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Subwoofer insight.

This is new territory to me. Current speakers are 2 way with frequency response of 60Hz-20KHz with +/- 2dB.  Sensitivity rated as 86dB. Chance to purchase a pair of REL 7 tis. I feel like I am missing something but will have to buy the subs to try out. My basic question is this. Does this purchase sound wise? I know what I am willing to spend but do you think I will notice an appreciable improvement.  I know that no one can listen through my ears but this is my first time doing this. Source is 75 watt integrated tube amp, McIntosh MA-2275. Thoughts appreciated. I am leaning towards going forward with the deal but would appreciate some feedback. Room is large and open, 28X38 feet with 9 foot ceilings. Thanks for any feedback.
ricmci

Showing 4 responses by bdp24

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,510 posts
 

@m-db,: no, because the input impedance of the high level input on subs allowing that are at an extremely high impedance---the sub is receiving the output signal of the power amp, but none of it's power. Amazing, ay?

HOWEVER, whatever distortion the amp is producing is part of the signal the sub receives. Some listeners don't mind that (in fact, like it), finding the sub(s) to then share the tonality of the power amp with the main speakers. Rythmik's Brian Ding disagrees (though his non-XLR models provide both low level and high level inputs), feeling the low level inputs (non-speaker binding posts) to be cleaner. The beauty of the Rythmiks is that the listener can try both, and use the one he prefers.

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,510 posts
 
For home use, where constant plugging/unplugging is uncommon, the Speakon plug & jack just add another interruption/solder joint/connection to the signal path. Probably no harm for subwoofer use, but I wouldn’t use them with main speakers.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,510 posts
 
Though Rythmik provides high level inputs (on those plate amps I mentioned above), Brian Ding is in favor of low level sub connections. When I learned of high level, my first thought was "Why add power amp distortion to the signal being sent to the sub?" But I guess "coloring" the sound of the sub(s) the same as you are the loudspeakers is a defendable notion. 
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,510 posts
 

For those in agreement with Larry about the superiority of a high level connection for a sub, know that Rythmik provides both line level connection (on RCA jacks) AND high level (on binding posts) on the company's PEQ and PEQ3 plate amps.

Rythmik drops the high level/binding post connections on it's XLR2 and XLR3 plate amps, in exchange for the XLR connections.

The choice of plate amps is an option on all the upper-tier Rythmik subs.

Everyone seems to know that REL offers high level inputs, but for some reason don't know the same about Rythmik. Why is that? It could be that REL makes that feature a bigger selling point than does Rythmik. 

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