Moving sub from AV amp to SN?

Posted by: DT79 on 15 April 2012

Hi - I'm thinking of trying moving my sub from being connected to the AV amp, to be connected to my SN, so that it's also used for music.  Before I go to all the palava of doing this I thought I'd see whether people thought it was worth trying.

 

Currently for home theatre I have my front L&R channels routed from my AV amp (Sony STRDA3300ES c. £700 about 4 years ago) through my SN, with no centre speaker.  Front speakers are Neat momentum 3i - I have them set to small with the cross-over frequency set at 40Hz. Sub is an REL Quake. In making the change I would connect the sub to the sub-out socket on the SN, set the front speakers to Large on the AV amp (so it re-directs the bass to the front channels and thus, indirectly still to the sub), and then tweak the roll-off and level of the sub to integrate with the speakers.

 

What do we think - worth a go?

 

 

 

Posted on: 15 April 2012 by Mr Underhill

Hi DT,

 

I have used a REL Strata 3 for years. I have tried to integrate it with none-full range speakers in the past, both connecting it from my power amps, or from the speakers, and never did so to my complete satisfaction.

 

Today I use Living Voice speakers, that give me a fuller range, and this satisfies me - the sub is purely for AV - via my AV2.

 

That said, lots of people report results with a sub that satisfy them.

 

If you've got the itch I would scratch it, the only price is your time.

Posted on: 15 April 2012 by DT79

Good point. I'm not sure my sub's good enough to use with music (or if it's necessary with my speakers), but I am curious to try so I'll give it a bash.  

Posted on: 12 May 2012 by HuwJ

Hi DT,

 

The first thing I would suggest is moving your cross over to 80Hz. 

 

I have these speakers:

Front:

http://www.focal.com/en/home-a.../electra-1028-be.php

Centre:

http://www.focal.com/en/home-a...ectra-cc-1008-be.php

Rear:

http://www.focal.com/en/home-a.../electra-1008-be.php

 

They go down pretty low for the fronts (34Hz) but the centre still only goes down 55Hz and the rears to 47Hz. Neat don't say how low your speakers go (that I could find) but as book shelf speakers I imagine the lower (if they can in fact actually go down to 40Hz) you take them the more strain they encounter. By using 80Hz your sub will take the strain and allow your speakers to work more effectively in the upper bass and mid range.

 

I have a REL 505 sub and use it just for AV. I do not use the high level connection.

 

I used to have the sub connected to my front speakers via the high level connection at the SN end, but on removing it found that my speakers actually sounded a lot better - as if a veil had been removed. I have since read it is better to connect to the speaker terminals on the speakers themselves - but have not tried.

 

If you can connect your sub up to your speaker terminals, and as you have small bookshelves, if you can get the integration right you might well benefit and hear an improvement.

 

Regards

Huw