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Interaction between Sub XO and Amp?

I want to use my sub's crossover to cut off the lowest frequencies from my main (bookshelf) speakers. The concern I have is that the sub's amp will process the frequencies above the filter, resulting in a degredation of the sound quality.

Optimally, I'd like to use the line-level in/outs to run preamp out1 to the sub, then the line-level outs on the sub to the amp (and amp to the main speakers.) If the crossover works "before" the amp, and simply passes the frequencies above the cut-off to the amp, life is good. But if the amp gets involved and "corrupts" the clean, accurate signal my preamp is sending I need to decide whether to buy a sub whose amp won't degrade the signal (much) or just go with floorstanders despite a fairly small room (12x17).

Thanks for your help!

Howard

aggielaw

Showing 1 response by nsgarch

nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
The high pass (to your main amp) is typically applied before the sub's amp. However, the high pass is still another device between the preamp and main amp, so you're dependent on it's quality (although it's just a capacitor, but how good?.) Further, you will have four cable connections between you preamp and main amp instead of two, plus some internal wiring (in the sub) of unknown origin.

If your preamp has two pairs of "main outs", and depending on your main speakers (you didn't say) the ideal way IMO is to run them full range from one set of preamp outs, and run the sub (again, you didn't say what kind) from the other set of preamp outs, just enough to fill in the very bottom that your main speakers miss.
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