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LFE vs High-level subwoofer connection, for FIDELITY

Simple as it sounds. What subwoofer connection method offers higher fidelity, and why? The LFE, 75 ohm unbalanced RCA cable. Or high-level, speaker wire to the binding posts of the amp. I am running 2 KEF KC92 subwoofers to a Soul Note A-2 Ver. 1 amplifier.
 

Grok Ai states it matches your speakers tonal balance, timing cues, and sonic signature, because it shares the same signal path through the amplifier that your speakers sound travels through. It’s also a great way to get tube or amp sound into your bass region. My LFE outputs from my Khozmo Acoustics pre-amp, bypassing the amplifiers elite and favorable sound.  The PS audio subwoofer had not been released yet or I’d have swoope those up, instead of the KEFs.

Also, has anyone heard that it is straining or damaging to a truly balanced, direct coupled amplifier to use high level inputs? This was mentioned to me and I can’t recall how reliable a source it came from. 

jbuddha882
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,788 posts
 

The problem with a high-level connection to the amp or main speaker terminals is that there’s no way to properly integrate/balance the sub with the main speaker.  So-called double-bass is completely unpredictable.

OTOH, the success of the low-level connections will depend on what precedes them in the signal path but, at least, one can insert a proper crossover.

Of course, this comes from someone who believes there is no valid reason "get tube or amp sound into your bass region."  smiley

 

bartsw's avatar
bartsw
261 posts
 

@kr4 

The problem with a high-level connection to the amp or main speaker terminals is that there’s no way to properly integrate/balance the sub with the main speaker.  So-called double-bass is completely unpredictable.

Just run room correction. It sees it like any speaker and knocks down peaks like usual.

toddalin's avatar
toddalin
678 posts
 

Does one add to "lag time" and does this even matter?

From the mains preamp, a dedicated sub runs through its amp then its speaker, just like the main channels.

On the speaker tap, the sub's signal runs from the preamp through the mains amp to the speakers, then has to go to the sub amp, so the signal arrives a "moment" later than the mains.

gdaddy1
541 posts
 

If you want the same dynamic signal that's coming out of your amp to be shared by both speakers and subwoofer then there's no question that the high level input is the way to go.

I'd also suggest stacking the subs but that's another topic.

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