Best sub connection method

[sergiocwp]

Hello,

I just received a svs sb-1000 sub for my birthday.  In reading the documentation, it has many connection options.  Is there any benefits to using the 5way binding posts and speaker cable from my amp into the sub or do I use rca cable from my USP sub out to the LFE on the sub?  I am guessing if I go from my amp to the sub that I am taking power away from my speakers.  My amp is a UPA-2.

Thanks in advance.
Sergio

[Boomzilla]

Hi Sergio -

No, running speaker wires to the sub WON'T "take away power from the speakers." The speakers are the path of least resistance for the amplifier's power, so they still play like "normal." The sub just sits off to the side and "monitors" the sound. When a bass frequency comes along, then (and only then) does the sub make noise.

The best way for sub hookup, in my opinion, is to use the "bass management" in your AV preamp or receiver. This provides two advantages: One, the low frequencies are no longer sent to your main amps and speakers. Relieved of the burden of producing all that bass, the amp and speakers usually sound cleaner. The second advantage is that the subwoofer can be more accurately blended to the main speakers. The AV preamp or receiver usually has a "calibration mode" that will automatically compensate for the sound of the subwoofer in your room and ensure that the sub and main speakers are at matching levels and phases.

Happy listening! Boomzilla

[jlafrenz]

I find that in my 2 channel system I have had the best luck using the high level inputs. I tried using the sub out on an amp I had in there for a while and it didn't really sound too good. This certainly isn't the case for all situations though. If you are using it for HT purposes, boomzilla makes some great points about the signal processing. If you have some extra speaker wire laying around it would be worth it to try both ways and see which you personally like better.

[Boomzilla]

Thanks, jlafrenz - I've learned something. I thought that there was never a time when the high level inputs were superior. Since I've got speaker wire coming out my ears (figuratively speaking...), I'll try it & see.

[sergiocwp]

Thanks guys,

I am using this set up strictly for music and since I also have a bunch of leftover speaker wire, I will try that route first. Since I also have a bunch of rca cables in a box somewhere, I will wait till the house is empty and experiment with both the speaker wire and the interconnect.

Any suggestions on artist or track that I should use to test. I pretty much listen to everything from house/tecno to classic rock, to punk rock, to R&B, to Hip Hop, to Classical to Jazz to Reggae and everything in between.


I will report back as soon as I am able.


Regards,
Sergio

[Boomzilla]

Hi Sergio -

For acoustic bass, I like a band called the Pentangle. Their "Basket of Light" album is a good place to start.

For electric bass, I like the soundtrack from "The Commitments" movie. Specifically, "In the Midnight Hour" and "Mustang Sally." In the former, the bass should be visceral, and when the tenor sax comes in, it should sound fat & full. I also like the tracks "Somebody, Somewhere" by Jennifer Warnes, and "Cold Cold Heart" by Norah Jones.

For synth, I like "Dancing in the Dark" by Lady GaGa and Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" by Don Dorsey. I also like Kraftwerk's "The Mix" album and Erasure's "Magic Moments."

And for drums, I like anything by Balkan Beat Box.

Happy rumbling!

Boomzilla

[Gary Cook]

I find the USP-1's base management to be very effective and accurate, far superior to any subwoofer's inbuilt control. Not saying don't try high level input, you might like it, but just that the USP-1 does a pretty good job of doing it itself.

Cheers
Gary

[sergiocwp]

Thanks Gary, Are you using the sub out or the high pass output RCAs?

