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REL speakon connection to amp vs speakers

I will be connecting 2 T/9x's to my system (B&W 805 D4) driven by a NAD M33. I am wondering if there is any audible difference between connecting them to the amp or to the speakers directly and am guessing somebody here has tried it.

 

I only use the system for music and I listen relatively quietly, the "room" is 16 by 16 but open concept so the total space is 16 by 50.

pbomberg
pbomberg OP
1 posts
 

Interesting approach I will have to try. My original question was connecting at the speaker or amp end.

 

But using the sub out does indeed mean I can use the m33 for signal processing (cross over frequency) but the reason for my question was actually I was thinking about upgrading the sub cable and I have 10 plus feet between the amp and the subs and the cost is way higher running the cable back to the amp.

 

tony1954's avatar
tony1954
898 posts
 

Connecting to the speaker outlets is the recommended method, but be careful.

With balanced amplifiers Rel recommends a different way of connecting subs, so do some research or there might be "issues".

andrewkelley
271 posts
 

I have done both. On my old setup my fancy speaker cables were terminated in banana at my amp end and spade at the speaker end. I had some custom rel spec cables from an even earlier setup that were terminated in banana so I just piggybacked them off the speakers. It worked fine. 

whenever I upgraded to my current system, and my new speakers, cables, and Rels I made sure to order spades for my main speaker cables so i could piggyback the banana rel cables off the amp. 
 

i suggest calling rel and just asking what they think! 

macg19
672 posts
 

 I am wondering if there is any audible difference between connecting them to the amp or to the speakers directly and am guessing somebody here has tried it.

Honestly I was confused by this question, and because others had chimed in with advice I thought I'd add my 2 cents.

@tony1954 for balanced amps you just need to "float" (not use) the ground for the supplied  speakon cables. The "issue" is 60Hz hum. Doesn't apply to either RCA inputs.

@andrewkelley +1 definitely call REL that's what I did 

ross6860's avatar
ross6860
103 posts
 

I believe the OP was going to use the speaker-level connection.  His question was if there was a difference connecting at the amp vs the speaker.

 

Electrically, they are the same.  The REL input is "reading" the signal just like a volt meter and is a very high resistance device.

 

It should not make any difference.

 

Currently using two T/9x with Magnepans.

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