2. tech-talk
  3. 1351401259

Best way to hook up a sub?

Okay, so I just found a sub tonight (svs sb 12 plus) that has xlr inputs and outputs. Question is what is the best way to incorporate a sub in my system. I can run xlr's into my amp and use the remaining rca's into the sub, but I think I will get a hum if I do this (another ground loop?), and I would rather use xlr's because I just think they sound better. What about an xlr splitter? If I do use a splitter, does a cheap splitter offset the advantage's of high quality Xlr's? If not, would it be better to split the signal at the pre amp, or just run xlr's into the sub from the pre amp, and then from the sub into the amp, as this is possible with this sub?
b_limo

Showing 5 responses by b_limo

b_limo's avatar
b_limo OP
2,289 posts
 
I like the idea of running my main speakers full range and letting the sub pick up where my mains drop off. I ended up buying the svs pb plus 12. Im happy with it, I just notice alot of the bass I hear coming from my back right side corner of my room, no matter where the sub is placed, which is pissing me off. I ended up hooking it up to the left and right rca pre outs and Im using my xlr out puts for my amp. This seems to be working well with no ground loop hum.
b_limo's avatar
b_limo OP
2,289 posts
 
I've tried placing it between the speakers and lose alot of output, and alot of the deeper bass. The bass I hear collecting in the back right side of the room does seem to be just a certain frequency whereas the other frequencies seem to be coming evenly from all over. I guess my next option is to do what you suggest and try taming it by ear with the p.e.q. Im also wondering if some room acoustics (bass traps) would help with that particular problem. Thanks hi end for the idea with the p.e.q. though.
b_limo's avatar
b_limo OP
2,289 posts
 
I did adjust the phase knob when I had it between the speakers but it didn't make much difference. I too was thinking that the corner placement might produce a muddy sound, but it really wasn't, from what I could tell. It's easy enough for me to center it between my speakers so I'll do some more a/b testing tommorrow (girl friend is coming over this afternoon). If I had two subs, wouldn't I be putting them in the front corners anyways though? A corner location is where the svs manual that came with the sub says it sounds best too. When It, positioned between the speakers I turn the volume to about 2 o clock vs 10 o clock for the corner position.
b_limo's avatar
b_limo OP
2,289 posts
 
Corner placement just blows the center placement away in my particular application. Way more output, way lower bass and not muddy. I think Im going to look into buying another sub for the left side, that way the bass is coming from both areas.
b_limo's avatar
b_limo OP
2,289 posts
 
Alright, I moved my sub back to the center of my front wall to give it another try, and yes, it does sound better there. I placed my sub on 4" cinder blocks to try to decouple it from the floor, turned the crossover down to 40hz and turned the gain up. Waaay cleaner and better sounding. You guys were right, I was wrong :-)
More to discover