XSP-1 unable to drive subwoofers

[RCUBE]

Hello
Just got my G2 XSP setup and it is doing quiet well !!

However, I can't seem to get it to drive my Jamo subs. The sub's lights come on and it does play but sounds very very weak.

The subs work properly when the volume is cranked up at least 40% on the XMC. This is not good given the L/R also get cranked up.

This is driving me crazy

Can anyone understand what the problem is here??

Please help.

Cheers
RC

[sahmen]

Have you reviewed the crossover settings on the back of the XSP-1 to ensure that they're properly set and working right?

[RCUBE]

Hi Sahmen
Yes. The cross overs are set at 80.
I have tried a workaround by driving only the 2 jamo subs via UMC-200. Since the UMC is only handling the subs, I can raise the volume and get the subs playing.

But that's like a super overkill to have the UMC in the picture to only drive the subs.

[FLcanuck]

Where do you have the volume settings on your subs? You may just need to boost the volume on them a bit.

Are your sub crossovers being bypassed or set to their highest level? If not, you may be creating problems if you're using the XSP-1's crossover settings as well.

How do you have your subs connected to the XSP-1 - balanced or unbalanced? How about the amp(s) for your FL/FR speakers? What kind of speakers? What is their sensitivity? A balanced connection will provide +6db hotter than unbalanced, so if you have your speakers connected balanced and subs unbalanced, you'd need to boost the sub volume to match the FL/FR. And if your speakers are very efficient, again, you may need to boost the sub volume to match their volume.

[RCUBE]

The subs are connected to the XSP via unbalanced and the volume control on the subs is turned to full. The subwoofer cross overs setting when changed to 250hz does not make the volume problem go away. I have played with the crossover at the XSP, subwoofer.
Nothing helps except raising the volume on the pre-amp (XSP).

Regarding main speakers, The XSP feeds into a pair of XPA-1L via balanced cables. The L/R speakers are Axiom M22.

Is this something to do with a possibility of my subwoofer needing a higher voltage instead of standard 1v which the XSP is outputting?

[RCUBE]

The subs in question here are the Jamo Sub-650.

[vcautokid]

Hello ranjithc, Congratulations on your purchase of the XSP-1 Reference Differential Balanced Preamplifier. I have read your post, and wanted to be certain that you have engaged the "High Pass" / "Full Range" switches on the rear to the "High Pass" position so that you may enjoy your Subwoofers to their fullest.

Please note the Instructions on Page 11 of the user manual as it states the following for listening in the "High Pass" position that also involves the Cross Over Pots to adjust your Subwoofer to main Left/Right Speaker crossover points.

The Operators manual quotes.

To make the Main Outputs of the XSP-1 full range (and disable bass management for the Main
Outputs), set this switch to the left (away from the High Pass adjustment screw). Setting this
switch to the right (towards the adjustment screw) enables bass management for the Main
Outputs. When bass management is enabled, the Main Outputs carry only the high frequency
part of the audio spectrum (the crossover point is set using the High Pass adjustment (10)).

I think the switches currently maybe in the Full Range mode currently. I think the above setting will solve, and allow you to enjoy your XSP-1 Preamplifier, and Subwoofer, and speaker compliment to its fullest.

[RCUBE]

Thanks for the wishes vcauctokid.

Do you mean to say that the crossover setting behind the XSP when set to full range, the bass signals will only go to main speakers?

That sounds odd. But I will test this today and conform back if this solves the issue

[vcautokid]

Nope be sure they are set to High Pass.

[restless]

You can check by using the BALANCED output to your L/R speakers, and drive you sub from the RCA outputs for L/R. I prefer this setup, myself. Both the XLR and RCA output are driven on the XSP-1.

[RCUBE]

Hi guys
I tried the crossover setup changing and no change.
Then, I tried connecting the unbalanced out from the DAC directly to the subwoofers. Voila!!

I get the subs to work.

Why can't the XSP drive the subwoofers?? I even tried using the summed output and no difference.

What am I doing wrong? Both the XSP unbalanced and DAC unbalanced should be outputting line level signals

[vcautokid]

The switches confirmed are in the high pass position.

[RCUBE]

Yes. Absolutely

[RCUBE]

The cross overs on the XSP are pointing to each other.
Tried other way also. No change to the subwoofers output.
The subwoofers play alright but is very very weak even when I turn the subwoofers volume to full.

[sahmen]

Mar 23, 2015 20:08:10 GMT -5 RCUBE said:

The cross overs on the XSP are pointing to each other.
Tried other way also. No change to the subwoofers output.
The subwoofers play alright but is very very weak even when I turn the subwoofers volume to full.

Could be some kind of glitch in the connections... Have you spoken to Emo tech support about this problem at all?  That would be my next stop.

[RCUBE]

I doubt if the XSP has a problem. Unlikely because I faced the exact same issue when I got and used the UMC as well.
Is a bit difficult to believe I got two lemons consecutively ?


If I raise the volume on the XSP to -20 and above, the subs start to sound as expected.

But that makes my front L-R louder in the same proportion.

I could try connecting the unbalanced right and left from the XSP to the subwoofers and use the bass management on the subs.
But that defeats the purpose of the XSP.

[deltadube]

Mar 22, 2015 19:45:25 GMT -5 RCUBE said:

Hello
Just got my G2 XSP setup and it is doing quiet well !!

However, I can't seem to get it to drive my Jamo subs. The sub's lights come on and it does play but sounds very very weak.

The subs work properly when the volume is cranked up at least 40% on the XMC. This is not good given the L/R also get cranked up.

This is driving me crazy

Can anyone understand what the problem is here??

Please help.

Cheers
RC

hello ranjithc ... I had a weak signal to my subs as well perhaps not as week as yours..


I think I know how to get a boost.. you need to give more specific feed back about what you have done, hard to understand..


when u say volume on the sub is turn up to the max do you mean the gain??? that is too much turn in back to 3 o'clock max

set crossover on sub to max..

on the xsp 1 the switches should be push into the cross over dials on both sides.. pointing at each other...

set at 9.30 o'clock which is about 100 hz 20 hz per dot.. ...

for both mains and sub dials..

now your rca out of the xsp 1 on the stereo left and right outputs to righ and left subs ...

at the sub u put the rca into the red righ input ?

get 2 small rca y splitters.. put on end of line and put the left and right split on the left and right inputs on each sub
that gave my subs a 13 db boost...

cheers..

[RCUBE]

Hi deltdube,
I have done everything you mentioned during the test.

Only thing I have not done is, using the Y splitter.
I don't have a Y splitter currently so I guess I will get the same boost if I connect both rca outputs on the XSP to a single subwoofer as well.

Right?

[RCUBE]

Ahh. I understand what u meant.
Ok. Let me get the Y adapter and try this trick.

Thanks

[RCUBE]

Hi friends.
I got the Y splitter today and tried. If I use the summed output and use the splitter at the subwoofer end, this seems to help. I don't have to push the volume on the XSP that much but still the SLAM is missing until I push the volume

I will do a bit of further tweaking and update back tomorrow.