Can I add a sub?

[lucassean]

Hello,

I just bought a pair of Paradigm atoms and a little singer tube amp to drive them. This will be a computer speaker set up. I'm wonder how to add a sub into this setup. Here's the amp;

 

[WmAx]

Hello,

I just bought a pair of Paradigm atoms and a little singer tube amp to drive them. This will be a computer speaker set up. I'm wonder how to add a sub into this setup. Here's the amp;

You need a good active crossover to properly blend the sub and monitors with the best resulting sound quality. The Behringer CX2310 is under $100 and uses top notch parts and build quality, despite the low cost. There are also very advanced options, like the Behringer DCX2496 which is extremely powerful, allowing for you to do much more than simply integrate the units. But this costs 3x as much. You don't have to use an active crossover.... but.... this will result in lesser sound quality, especially at medium or higher SPL levels. The active xover not only integrates the sub and monitors ideally, it puts far less strain on the little monitors woofers, there by reducing distortion.

-Chris

 

[Adam]

Hi. It looks like that amp has pre-amp outputs. Is that correct? If so, then you have at least two options to add a sub:

• Use a powered sub that has pre-amp inputs, and connect the pre-amp outputs from the amp to the pre-amp inputs on the sub
• Use a powered sub that has speaker-level inputs and outputs, connect the amp's speaker outputs to the sub's speaker inputs, then connect the sub's speaker outputs to the speakers

There are other ways to do it. For example, if your computer has outputs for the front left/right audio and the subwoofer audio, you can utilize that - but it makes volume control a bit more complicated.

Please let us know if you have any questions about how to do any of that.

 

[lucassean]

You need a good active crossover to properly blend the sub and monitors with the best resulting sound quality. The Behringer CX2310 is under $100 and uses top notch parts and build quality, despite the low cost. There are also very advanced options, like the Behringer DCX2496 which is extremely powerful, allowing for you to do much more than simply integrate the units. But this costs 3x as much. You don't have to use an active crossover.... but.... this will result in lesser sound quality, especially at medium or higher SPL levels. The active xover not only integrates the sub and monitors ideally, it puts far less strain on the little monitors woofers, there by reducing distortion.

-Chris

Forgive my ignorance. I was looking at the crossover online. It's connects are the balanced plug type. I'm totally lost as to how to make the connections. Thanks you for help.

 

[lucassean]

Hi. It looks like that amp has pre-amp outputs. Is that correct? If so, then you have at least two options to add a sub:

• Use a powered sub that has pre-amp inputs, and connect the pre-amp outputs from the amp to the pre-amp inputs on the sub
• Use a powered sub that has speaker-level inputs and outputs, connect the amp's speaker outputs to the sub's speaker inputs, then connect the sub's speaker outputs to the speakers

There are other ways to do it. For example, if your computer has outputs for the front left/right audio and the subwoofer audio, you can utilize that - but it makes volume control a bit more complicated.

Please let us know if you have any questions about how to do any of that.

I'm with you, but lack the experience. Yes there is a pre amp RCA port on the amp, but it's with the input stuff like CD and aux. It's confusing. What do pre-amp inputs look like on the sub? You're second option reminds me of a passive subwoofer I used years ago ( HT in a box - yuk ). I'm using a Creative X-Fi extreme sound card in the computer so I don't think option 3 is doable. Thanks for your awesome help.

 

[lsiberian]

Most powered subs have a built in active crossover already. The Dayton 12" Sub-120 is one such example. You simply feed your L-R inputs into the sub and use the outputs to feed the remaining signal to your amp.

i'm sure the XiFi can also feed a sub. But I'd need to play with it to figure out how.

 

[j_garcia]

While most subs have a built in crossover, it is generally also fixed output to the mains, so if you intend to go that route, you'll want to find out what that x-over point is and what slope.

 

[lucassean]

I used my HT Infinity PS-8 Active sub. It has the RCA inputs so I went from the amp RCA pre outs to them. It sounds perfect.