Marantz PM7200 and a Subwoofer

[lateralus_001]

Hey All,
ive been looking and listening around and im really keen to go for the Marantz PM7200, with a set of HS102 Steinman HS 102 Platinum Series (just the floor standing speakers). However, im really into having some strong bass with my rock music and ive searched the net and im a bit confused about connecting a sub to this amp as it does not have pre-outs. If heard ppl talking about connecting the sub in tandom?
does anyone have any views on this with regards to sound quality or weather connecting a sub is even possible.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Cheers
Joel

 

[j_garcia]

You can use the B terminals speaker level out to a sub. Pretty much the only way it will work.

 

[NGL_BrSH]

ya that will work or you depending on your sub.. some have an In and Out from the speaker line level. So you run it to your sub first then to your speaks.. or if it doesn't have a in and out.. you can always just run it into the sub, twist another pair of wires together to go from there to the mains obviously keeping postive and negative seperate. Just remember to USE the crossover on the subwoofer since there is no LFE/ bassmanagement on the integrated amp on any of the three ways.

any of those 3 ways will work just fine but one might be easier in your current config.. you choose.

 

[j_garcia]

I do not recommend using the sub inline with the mains. The x-over is fixed on the output of nearly all subwoofers, meaning it only applies to the low pass and does not affect the preselected high pass on the output. Many subs also use a higher than optimum high pass, like 120-150Hz; if you're lucky you might get one that is 80Hz.

Using the B speaker level, there is no need to split/combine any wires because each has its own bank. and then you can turn the sub on and off because the A/B outs are individually selectable (A or B, or A and B) This does mean however, that your mains will be run full range and you will have to dial the sub's x-over to blend with the mains manually.

 

[lateralus_001]

Im following what you guys are mostly saying, when we are talking about speaker B out im aussuming we are talking about System 2 and plug the sub into the left and right outs for that. Ive been to the specs on this amp and it says that having System 1 + system 2 will put it to 16 ohms. here is a link below to that image
http://www.aussiehifi.com.au/marantz/intergrated amps/pm-7200/e_pm7200_bck.gif
Does this mean that it simply wont be as "loud" as with speaker system 1 just on?.

Although i also kinda like the idea of having the speakers coming out of the "outs" on the sub. Would this effect the quality of the sound at all?
Thanks for ur help before.

 

[j_garcia]

Im following what you guys are mostly saying, when we are talking about speaker B out im aussuming we are talking about System 2 and plug the sub into the left and right outs for that. Ive been to the specs on this amp and it says that having System 1 + system 2 will put it to 16 ohms. here is a link below to that image
http://www.aussiehifi.com.au/marantz/intergrated amps/pm-7200/e_pm7200_bck.gif
Does this mean that it simply wont be as "loud" as with speaker system 1 just on?.

Yes. I never noticed that they changed it from A & B (the way it was on my PM7000) to "System 1" and "System 2", but yes the idea is the same. Since the sub only strips off the signal and does not draw any real power from the amp (it is not a reactive load), it shouldn't affect the output to the main speakers in impedance or output.

Although i also kinda like the idea of having the speakers coming out of the "outs" on the sub. Would this effect the quality of the sound at all?
Thanks for ur help before.

It won't affect sound quality, but how it sounds will depend on what the high pass is from the sub relative to the low end extension of the main speakers. As long as the x-over is moderately above what your main speakers are capable of, you should be OK. If it is REALLY high, like 150Hz, it may affect the midrange performance of any decent speaker. I ran a sub with mine for a while and found that in my smaller bedroom, I didn't really need a sub. In my main room, which is much larger though, I definitely need a sub.

I found those speakers on eBay, and they say 40Hz is the low end, so I would want a sub that has as low of a high pass x-over as possible - 80Hz or lower.

I've been using the 7200 for the better part of a year now and I'm very happy with it.

 

[lateralus_001]

awesome, thanks heaps for all that