Adding a second sub

Bob, Thirsty93 is lucky to have someone available with your knowledge of the operation of his reveiver. I'm amazed about the operation of the LFE output. I've never had a complex receiver and this is all new to me. You can actually electronically insert a crossover into the circuit at that point. Amazing! :-) Certainly makes it simple to incorporate a sub (or 2).

Question - Do you think this method is optimum, or just more convenient? I would have have thought that sonically it might be better to take out signals from a Line Level out, run the satelites full range, and set the cross over to blend the sub with the bottom end of the satelite, thereby minimizing the effect of the subs incursion into the upper frequencies, assuming of course that the subs are being located in areas of the room to smooth out bass response etc, not necessarily in the immediate area of the satelites. And, where did you find a diagram or manual for the SA2 - I couldn't find one anywhere. Interesting........

Dwhitt, Consider that your post gave unasked for advise that had nothing to do with the question, denegraded the posters equipment, AND was not responsive in any manner. Try to be helpful next time out, not just an audio oracle.

You could have said "Yes, you could probably connect two sub systems by simply splitting the signal from its source between the two sub systems (the reciever?) using a pair of 'Y' IC's. If your signal is coming from the speakers though, I'm not so sure and you might like to ask the manufacturer."

At least that is what I would have done. Oh, I guess I did, didn't I. :-)

And I would add, that the obtaining a second sub might help smooth out the bass because you would have a lot more flexibility of placement of the subs to compensate for room problems than just having one to achieve that. You could flatten out nodes, fill in nulls, have better sounding bass, but would not really get bigger bass SPL's other than the doubling of SPL's (i.e. 3db) by adding a seperate identical sub.

But I'm Newbee, what the hell do I know. Get a loan and buy a lot of new expensive equipment so you can learn to deal with more expensive problems! :-)

"......whoring up mine". Just goes to show than no good deed goes unpunished. Did I actually answer your question for you? Did anything good come out of my post at all? And, if my post actually answered your question what is your point?

BTW, FWIW, advise is always free here from volunteers, even if it comes in a painful to read format sometimes. Be happy, it didn't cost you anything, except some patience perhaps. :-)

I just tried to pull up the nhthifi link. No luck, but I did visit their current site. Again, no luck, re the products you mentioned, but they did have some sub systems which give me a fair idea of what they have.

You apparently want to have a left channel w/left channel sub and a right channel w/a right channel sub. Correct?

This is easy (or should be anyway) to do. Take your left sub line out IC from your reciever to the left sub line in on the sub and adjust the crossover and volume balance on the sub to your pleasure. Take the right sub line-out IC to your 2d sub and make your crossover and volume adjustments as identically as possible so you don't get channel imbalance.
Keep your crossover point as low as possible. Each sub may have provision for both left and right channel IC's. I believe it is safe to ignore one of them them and only use the appropriate one. These inputs are more likely than not blending anyway. But, if I'm wrong (and I'm unlikely ever wrong!) you can just add the 'Y' splitter and a second set of IC's as provided in the NHT manual, so there is nothing to be lost.

This should work but although I didn't find anything specific to your stuff on the NHT site, I did pull up the manual of the Ten sub and the diagram on it confirms (for me anyway) that my suggested hook up will work.

The 2d sub hook-up you have described does not provide for seperating the channels, you are just spreading the subs output about to smooth out bass response.

FWIW IMHO if you keep the crossover low enuf all of the sub(s) output will be monophonic, as it should be, and there will be little difference.

Thirsty93, Whether you run the 1.5's full range with the subs just added to the bottom of the range or use the 1.5's as satelites with the subs taking over all of the mid and deep bass duties depends a lot on the speakers being used, the crossovers being used, and in your case where you are placing the sub woofer(s).

I find nothing wrong with Bob's opinion. Either methodology works and each is dependent on many varibles including equipment and personal preferences. I think it is hard to blend subs and satelites properly - there is a lot of stuff to be considered if you are fussy and want to get it 'right'. Most satelites have some bass response and, typically, all one 'needs' to do is agument it.

With the right (matching) speakers and a crossover with great flexibility including not only cross over points but slopes it can be done perfectly, well almost anyway. Afterall that is what a manufacturer of a full range speaker has done. But, FWIW, the road to audio hell has been paved by folks who have high quality speakers and have tried to match them with subs using crossovers which had insufficient slope or low enuf cross over points, not to mention what distortions might be added by more electronics, IC's, etc put into the signal path to the main speakers.

For example, an 80hz crossover point with a 12db slope, is allowing a fair amount of signal to pass at 160hz and that frequency is in the 'stereo' range. So signals at 160 hz will originate at 2 locations in each channel. Thats OK if your subs are right next to/below the main speakers as it will blend and sound like one source, but if your purpose in using subs is to smooth out bass response as well as agument it, you are going to be placing your subs quite a distance from the mains and you are going to get a 160hz signal from two locations. Some folks will not hear the -12db signal as such, many not at all, but it has the potential to muddy up the upper bass/lower mid range and folks with acute listening skills can/will hear it.

The main problem with just keeping it simple, i.e. only using the sub as agumentation, is that it will not relieve the mid/bass driver of the main speaker of its responsibility of producing bass and the mids can get a little stressed when you are playing loud bass heavy music, so in theory at least, you can play your music louder and still keep it clean.

I'd guess that in your case, since NHT has made all of the speakers at least you will not have a sonic integration issue. The would have similar sonic footprints. And, since you can, by making a simple comparison by using Y splitters at either the LFE or Line Outs, you can come to your own conclusions as to which works best for you in your situation.