hooking a subwoofer to the SEX amp

scooter_nate · 3668

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Offline scooter_nate

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on: May 01, 2012, 11:00:53 AM
hey all, I am looking to hook a powered subwoofer to my SEX amp can this be done?

thanks for you input



Offline scooter_nate

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Reply #1 on: May 02, 2012, 03:28:20 PM
I was reading old posts about hooking a sub up to the sex amp and i am a little confused. I don't hook them up to the speaker posts on the amp right, i will have to do some wiring inside i would asume? Also would a passive sub work better for this then a powered?

Thanks



Offline earwaxxer

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Reply #2 on: May 02, 2012, 05:53:52 PM
Personally I wouldnt waist good tube output on a subwoofer amp. If you have a digital front end you can run a cheap DAC off of spdif and signal the sub amp with that. That would be more than adequate for the low frequencies.

Eric
Emotiva XPA-2, Magnepan MMG (mod), Quickie (mod), JRiver, Wyrd4sound uLink, Schiit Gungnir, JPS Digital power cord, MIT power cord, JPS Labs ultraconductor wire throughout, HSU sub. powered by Crown.


Offline 2wo

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Reply #3 on: May 02, 2012, 06:11:41 PM
Hooking a sub, to a SEX, is no different than most any other amp. If your sub amp has speaker level inputs, should work just fine...John 

John S.


Offline porcupunctis

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Reply #4 on: May 02, 2012, 06:27:36 PM
Using the speaker level inputs mean that the sub volume will change with any changes in the amp or pre-amp volume.  That means you can basically "set it and forget it".

Using the line level may cause you to re-adjust the subs to volume changes in the amp to keep them synced.

I use a foreplay pre with my SEX and run the subs from the extra pre-out.  As ,long as I don't fiddle with the SEX volume and stick with the preamp controls, I don't normally have to adjust the volume on the subs.  I still adjust for taste now and then.

Experiment and stick with what you like.

Randall Massey
Teacher of Mathematics
Lifetime audio-electronics junkie


Offline Jim R.

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Reply #5 on: May 05, 2012, 06:46:42 AM
I agree with Randall, plus the other benefit of using the speaker outs on the s.e.x. to the speaker level inputs on the sub amp(s) means that tone and phase will be consistent with what the mains are seeing and assuming proper wiring of the whole system and placement of the subs, better integration should result.

Once you have the integration right, turn the sub amp gain way down, crank the mains up as loud as you'd want, then slowly in crease the sub amps output until you just barely hear the subs, and then maybe a hair more, and then all levels, phase and tone balances should remain very consistent regardless of music and level.

H
TH,

Jim

Jim Rebman -- recovering audiophile

Equitech balanced power; uRendu, USB processor -> Musette DAC -> 5670 tube buffer -> Finale Audio F138 FFX -> Cain and Cain Abbys near-field).

s.e.x. 2.1 under construction.  Want list: Stereomour II

All ICs homemade (speaker and power next)


4krow

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Reply #6 on: May 05, 2012, 07:10:28 AM
Jrebman,
  I totally agree that the phase is important for the sub. It might be the reason that a sub has a more believable impression to the ear. Our hearing really is amazing when it comes to identifying fact from fiction. Sub placement will of course, be critical as well. When I have gotten it right in the past, it was really right.