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Subwoofer & pre amp

I like JL Audio subwoofer, had F113 for a brief period and thought it was better than Rel B1 & Stadium I used to own.

I now have a pre amp with only 1 set of output; JL only takes line leve input and no speaker level input. Short of using a Y-adaptor which will degrade sound more or less, will I be better off getting a Velodyne DD or Rel again? Either one will be physically larger than JL whcih could be an issue.

This sub will be 30% music & 70% HT, I normally don't use sub for music but like to have that option.
semi

Showing 8 responses by semi

semi OP
649 posts
 
that will require buying new cables and long XLR IC are not "cheap", probably cost as much as a subwoofer.

Purist Audio sells Y-adapter for $300 and they openly admit it will degrade sound.

JL subwoofer has variable/fixed gain selection in front. According to the manual, fixed is used when volume is controlled by pre amp or processor. what about variable? my pre amp has RCA line out which has fixed output, can that be used?
semi OP
649 posts
 
it does, but only 1 channel. it's for connecting more than 1 sub using daisy-chain method.

even if it has stereo out, it will degrade system sound. my emphasis is on maximizing 2-ch performance, otherwise I can't justify spending the kind of money I spent on pre & power amps.

if all fails, I might even down grade to a cheap sub just for HT...
semi OP
649 posts
 
I am using Einstein pre amp. simply the best I have owned, but it lacks many useful feature like HT bypass, 2 sets of output, or even volume setting. German likes to do things differently, form follows function at its best.

guess it's either Velodyne or REL for me?
semi OP
649 posts
 
like a voltage divider or a variable pod? I will need high current resistors since it's coming from speaker terminal I assumed.

interesting suggestion, let me research into that.
semi OP
649 posts
 
thank you Perrew, the link is very useful.

Raul, I don't quite understand your comment. Velodyne has speaker level input which solves my problem, REL is known for its sophisticated speaker level input module and I know it will blend with speaker well. but if I want to stick with JL Audio, I think I either have to create my own voltage divider or I am out of luck.
semi OP
649 posts
 
I was suggested by others to use Bryston, Pass, or ARC active crossover, all will "add" flavor to the sound which I am trying to avoid.

I think my best bet is to make a voltage divider if I want to stick with JL Audio. life will be easier if I just go with a Velodyne DD, but it's physically much larger.
semi OP
649 posts
 
I am leaning toward building a voltage divider per Perrew's link simply because it will not alter or degrade my pre amp sound. adding a Y-splitter will change the sound for sure, I contacted Purist Audio and a pair of Y-splitters cost $300! not exactly pocket change for something I am not 100% sure will work for me.

like Stanwal said, Y-splitter will not introduce cross talk. however, it will change output impedance when I have both output hookup.
semi OP
649 posts
 
Raul,

I have only 1 set of pre out from my pre amp, the other two outputs are all line out which is fixed in output.

JL F113 has both fixed and variable input, but variable does not mean I can feed it with line out from my pre amp as I will need to adjust volume on JL F113 for every piece of music. not a pratical solution.

my best option is to build a voltage divider and feed JL F113 directly from my power amps, there are no other alternatives unless I use a Y-adapter.
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