Question about Gallo Ref 3s and the sub amp

[EnzoPolotso]

So, I'm going to be moving soon, and the big speakers have to go. Especially the subwoofer. Right now the Axioms and SVS PB-12NSD are on the chopping block and I'm going to need something a lot smaller. I love the way the Gallo Reference 3s sound, so I'm probably going to go with them for the mains, but the Gallo SA sub amp is out of the price. What I was wondering is what if I had the Gallos hooked up to my reciever, and then I use a Y cable to go from the sub pre output to a stereo power amp and then into the gallo sub terminals.
It wouldn't be stereo bass but it would let me crossover the highs and lows through the reciever and manage the volume through it too.
Or am I looking at it the wrong way and completely missing something?

 

[WmAx]

So, I'm going to be moving soon, and the big speakers have to go. Especially the subwoofer. Right now the Axioms and SVS PB-12NSD are on the chopping block and I'm going to need something a lot smaller. I love the way the Gallo Reference 3s sound, so I'm probably going to go with them for the mains, but the Gallo SA sub amp is out of the price. What I was wondering is what if I had the Gallos hooked up to my reciever, and then I use a Y cable to go from the sub pre output to a stereo power amp and then into the gallo sub terminals.
It wouldn't be stereo bass but it would let me crossover the highs and lows through the reciever and manage the volume through it too.
Or am I looking at it the wrong way and completely missing something?

Warning about the Gallo Reference 3: It is essentially an omnipolar speaker. As such, you need about 2.5' minimum distance from the back wall and 1.5-2' minimum distance from the side walls. Failing to do so will reduce sound quality. I don't usually see this information given on the websites concerning this speaker, so this is just a heads up. You can use the unit closer to a wall, but you need to use a highly effective broadband absorption panel behind the unit at the rear 1st reflection point in that case. Be careful, some broadband absorbers are rather useless at higher frequencies(he most important part here due to the omni tweeter) due to the cosmetic coverings used starting to reflect high frequency energy. Also, with an omnipolar response, you will generally achieve higher sound quality with the rear reflection left in tact if you have proper distance from the back wall vs. absorbing the rear reflection. So proper distance is preferable, regardless.

-Chris

 

[EnzoPolotso]

Yeah, absolutely. I don't really mean a TINY space, just not enough for a full surround setup and a huge subwoofer. I do have panels from modularacoustics and realtraps too.

 

[jcPanny]

2 channel speakers

If you are considering a smaller 2 channel system, also check out the Onix Strata Minis. They have powered woofers with several connection and configuration options.

 

[mjhamre]

if you do go with the gallos...

You should check with your dealer (or maybe send Gallo tech support an e-mail) about the question in your original post. I'm pretty new to all of this, but I think the gallos have an active driver on that bass module, and a passive one that can become active if you add their subwoofer amp. Not sure exactly on the design, but I think you would not want to pass a totally different signal (your amp's subwoofer speaker out) to it.

I've read all the reviews on that speaker that I could find (just ordered the reference AVs last week) and nobody has ever mentioned driving that passive driver with anything other than the specially designed gallo amp. Does not mean it can't be done, but...

I intentionally did not listen to that speaker when listening to the reference AV series, as I am only going for on walls and I did not want to know what I was missing . Everything I have read says that they sound even better than the reference AVs, and those were pretty amazing sounding to me...

--Matt

 

[ExtraCheese]

6 moons review?

I sort of recall the 6moons review of these speakers using a non gallo amp to bi amp the woofer. Since it's just a woofer, I don't think "tonality" of the 2 amps is much of an issue

 

[EnzoPolotso]

I sort of recall the 6moons review of these speakers using a non gallo amp to bi amp the woofer. Since it's just a woofer, I don't think "tonality" of the 2 amps is much of an issue

Yeah I was just going through various reviews, and it looks like he used another amp being fed from full range pre outs but used line-level crossovers to only allow the bottom end to go through. I suppose using an lfe out would be similar, except the bass wouldn't be stereo... Or I could just use the pre-outs on my reciever.
I don't mind experimenting to find out, I was just curious if there was anything unique about the coil/gallo sub amp that a regular amp would cause damage