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

Can I just add that SoulNote does list three cables, two of which are balanced interconnect cables with XLR connectors. The third is a clock cable.

In keeping with their time-domain-first philosophy, these balanced ICs do not have any shielding, and the two conductors are each made from a single strand of solid copper, all in a foamed Teflon dielectric.

I used to run high level input from my BHK300 (hybrid monoblocks) fed from all tube 2 box preamp, to a pair of Velodyne DD10+ on 22" Sistrum stands, coming in from 40Hz on down. 

Then i decided to run from the preamps extra XLR outs and found it to be more articulate.  

I’m auditioning a new solid state preamp now and haven’t yet tried the high level connection, but the XLR from the preamp is giving me the most articulate, fastest deepest bass I have ever experienced, and they match up well with the extremely fast electrostatic bass I’m getting from my new Prodigio WR1’s.  

I also suggest people try getting their subs off the floor.  I’ve found better articulation with them off the floor.

The Velodyne actually allows you two combine both inputs, the high level and the line level, as there are trim pots for each.  

@bartsw The high level signal is already analog. Doing DSP downstream of this requires 2 additional conversions. Analog to digital and back to analog. It's possible but not best practice