Advice on subwoofer for Audio and HT

[DarrenAudio]

Hello all
I would like some advice please..
I am looking to purchase a subwoofer/s for my setup, detailed below:
Amp/Power Amp PM8005
AV NR1606
Network Player NA11S1
L/R Tannoy Precision 6.2
Centre Tannoy Precision C
Surround B&W M1 mk2 (X4)
7.1 setup

I listen to a lot of music via Network player and would like to use a subwoofer for the lows/taking the strain from my L/R speakers, the Tannoys are very musical.

Plus also looking to use the subwoofer for HT setup for movies using the NR1606, fronts connected to the PM8005.

Currently looking at the REL T9i with plans to purchase two later to pair.
PM8005 - High Level Input (music)
NR1606 - LFE input (movies)

Your advice will be greatly listened to.
Budget <£1000 (single sub) plans to pair in future.

Darren

 

[Danzilla31]

Hello all
I would like some advice please..
I am looking to purchase a subwoofer/s for my setup, detailed below:
Amp/Power Amp PM8005
AV NR1606
Network Player NA11S1
L/R Tannoy Precision 6.2
Centre Tannoy Precision C
Surround B&W M1 mk2 (X4)
7.1 setup

I listen to a lot of music via Network player and would like to use a subwoofer for the lows/taking the strain from my L/R speakers, the Tannoys are very musical.

Plus also looking to use the subwoofer for HT setup for movies using the NR1606, fronts connected to the PM8005.

Currently looking at the REL T9i with plans to purchase two later to pair.
PM8005 - High Level Input (music)
NR1606 - LFE input (movies)

Your advice will be greatly listened to.
Budget <£1000 (single sub) plans to pair in future.

Darren

Okay what size is your room? We need to establish that first before moving forward need to know how much room a sub is dealing with before anyone can give suggestion on a particular sub. If you could give us length and width and height please

Are you located in the U.S? Where your at can affect which subs are available in your region which can change reccomendations

 

[shadyJ]

Okay what size is your room? We need to establish that first before moving forward need to know how much room a sub is dealing with before anyone can give suggestion on a particular sub. If you could give us length and width and height please

Are you located in the U.S? Where your at can affect which subs are available in your region which can change reccomendations

He is in England.

Hello all
Your advice will be greatly listened to.
Budget <£1000 (single sub) plans to pair in future.

I would be looking at maybe the Rel HT 1205 or the SVS subs. The heavier duty BK Electronics subs look like they could be good as well. Also check out the XTZ SUB 1X12 if that is available there. Also check out the Paradigm Defiance X12 or especially the X15 if they are available there. Try to demo some MartinLogan Dynamos as well. The Dynamo 1600X is pretty ass-kicking, although that might be a bit out of your price range.

 

[DarrenAudio]

Please see room size, sorry for the late reply!
UK based.
Height from floor to ceiling 2250mm

 

[DarrenAudio]

He is in England.
I would be looking at maybe...

Hi shadyJ,
Thank you for your replies!

REL HT 1205 - On the cards for LFE input (movies) - Looks like a very nice choice!
BK - Steering clear, my understanding is they 'borrowed' the technology from REL?
XTZ SUB 1X12 - Not the nicest of looks in my eyes (but I guess it's down to the sound!) - an option.
Paradigm Defiance X12 / X15 - Out of my price range
MartinLogan Dynamos / 1600X - Out of my price range

So is it possible, to connect the following in this way:
REL T9i - High Level Input (to PM8005, main front L/R speakers for mainly music) and LFE (AVR NR1606, two connections available, for movies)
REL HT 1205 or XTZ - LFE connection (AVR, second LFE connection, for movies also)

Thanks for your input.
Darren

 

[DarrenAudio]

Connected as per photo, can this be achieved?

 

[shadyJ]

Hi shadyJ,
Thank you for your replies!

REL HT 1205 - On the cards for LFE input (movies) - Looks like a very nice choice!
BK - Steering clear, my understanding is they 'borrowed' the technology from REL?
XTZ SUB 1X12 - Not the nicest of looks in my eyes (but I guess it's down to the sound!) - an option.
Paradigm Defiance X12 / X15 - Out of my price range
MartinLogan Dynamos / 1600X - Out of my price range

So is it possible, to connect the following in this way:
REL T9i - High Level Input (to PM8005, main front L/R speakers for mainly music) and LFE (AVR NR1606, two connections available, for movies)
REL HT 1205 or XTZ - LFE connection (AVR, second LFE connection, for movies also)

Thanks for your input.
Darren

If BK borrowed technology from Rel, it is not apparent. Their approaches to subwoofer design is very different than Rel's. BK looks more like a cross between SVS and some of the older Hsu subs. That would be a recipe for a pretty good subwoofer.

As for connectivity of using high level input and line level at the same time, you will want to read the manual before trying that. It is not normally encouraged to use the high level and line level connections simultaneously. If I were you, I would just stick with the LFE input.

