Best way to connect subs? Use sub's own Crossover vs. XMC-1 Sub Outputs

[pittsburghjoe]

I have Janis W-1 subwoofers with separate Interphase bass amp/comparator/crossovers designed by the subwoofer manufacturer. They can take the Left and Right Front Speaker output from the XMC-1, and with high and low pass filter sections w/18db per octave slopes and 100 Hz corner frequency split the signals, passing on the high end to my XPA-5.

The option is to use the subwoofer outputs on the XMC-1 directly to the bass amps using them for power and phase compensation only. 

How will each option affect Dirac's room compensation system?

[geebo]

Jul 12, 2015 19:01:29 GMT -5 pittsburghjoe said:

I have Janis W-1 subwoofers with separate Interphase bass amp/comparator/crossovers designed by the subwoofer manufacturer. They can take the Left and Right Front Speaker output from the XMC-1, and with high and low pass filter sections w/18db per octave slopes and 100 Hz corner frequency split the signals, passing on the high end to my XPA-5.

The option is to use the subwoofer outputs on the XMC-1 directly to the bass amps using them for power and phase compensation only. 

How will each option affect Dirac's room compensation system?

I think having one sub appearing as the bottom end of two separate speakers in different locations to Dirac might cause some issues. Like for distance and phase calculations.

[dudeisms7]

+1 for just using the XMC.... And what geebo said

[pittsburghjoe]

Jul 12, 2015 22:01:42 GMT -5 geebo said:

Jul 12, 2015 19:01:29 GMT -5 pittsburghjoe said:

I have Janis W-1 subwoofers with separate Interphase bass amp/comparator/crossovers designed by the subwoofer manufacturer. They can take the Left and Right Front Speaker output from the XMC-1, and with high and low pass filter sections w/18db per octave slopes and 100 Hz corner frequency split the signals, passing on the high end to my XPA-5.

The option is to use the subwoofer outputs on the XMC-1 directly to the bass amps using them for power and phase compensation only. 

How will each option affect Dirac's room compensation system?

I think having one sub appearing as the bottom end of two separate speakers in different locations to Dirac might cause some issues. Like for distance and phase calculations.

The

[pittsburghjoe]

Not sure what you mean by one sub appearing at the bottom end of two separate speakers. The left and right front speaker outputs are run to the Interphase units and the internal crossovers split the low ends to the two subwoofers - and pass the high end to my left and right front speakers. I would use Dirac with the front speakers only - having corrected phase of the subwoofers first.

[geebo]

Jul 13, 2015 11:05:30 GMT -5 pittsburghjoe said:

Not sure what you mean by one sub appearing at the bottom end of two separate speakers. The left and right front speaker outputs are run to the Interphase units and the internal crossovers split the low ends to the two subwoofers - and pass the high end to my left and right front speakers. I would use Dirac with the front speakers only - having corrected phase of the subwoofers first.

Oh, I thought you were going to be doing this with only one subwoofer. Are the subs close to the front speakers?

This is the kind of thing you may want to try out and find what gives the most pleasing result. Things can get tricky with multiple subs. But you might try getting subs set up as best you can beforehand by whatever means you have at your disposal and then let Dirac do it's thing while indicating you have no sub in the XMC setup. I have multiple subs and I like to get the phases and combined room response dialed in with a miniDSP and then have Dirac set them as if they were one.

[DYohn]

My advice in general when using a home theater processor is to let it perform all bass management functions. Defeat the crossover on your subwoofer amp.

[pittsburghjoe]

Jul 13, 2015 11:41:50 GMT -5 geebo said:

Jul 13, 2015 11:05:30 GMT -5 pittsburghjoe said:

Not sure what you mean by one sub appearing at the bottom end of two separate speakers. The left and right front speaker outputs are run to the Interphase units and the internal crossovers split the low ends to the two subwoofers - and pass the high end to my left and right front speakers. I would use Dirac with the front speakers only - having corrected phase of the subwoofers first.

Oh, I thought you were going to be doing this with only one subwoofer. Are the subs close to the front speakers?

This is the kind of thing you may want to try out and find what gives the most pleasing result. Things can get tricky with multiple subs. But you might try getting subs set up as best you can beforehand by whatever means you have at your disposal and then let Dirac do it's thing while indicating you have no sub in the XMC setup. I have multiple subs and I like to get the phases and combined room response dialed in with a miniDSP and then have Dirac set them as if they were one.

Thanks Geebo. I will try it both ways.

Since the Interphase units were built specifically with high and low pass filters designed for the Janis subs, I'd prefer to use them. I have one sub next to each QUAD ESL 63 front speaker.
They use an 18db low pass filter slope at 100 hz. If I ignore the sub outs on the XMC-1 and set up the front speakers as "Large" will all the LFE channel info come through the XMC-1 front speaker outputs so that the Interphase crossover can direct LFE to the subs?

Obviously the simpler approach is to let the XMC-1 do all the splitting and just use the Interphase units for amplification and phase control, but I've heard that using the Interphase gives better results.

Thanks again for your input.
Anyone else have similar experiences using the XMC vs outboard crossover?

[geebo]

Jul 13, 2015 12:48:16 GMT -5 pittsburghjoe said:

Jul 13, 2015 11:41:50 GMT -5 geebo said:

Oh, I thought you were going to be doing this with only one subwoofer. Are the subs close to the front speakers?

This is the kind of thing you may want to try out and find what gives the most pleasing result. Things can get tricky with multiple subs. But you might try getting subs set up as best you can beforehand by whatever means you have at your disposal and then let Dirac do it's thing while indicating you have no sub in the XMC setup. I have multiple subs and I like to get the phases and combined room response dialed in with a miniDSP and then have Dirac set them as if they were one.

Thanks Geebo. I will try it both ways.

Since the Interphase units were built specifically with high and low pass filters designed for the Janis subs, I'd prefer to use them. I have one sub next to each QUAD ESL 63 front speaker.
They use an 18db low pass filter slope at 100 hz. If I ignore the sub outs on the XMC-1 and set up the front speakers as "Large" will all the LFE channel info come through the XMC-1 front speaker outputs so that the Interphase crossover can direct LFE to the subs?

Obviously the simpler approach is to let the XMC-1 do all the splitting and just use the Interphase units for amplification and phase control, but I've heard that using the Interphase gives better results.

Thanks again for your input.
Anyone else have similar experiences using the XMC vs outboard crossover?

I do believe if there is no sub connected then the LFE will get routed to the "large" speakers.