Wiring a subwoofer to monoblocks


Just picked up a REL Quake
REL's manual speaks about differential amps – does this mean
Mono blocks?
No friggin idea how to wire it up.
My i/c’s are fibre optics which break the ground between boxes so wiring the earth to the pre is no use.
To make matters worse, the Audiopax reverse polarity /phase.
Have mailed REL but no reply.

When the manual speaks about wiring to the chassis ground,
How do I check this?

Next problem will be a plan to use two subs and I'm not any clearer from their manual how this will be achieved.

I have spare pre outs on the Supratek but would prefer to run the the sub/s using the hi level inputs.
simon74

Showing 7 responses by simon74

Thanks guys
however the response from Al has me wondering.
I'm in the uk and would have no chance of getting the Audiopax sorted if I have a mishap.
I'll mail Audiopax but from past experience, won't hold my breath waiting for an answer - Where's Jim Smith when you need him :_)))

Simon
Thanks all,
I do not believe the Audiopax are balanced.
As the spec it's two 15 watt amps wired in series to give 30
so I should be ok.
I've seen the resistor idea before.
I'll not be rushing into this in any case, says he feeling
impatience gnawing at his leg:_)
Has brought about some polarisation of ideas on one of the uk sites as some people reckon valve amps (some anyway) can't drive subwoofers/or do bass so the low level input to the sub is the way to go?
I was hoping that the 100 watt amp in the sub would take a bit of a load of the 30 watt amps trying to drive 4 Ohm speakers.
My only experince of subs was a large REL Stentor when I was using a Passlabs X-250. I loved it finding it hard to beleive how much it helped across the spectrum.
Then the wife kicked me out of the lounge into my wee cave
and the Pass and the REL were serious overkill:_(
Thanks Al,
I really don't want to do harm to the Audiopax as I called in every favour I was ever owed to get them (a nice man on here who will remain nameless).

I hasten to add the reference to Jim was only because I know people who know him and I knew he'd know cause people I know that know,well when it comes to pax or avant garde - he's da man! so I said his name and crossed my fingers:-)
Email on it's way Jim

Rgds to all Simon
Hi All,
nothing is a problem when you know how!
Big thanks to Jim Smith - I have the knowledge,
all I need now are the connectors/cable...
and another Quake :_)))
Will report back when it's hooked up.
Made up cables and hooked up the sub yesterday.
Not expended much energy setting it up but already I'm over the moon with the results and can't wait to pick up another for a matching pair.
Seems to let the amps really sing, opens everything up and
real bass to boot -result:-)
Thanks for everyones input.
Well this should have been a happy post!
After picking up a second Quake and setting
everything up - sonic bliss.
The two subs were harder to integrate than one, probably due to lack of space limiting their positions I think but the results were way beyond my expectations.
Whilst my amps and speakers were never a match made in heaven, financial constraints meant the subs were my last gasp attempt to achieve the sound I knew the Audiopax could produce.
So after about three years of ownership I achieve nirvana - and two weeks later one of the Audiopax dies:-(
Sometimes I think this hobby is very like the Egyptian Sand dance, two steps forward, three back :-)
All sorted, all singing.
For anyone using lowish powered valve amps with speakers
around 89/91dB efficiency, I'd recommend trying a pair of cheap subs before ditching the speakers.