers --> sub my only options are On or Off. So far I love the LMC, but it is making it very hard to get my SW hooked up properly.
    I'm pretty sure mhartman is correct. That is one of the things I noticed about the LMC-1 also: no control over the subwoofer and LFE output other than "off" or "on".
    Alea jacta est!
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited January 2008
    Parts Express has some nice y-cables:
    http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=181-692

    But I'm not sure what you want to do will work well, as you will only be feeding the sub bass from the right or left channel. And it will not get the info from the LFE channel.
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,205
    edited January 2008
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    ... But I'm not sure what you want to do will work well, as you will only be feeding the sub bass from the right or left channel. And it will not get the info from the LFE channel.
    If he's going to do it that way, shouldn't he just hook up his subwoofer the Polk Audio way, with speaker wire, rather than buying "Y" type splitters? Maybe this is the way to do it, for those who haven't read about this yet:

    - Speaker wire from L/R Front terminals on amplifier to subwoofer.
    - Then speaker L/R from the subwoofer to Front speakers.
    - No specific subwoofer cable (RCA type connectors) is used at all from the LFE output.

    Of course, for movies, the effect is going to be very different without the dedicated 0.1 LFE channel. The crossover will be managed by the subwoofer in this case, not the LMC-1, but with speakers set to "large" on the LMC-1, it possibly doesn't make any difference.
    Alea jacta est!
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited January 2008
    I make them, and sell them.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • mhartman29
    mhartman29 Posts: 257
    edited January 2008
    According to emotiva, when the speakers are set to large and the subwoofer is off, then all lfe effects are directed into the front main speakers. So, that is the rationale behind the setup.

    Kex, I could try it out the Polk way. I would be interested in trying this method out, if it were not for the expense. An extra stereo pair of Signal Ultras would be $120 plus.
    Emotiva LMC pre/pro
    Emotiva LPA amp
    Fronts LSI15
    Center LSIC
    Rears LSI7s
    Dual MFW-15s
    Oppo 980H
    Signal Analog II ICs
    Signal Ultra speaker cables
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited January 2008
    I think I would rather use some Home po-po 12 guage speaker wire and do it the Polk Way rather than a splitter but either way will work, since its just a "trial" I would not dump alot of dough into the splitters, at least not initially, if you like it, then I am sure someone will sell you a higher end splitter for a bit more tweaking.

    RT1
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,205
    edited January 2008
    mhartman29 wrote: »
    .. Kex, I could try it out the Polk way. I would be interested in trying this method out, if it were not for the expense. An extra stereo pair of Signal Ultras would be $120 plus.
    Oops! Sorry, I forgot you were using real wire. I'm still on coat hangers and twist ties from garbage bags (well, Monoprice 12 AWG).
    Alea jacta est!
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,990
    edited January 2008
    If that was me and I couldn't do what you are wanting to do,I would dump it in a heartbeat and get a real pre/pro.No offence ment.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited January 2008
    you could buy an Outlaw ICBM, bass management problems with any system over.

    RT1
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2008
    mhartman29 wrote: »
    Where can one find higher quality y-cables to minimize the signal loss? Or will any type (radio shack) suffice?

    Signal Cable here, call Frank and he'll make you a custom set of Y connectors. I purchased a pair for my old bi-amp set up and they are awesome. They DID NOT affect the signal quality. I believe they were like $75 well worth the quality.
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