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Home Theater 101 - Subwoofer question?

I will bet this is as basic as it gets in my first H/T 101 Subwoofer class, so anyone with a decent HT system should be able to advise me.

I have a very basic and simple 2 channel system for TV and movies (music playback is performed on another system). I don't want to change anything but add a cheap, decent subwoofer to what I already have.

[SYSTEM: Pioneer Elite A35 amp (45wpc), Denon 1930 DVD, JBL HLS610 monitors, Kimber cabling]

There is a slight problem, my integrated amp does not have a preamp or sub output. I have read that it is not such a bad thing to use speaker wire from amp to sub to monitors, and better subwoofer integration is possible. I don't know if this is true but I nave no other option than this hook-up. I'm keeping this amp and would rather not add a sub if adding a sub is ill-advised.

Now that the stage is set, what cheap good quality power subwoofer will you recommend?
128x128mjcmt
mjcmt's avatar
mjcmt OP
710 posts
 
To clarify: I would run speaker wire from amp to monitors, then from monitors to sub (providing it has speaker level controls). Is this correct?

Do you have a cheap subwoofer recommendation for my modest system?
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
Do ensure speaker line imputs are on what ever sub you select, AND the more control of contour on the sub will be of immense help too, phase, slope, level, cut off, and the better/finer the adjustments the better... if at all possible. Not all subs wil have every mentioned option.

HSU. SVS. Def tech SC2 or SC1. Velodyne SPL series

good luck
loomisjohnson
1,905 posts
 
i remember your system--the craigslist special, right? you might look on ebay for an energy or mirage sub--very musical and easily available used for under $100. paradigm pdr-8 or pdr-10 is also nice and cheap. if you can spend more, i'd parrot some of the above recommendations--def tech or hsu.
srwooten's avatar
srwooten
694 posts
 
To clarify: I would run speaker wire from amp to monitors, then from monitors to sub (providing it has speaker level controls). Is this correct?

This is correct, though there are a few different ways to do it. The ownerÂ’s manual will give you a few scenarios, try them all and see which works best in your system. You can use cheap speaker wire to try different configurations. Go online and read a Def Tech sub (or other brands- like the ones blindjim suggested) owners manuals for examples.

Blindjims advice is good. Look for something that has the controls to integrate properly.

A word of advice- NOT HAVING A SUB is better than a sloppy cheap sub. You can pick up a used Def Tech Supercube 1 with speaker level inputs for under $600. Great sub, I have one in my second system.
uncertainsmile
88 posts
 
wait for a mirage bps 150i. i went from that to an onix ufw-10 to dual svs 16-46's, back to the mirage, and now a sunfire true sub eq. to my ears and in my room, the mirage still bests them all in sound quality. the only caveat for me was i tended to bottom out the mirage, but i think, in retrospect, i asked too much of it instead of enjoying what it could do very nicely.
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