 

[DarrenAudio]

If BK borrowed technology from Rel, it is not apparent. Their approaches to subwoofer design is very different than Rel's. BK looks more like a cross between SVS and some of the older Hsu subs. That would be a recipe for a pretty good subwoofer.

I was told by an ex REL rep this was the case, although he was a salesman!

As for connectivity of using high level input and line level at the same time, you will want to read the manual before trying that. It is not normally encouraged to use the high level and line level connections simultaneously. If I were you, I would just stick with the LFE input.

Please see image, taken from manual you kindly provided.

 

[shadyJ]

I was told by an ex REL rep this was the case, although he was a salesman!

Please see image, taken from manual you kindly provided.

I'm not sure what technology developed by Rel that BK would have stolen. If I was going to copy subwoofer design, Rel would not be my first choice of subwoofer manufacturers to steal from. Their ideas about subwoofer integration are too idiosyncratic.

 

[DarrenAudio]

Thanks for your reply shadyJ

With my room size, assuming all OK with the T9i if I go down this road?

Could really do with a home demo!

 

[shadyJ]

Thanks for your reply shadyJ

With my room size, assuming all OK with the T9i if I go down this road?

Could really do with a home demo!

I would try to get something more powerful for a room like yours. The XTZ SUB 1X12 would be better, or an SVS PB-2000. A ported 12" from BK would be good too. The T9i is a 10" driver with a passive radiator on a 300 watt amp. That is not really a powerhouse sub.

 

[bigkrazy155]

@shadyJ I've seen a lot of similar questions where an HSU or Rythmik model or two are recommended. Is there a reason you haven't recommended these for a look? Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[DarrenAudio]

@bigkrazy155 I see this also, the big players being HSU, Rythmik, SVS and now XTZ

The Q I have for all is, I use my system 50/50 for music and movies - using my PM8005 as a Power Amp for my Fronts.

Can any of the mentioned sub manufacturers connect to my PM8005 (L/R Pre Out available or High Level Input speaker connection) AND my AVR NR1606 (two LFE outputs available) or is this advised a no no?!

Going from a REL rep and the below image from manual, REL does just that.

 

[Danzilla31]

Please see room size, sorry for the late reply!
UK based.
Height from floor to ceiling 2250mm

With your room size Im liking the PB 2000 or the XTZ 1×12 I love XTZ was thinking of trying there US store someday.... Someday

 

[DarrenAudio]

With your room size Im liking the PB 2000 or the XTZ 1×12 I love XTZ was thinking of trying there US store someday.... Someday

@Danzilla31 Both subs look great and very closely priced !

Now how would one go about connection for Music only using my PM8005 + NA11S1 with the option to run LFE to my AVR NR1606 for movies? (Keeping in mind I use the PM8005 as a Power Amp for the Front L/R's).

Thanks for your input

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

@shadyJ I've seen a lot of similar questions where an HSU or Rythmik model or two are recommended. Is there a reason you haven't recommended these for a look? Thanks in advance for your input.

I believe because the OP is in England.

 

[Danzilla31]

@Danzilla31 Both subs look great and very closely priced !

Now how would one go about connection for Music only using my PM8005 + NA11S1 with the option to run LFE to my AVR NR1606 for movies? (Keeping in mind I use the PM8005 as a Power Amp for the Front L/R's).

Thanks for your input

Hmmmm I know for the first picture you showed you'd simply run the sub cable from the sub preout on the AVR to the LFE output on the subwoofer and let the avr handle your bass management.

On the other picture I'm not so sure I think the amp your using wouldn't matter because it would connect to your avr to power your front 2 speakers I assume? So the avr would handle the bass management

Is the marantz a reciever? Or like a CD player or something?

I wouldn't try to connect 3 prices of equipment up to the subs I'd connect everything to the avr run your sub preout to the LFE input on the sub set your crossovers on the avr for all your channels and then your good to go.

I hope I have that right I'm not quiet clear on what your wanting to do with all 3 peices of gear

 

[DarrenAudio]

@Danzilla31

Thank you for your reply.

Let me break it down:

Music
NA11S1 network player connected to PM8005 amp purely for music only.
How does one connect a subwoofer?

Movies
AVR connected to PM8005 switched to Power Amp Direct mode for Front L/R speakers. Subwoofer connected via LFE. Simples.

Is it possible to connect a subwoofer to the PM8005 like a REL does? Using High Level Input connected via speaker terminals.
REL also uses the LFE connection to AVR for best of both worlds.

Reading more and more, my only option is LFE via AVR, but no music option.

Hope this clears things up.

 

[DarrenAudio]

@Danzilla31

The second photo PM8005 is a stereo amplifier / Power Amp for fronts when using the AVR for movies.

I use the PM8005 when listening to music from my NA11S1 network player.

 

[shadyJ]

@shadyJ I've seen a lot of similar questions where an HSU or Rythmik model or two are recommended. Is there a reason you haven't recommended these for a look? Thanks in advance for your input.

The Hsu and Rythmik brands are not available in the UK which is where the poster is located.