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adding stereo subs

B

Bob in WI

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
First time sub user so if the question is dumb......well, yes, maybe it is. Connecting powered subs from an APT Holman pre.
Pre has 2 sets of "mains out" but I'm using them both to bi wire my speakers. Subs have a line in but not a line out.
So essentially, I don't have a free line out for the subs.
I don't want to wire amp to speaker to sub as the subs have amps.
I can tap into the tape monitor outs (tape monitor out to subs) but I'm not sure those are active if I'm not actually taping anything.

I haven't bought the subs yet; I want to have a plan before I do.

I'm looking at a used pair but they are just like these: https://verafiaudiollc.com/products/vanguard-caldera-12-active-subwoofer

I know I'm not the first one facing this situation..............
 
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Skip your bi-wire set up, and just use the other pair of tape outs.
what amps are you using to bi-wire?
Yes you need a way to control all the levels together!
 
Nyjblbob said:
Skip your bi-wire set up, and just use the other pair of tape outs.
what amps are you using to bi-wire?
Yes you need a way to control all the levels together!
Click to expand...
Speakers are designed for bi wire & it does make a difference.
Using the Onkyo & Fosi's in my sig.
 
I'm not doubting speakers designed for bi-wiring sound better.
I agree with opnly bafld you need a way to control the volume to your new tri-amped
system together.
 
Tape out won't work because of no volume control. Y adapters will work. As will speaker level inputs if the purchased sub has speaker level in/out connections.

FYI, Mark Schifter is the CEO/Managing Partner of Vera-Fi Audio. He also went to prison for ripping off people when he ran AV123.com around 2010. I never plan to give him a penny for anything.
 
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Bob in WI said:
I don't want to wire amp to speaker to sub as the subs have amps.
Click to expand...

I would recommend purchasing a different pair of subwoofers, namely ones with speaker-level inputs. Speaker-level outputs are a convenience, but not necessary if your amp connectors can handle two sets of wires. If subs have speaker-level outputs as well, then the usual wiring is amp->sub->speaker. Either way your sub amps are being used to drive the subs. I find this is the simplest way to extend bass in a stereo system. Your stereo amp is not loaded or affected by a sub connected in this manner, and neither are your main speakers (unless the sub also includes a high-pass filter, which I would not want unless my mains were tiny).
 
BmWr75 said:
Tape out won't work because of no volume control. Y adapters will work. As will speaker level inputs if the purchased sub has speaker level in/out connections.

FYI, Mark Schifter is the CEO/Managing Partner of Vera-Fi Audio. He also went to prison for ripping off people when he ran AV123.com around 2010. I never plan to give him a penny for anything.
Click to expand...
I'm aware of the backstory.
 
I think I will keep looking until & find a pair w speaker out.
Seems the best way forward.
All I'm trying to do is address bass boundary interference that I'm not curing w bass traps.
Subs is my last idea.
 
When using speaker wire input the wire can be thin since it is just carrying a signal for the sub amp.
 
Easiest way, and IMHO, best sounding is to do speaker line hookups. This way, the subs see the same signal as the speakers, everything gets adjusted from one place.
From my experience this works the "best" when you don't have stereo sub out
 
Mike_S said:
Easiest way, and IMHO, best sounding is to do speaker line hookups. This way, the subs see the same signal as the speakers, everything gets adjusted from one place.
From my experience this works the "best" when you don't have stereo sub out
Click to expand...

The OP does have stereo outputs. :dunno:
 
opnly bafld said:
Speaker wire input. :thumbsup:
Speaker output is not important.
Click to expand...
So the wiring would be source to pre to amp to speakers to sub "speaker line in" ?
I'm just a bit confused about sending an amplified signal to an amp (but I assume thats the difference between "line in" & "speaker line in" on the sub ?)
 
Powered subwoofers with speaker-level inputs convert the high-level speaker signal to line level, which then passes to the subwoofer's amplifier.

Line level inputs go directly to the subwoofer's amplifier.

If you are feeding the sub with speaker-level signal, it can come directly from your main amplifier, or be pulled from the terminals of the main speakers.
 
Bob in WI said:
I think I will keep looking until & find a pair w speaker out.
Seems the best way forward.
All I'm trying to do is address bass boundary interference that I'm not curing w bass traps.
Subs is my last idea.
Click to expand...

One advantage to speaker level outs is that matched phase relationships will be maintained between the sub and mains which isn't necessarily the case with pre-outs ..
 
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