Subsonic filter wish and a solution


I started a thread a while back called anyone wish they had a subsonic filter. Thanks to everyone for their input to that question, btw. I have a very mild case of woofer pumping as it is sometimes called. I can't hear it, as far as I can tell, but it bugs me because, as some of you have commented, it results in the amplifier using energy in it's effort to produce the very low frequency junk signals. I figured out quickly that I could not simply add a high pass section to the actual speaker crossover because of the huge size of the caps and inductors needed to do this. And since I like the match of my phono pre/cartridge/arm, I have been looking at either an internal modification of the phono preamp or a high quality outboard filter. It looks to me that Marchand's XM-46SB is my solution. It can be customized as to frequency rolloff. I ordered one that rolls off at 24dB starting at 18Hz. It does what I want it to do, and no more. I'm hoping that the benefits will outweigh the downside of adding two interconnects and the circuit to my system. My main objective is to solve the problem with little or no affect on the frequencies above the 18Hz, and also to avoid buying a new phono preamp. I'll post again once I get the filter, in case anyone is interested in the results.
240zracer

Showing 5 responses by dan_ed

Dave, you're the first person I've heard say they wouldn't be without a subsonic filter. If your amps are worth a crap you will not have any problems. Why apply that filter to records that don't exhibit LF issues? If it's happening with all of your records then the problem is with the table or what/where it is sited. What ever floats your boat.
Dave, I posted in haste. I didn't mean to imply that your amps were crap. I probably should have said "if one's amps are worth a crap".

Anyway. Yes, I can hear LF signals and that's my point. I don't use subs in my 2 channel system but both speakers I use (Aerial 10t, 16Hz and LaCampanella, 20Hz) are quite capable of getting down low with a great deal of authority. But the kind of LF signals that cause the woofer dance are the result of system problems or warped records.
That's what I meant. The sub-sonics are still there. Your sub will be trying to reproduce whatever signal is sent to it.