Hi, new to threads but thirsting for info.....

[tburg398]

Hi, my name is Todd and I'm a 53 year old looking for information regarding a system that is strictly for music listening. Not planning on any type of surround sound or any video type packages. With that said I've looked at a lot of systems and decided to go old school for powering the system. Yup that means analog.... sorry digital fans. I certainly can appreciate digital technology which can be truly amazing.....just chose to go old school.....not even sure why.
So anyway I purchased a 1978 Pioneer SX-1080 receiver which puts out around 120 watts per channel RMS. It has an A and B speaker selector....(not quad). Here is what I'm wondering. I recently purchased a pair of Polk Audio studio 70 speakers and I'm just guessing that I'm going to want more bass then they will be putting out. I haven't received them in the mail yet. My questions are:
1) if I decide that I want a subwoofer with the system how do I hook it up? Can I use the second speaker (B speaker option) as the outs for a subwoofer?
2) Can I use a powered sub? Would I want to use a powered sub? Should I just use a passive sub? I guess I'm assuming that whatever sub I use needs to have a good filtering system built in to only represent the specific low sounds that I'm wanting? BTW I'm only looking to spend around $400 for a sub....
3) Would I be better off getting a second pair of speakers with lower frequency responses and hooking both pair up instead of adding a sub?
4) My receiver has a place on the back of it where it has the pre amp outs going directly into the power amp ins. Not sure if there might be a way to do the subs somehow?

Anyway I'm not very educated on these things.....any help is greatly appreciated...... Thanks Todd

 

[j_garcia]

Welcome to AH

You can use the B terminals with a sub providing you select a sub that has speaker level inputs. They used to be common but are becoming less so.

A second pair of speakers will NOT give you better bass than a quality sub.

 

[tburg398]

Welcome to AH

You can use the B terminals with a sub providing you select a sub that has speaker level inputs. They used to be common but are becoming less so.

A second pair of speakers will NOT give you better bass than a quality sub.

Thanks J

Is there a specific name for that type of sub....the type your describing? The type that has speaker level inputs?

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks J

Is there a specific name for that type of sub....the type your describing? The type that has speaker level inputs?

Actually you have a number of options.

I think speaker level inputs are your worst option.

On that Pioneer you have access to the preamp out and the power amp ins by removing the jumpers on the back.

That means you can use any active (powered) sub you want.

You have the option of actually having bass management or not.

If you want to to just supplement your speakers with the sub, then you buy a couple of Y-connectors and connect the two RCAs into the respective pre outs and amp ins. The single ends go into the the right and left line ins of the sub.

Now some subs have not only a low pass filter, but a high pass filter. Then instead of the Y you connect each pre out to the right and left line ins of the sub and connect the line outs to the respective amp ins.

This will allow you to limit the bass going to your right and left speakers and send it all to the sub.

If you choose a sub that does not have line outs with a high pass filter, then all is not lost. You can still get bass management by buying an external electronic crossover. Then the preouts go the the right and left crossover inputs. The low pass outputs go to the sub and the high pass outputs of the crossover go to the amp ins.

This latter is the most flexible and your optimal solution, but also the most expensive.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Agreed with tls and this the sub with proper badd management you need - http://www.svsound.com/specials/outlet-specials/sb-1000-outlet-ba

 

[j_garcia]

I tried the main out loop from my Marantz and it was before the preamp section so it did not adjust the level of the sub when it adjusted the mains. That's why I didn't mention that as an option; not sure if the Pioneer is the same, but I'd expect main out loop to be similar.

 

[TLS Guy]

I tried the main out loop from my Marantz and it was before the preamp section so it did not adjust the level of the sub when it adjusted the mains. That's why I didn't mention that as an option; not sure if the Pioneer is the same, but I'd expect main out loop to be similar.

Well you must have some how used the tape loop. In the situation on this Pioneer amp, I have never seen what you describe and it would not be possible.

Those jumpers are always between the preamp section after the volume control and the input to the power amp. So anything driven form the preout, will be controlled by the volume control of the receiver. It has to be.

 

[j_garcia]

It wasn't the tape loop because I had to pull the jumpers to do it. What you're saying is how I thought it should be, but that's not how it behaved.

 

[TLS Guy]

It wasn't the tape loop because I had to pull the jumpers to do it. What you're saying is how I thought it should be, but that's not how it behaved.

I just fail to see how it could lower the volume of the mains and not the sub. Since they would be running from the same output, I don't see any explanation for what you describe, unless the sub has some type of auto gain stage activated.

 

[j_garcia]

Must have been the tape loop then since that's a fixed output. Sub got stolen, so no way to test it.

*edit - It had to have been the tape loop actually, because I didn't have splitters to re-feed it back into the main loop.

 

[TLS Guy]

Must have been the tape loop then since that's a fixed output. Sub got stolen, so no way to test it.

*edit - It had to have been the tape loop actually, because I didn't have splitters to re-feed it back into the main loop.

That really is the most logical explanation for what you observed.