Thanks,
Sergio

[sergiocwp]

Hi all,

So I had a chance to test both connection methods. First, I connected directly from the UPA-2, via speaker wire, to the high pass speaker inputs on the sub and set the crossover to 80Hz. Wow, completely blown away by the tightness of the bass coming out of the sub. Very happy through wide range of music. Yes, I tried Bass I Love You by Bassatronics, thunderous to say the least. But I took my time and played cds, streaming audio (spotify, eastvillageradio.com, KVRX etc). The sub enriched everything with well defined bass, not boomy, but certainly deep. After a week, I connect a blue Jeans sub cable from the sub out on the USP-1 to the lfe input on the sub, set the crossover to 80hz and meh. Initially, thought it was the source, but I tried cds, various bitrate digital files and all were flat and lifeless. The sub was performing but nowhere near as rich as the prior method. i did check with manual and had everything connected properly and set correctly. I adjusted the crossover to try and gain some output from the sub, but nothing. Anyway, I gave it a few days and was just underwhelmed, so I went back to the speaker cable and sure enough, back in full effect. So, I am happy with the bass management on my new SVS sb-1000 and will use it over the USP-1.

Thanks for all your suggestions/recommendations.

Sergio

[jlafrenz]

Glad you took the time to try both ways and decide what worked best for you. For me, part of the fun in this hobby is trying out different setups like this.

Boom, did you ever try this with your system?

[Gary Cook]

Dec 3, 2013 13:59:07 GMT -5 sergiocwp said:

Hi all,

So I had a chance to test both connection methods. First, I connected directly from the UPA-2, via speaker wire, to the high pass speaker inputs on the sub and set the crossover to 80Hz. Wow, completely blown away by the tightness of the bass coming out of the sub. Very happy through wide range of music. Yes, I tried Bass I Love You by Bassatronics, thunderous to say the least. But I took my time and played cds, streaming audio (spotify, eastvillageradio.com, KVRX etc). The sub enriched everything with well defined bass, not boomy, but certainly deep. After a week, I connect a blue Jeans sub cable from the sub out on the USP-1 to the lfe input on the sub, set the crossover to 80hz and meh. Initially, thought it was the source, but I tried cds, various bitrate digital files and all were flat and lifeless. The sub was performing but nowhere near as rich as the prior method. i did check with manual and had everything connected properly and set correctly. I adjusted the crossover to try and gain some output from the sub, but nothing. Anyway, I gave it a few days and was just underwhelmed, so I went back to the speaker cable and sure enough, back in full effect. So, I am happy with the bass management on my new SVS sb-1000 and will use it over the USP-1.

Thanks for all your suggestions/recommendations.

Sergio

Hi Sergio, in theory there should be zero difference (or close to zero anyway) so it says to me that there were cross over set up and/or volume differences. Between what you had the USP-1 set to and what you had the sub set to. The USP-1 outputs plenty of line level (9 volts) so I doubt that's an issue, it could simply be that the sub volume needs a bump compared to the higher output of the UPA-2.

It may not apply in your situation but the big advantage of using the subwoofer output on the USP-1 is in bypass for movies.


Cheers
Gary

[jlafrenz]

Good thought Gary. It should be fairly easy to make sure the subs were playing at the same level using an SPL meter. I think it would be interesting to see an actual graph of the output that may show any differences if any.

[sockemdog]

Nov 23, 2013 10:45:47 GMT -5 Boomzilla said:

Hi Sergio -

For acoustic bass, I like a band called the Pentangle. Their "Basket of Light" album is a good place to start.

For electric bass, I like the soundtrack from "The Commitments" movie. Specifically, "In the Midnight Hour" and "Mustang Sally." In the former, the bass should be visceral, and when the tenor sax comes in, it should sound fat & full. I also like the tracks "Somebody, Somewhere" by Jennifer Warnes, and "Cold Cold Heart" by Norah Jones.

For synth, I like "Dancing in the Dark" by Lady GaGa and Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" by Don Dorsey. I also like Kraftwerk's "The Mix" album and Erasure's "Magic Moments."

And for drums, I like anything by Balkan Beat Box.

Happy rumbling!

Boomzilla

I've had that Bachbuster disc since the late 80's.  Don Dorsey does one of the best renditions of Toccata and Fugue I've ever heard (IMO).

Brad