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Questions never stop ever, it seems.

Hello All,  is there any point, any discernable advantage, to go to the hassle of including your subwoofer in the signal path of a bi-wired speaker system? Assuming you have enough connections to pull it off or it's even possible.

As opposed to the more normal thought of using the hi pass filter in the subwoofer by running the signal out from the preamp to the subwoofer then running the subwoofer out to the amplifier.

I don't really see a clear way to do both, bi-wire and use that hi pass filter and maybe even potentially blowing everything into orbit if you connect things wrong. Any opinions or ideas? Thanks.

j
stereoisomer

Showing 3 responses by audiorusty

audiorusty
296 posts
 
With a powered sub you are actually running a bi-amped system, which in my opinion is better than bi-wiring. If your sub does have a high pass filter (IME most do not) I would do as you have already stated, connect the preamps outs to the sub and then connect the subs high pass outputs to your main speakers amp. 
audiorusty
296 posts
 
@classdstreamer

I assumed that the line-level out from the sub was for daisy-chaining additional subs (for a DBA). Maybe this is sub-specific? 

This is correct. IME most powered subs do NOT have high pass capabilities. It is by far the exception than the norm.
So if the line-level out from the sub engages a high pass filter, it seems you can't daisy-chain subs for a DBA.
This is also correct unless the designer added a low frequency output. If you want to run a DBA it might be simpler and more cost effective to incorporate an external crossover and use subs that do not have a high pass filter out.
If I wanted to run a DBA, would I need an RCA splitter at the preamp?
This should work if you are using a sub that has a high pass filter
audiorusty
296 posts
 
That is exactly how I have my system currently configured. Preamp Outs to Subwoofer In and Subwoofer Outs to the amplifier itself. That engages the hi pass filter and gives me some control options on the subwoofer but are you also saying the system is now bi-AMPED not just bi-wired? I'm just trying to make sure I understand here.

Yes.

You are using one amp, built into the sub, to drive frequencies from 20 Hz to 85 Hz and a different amp to drive frequencies from 85 Hz to 20k Hz. IOW you have broken the frequency spectrum (20 Hz - 20k Hz) into two segments ( Bi ) with each segment being driven by dedicated amplification (amped)

Hope this is helpful.
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