Question about Loop Out Jacks on back of stereo amplifier

[Forsooth]

The amplifier manual says:

"The right and left Loop Out jacks are convenient connection to route the same input signals from your preamp to an additional power amp."

Does that mean they can be used to connect a couple of subwoofers, same as, for example, a Pre-Out on a preamp?

Thanks.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Should work fine.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Forsooth]

Should work fine.

Thanks very much!

 

[Johnny2Bad]

Bizzarre language to use, but yes, it is (probably) a Pre-Out, AKA a Variable Line Level out. Turn the sub down if you can before powering them up in case their choice of strange language extends to a choice of strange output levels.

 

[Forsooth]

Bizzarre language to use, but yes, it is (probably) a Pre-Out, AKA a Variable Line Level out. Turn the sub down if you can before powering them up in case their choice of strange language extends to a choice of strange output levels.

I agree!! Thanks! Gotcha!!

 

[KEW]

Bizzarre language to use, but yes, it is (probably) a Pre-Out, AKA a Variable Line Level out. Turn the sub down if you can before powering them up in case their choice of strange language extends to a choice of strange output levels.

Yes!
This is a sensible precaution!
Often, "back in the day", preamps (whether in a receiver or not) had something called a tape monitor loop - the output (sometimes labeled REC) would go to the tape recorder deck and if you had a three head machine you could feed the playback from the recording back into inputs (sometimes labeled PLAY) to complete the loop. On the front was switch labeled "source" and "monitor" which allowed you to monitor your recording quality as it was being made!
If this is the case, the output is not variable as you do not want the signal going to your recorder to be subject to changes in the system volume control, mute, or bass or treble, etc.

 

[Forsooth]

Yes!
This is a sensible precaution!
Often, "back in the day", preamps (whether in a receiver or not) had something called a tape monitor loop - the output (sometimes labeled REC) would go to the tape recorder deck and if you had a three head machine you could feed the playback from the recording back into inputs (sometimes labeled PLAY) to complete the loop. On the front was switch labeled "source" and "monitor" which allowed you to monitor your recording quality as it was being made!
If this is the case, the output is not variable as you do not want the signal going to your recorder to be subject to changes in the system volume control, mute, or bass or treble, etc.

Thanks! Interesting. I never owned a reel-to-reel deck, and sometimes wondered about terms like "monitor" and "loop out" on some of the receivers I had, as you say, "back in the day" -- but there was no internet, so I had no way to learn anything.

 

[KEW]

Thanks! Interesting. I never owned a reel-to-reel deck, and sometimes wondered about terms like "monitor" and "loop out" on some of the receivers I had, as you say, "back in the day" -- but there was no internet, so I had no way to learn anything.

What can I say - I'm a geek, I read the manual (but let's not tell anybody)!

 

[Forsooth]

What can I say - I'm a geek, I read the manual (but let's not tell anybody)!

Well, the manuals were mostly black and white back then, so I colored mine. I'm proud to say that I was always careful to stay inside the lines.

 

[Bad Kitty]

You can use the tape outputs to drive your sub, but remember that there is no bass management on that output, so you'll need to use the sub's built-in crossover and level controls to set up the sub in this arrangement.

 

[KEW]

You can use the tape outputs to drive your sub, but remember that there is no bass management on that output, so you'll need to use the sub's built-in crossover and level controls to set up the sub in this arrangement.

The problem is if you turn the volume down or up, it will not effect the volume of the Tape Output!
Thus, if you turn it down, the bass will overwhelm the sound and vice versa.
The tape output essentially passes the source input signal to the recorder. A preamp out includes the preamp controls before outputting the signal.

 

[Bad Kitty]

The problem is if you turn the volume down or up, it will not effect the volume of the Tape Output!
Thus, if you turn it down, the bass will overwhelm the sound and vice versa.
The tape output essentially passes the source input signal to the recorder. A preamp out includes the preamp controls before outputting the signal.

Yep, good point. Forgot about that.

 

[lovinthehd]

Except the OP doesn't appear to have a tape loop to deal with. The subs can be inserted with splitters to still use the amp in the receiver/integrated amp, too; some subs have an actual crossover implementation (i.e. both a low pass and high pass filter) via rca inputs/outputs that could be utilized to insert into the loop too.

 

[Johnny2Bad]

Tape Loops (generally marked "Tape In" and "Tape Out" persisted long after the magnetic tape recorders fell out of favour (although it's worth remembering that it took a decade before CDs first outsold Cassettes, and note that "outsold" does not mean "low sales"" for cassettes; that took a while longer to the mid-90's) although they were generally then re-named to "Processor Loop" as that circuit is the main way to introduce any modifier of the line level signal. So it hasn't been that long that they are rarely included, one way or another.

The language in the manual is poorly chosen, either way you look at it. In an age when you can hire an editor on Fiverr Dotcom, I find it inexcusable.

 

[KEW]

I guess at some point, we should ask:
What amp is this?