In Reply to: Adding a sub woofer to old school system posted by hscrc on November 26, 2016 at 09:16:44:
Yes you can do this.
Wire as follows:
You need two sets of speaker cables.
For the first set, use what ever you would normally use for your speakers and run directly from amp to speaker.
For the second set, use a twisted pair of fine wire, between about 24 and 28 gauge. What I do for these types of wires is pull out the "guts" of a CAT5 cable and add additional twist using a drill. Or you can just use what they call "low voltage alarm wire" that is pre-twisted. Run the second set from the amp to the sub. This connection will handle almost zero current, but will be more susceptible to noise. Thus, twisting is far more important than gauge.
You do NOT need to run from the amp to the sub and then sub to speakers. This is NOT a current connection you're making but a parallel voltage connection - which is better done at the amp because it's a central location. (The sub amp is basically scaling down a speaker level signal and applying a low pass filter to it.)
Last, set the crossover point between 45 and 60 hertz and try to dial in the sub with your speakers natural low end rolloff. Why people use a lowpass on main speakers to get a sub to work at 80Hz is completely beyond me. This is stereo music, not a home theatre application.
The need to run subs between 80-120hz (I believe) is based on misinformation, psychological factors (biases) and the idea that a sub adds BASS to a system. If you want more bass, you have basically two choices. (1) Equalization aka parametric EQ or shelf filter or (2) use a sub at 60Hz but also stereo low frequency drivers (woofers) *under* or *beside* each main. These "stereo woofer" boxes can be crossed over considerably higher. Because they're stereo, they can be crossed as high as 120 or 150Hz.
The biggest trouble audiophiles get into when they add a sub is they believe they are going to get more bass. They don't, they just get sub bass. Then, they crank up the crossover point to 80hz or higher, then they get harmonic artefacts above the crossover point resulting in localisation of the sub. Then, said audiophile firmly believes "Subs are bad, M'kay?"
Do subs properly and you'll love subs.
If you need more bass, do that properly too, and you'll still love subs.
Not to be a butt head, but I've seen to many people walk away from sub addition or sub/satellite systems simply because of misapplication.
Cheers,
Presto
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Follow Ups
- RE: Adding a sub woofer to old school system - Presto 12:55:25 11/26/16 (1)
- RE: Adding a sub woofer to old school system - tube Tom 21:06:30 11/26/16 (0)