... even more subwoofer questions

RunOutGroove

RunOutGroove

Addicted Member
OK, I've come into a possession of an SVS SB-2000 subwoofer and I'd like to try it in place of the JBL S120P II subwoofer that I'm currently using. I think that the SVS is maybe a higher quality model and since it's a compact 10" model it's quite a bit smaller than the generously sized 12" JBL which takes up more space than is ideal. The first question would be if folks think that this is a sensible swap; if I wouldn't be giving up too much switching to a smaller sub and maybe would gain some punchiness in the bass going with the SVS?

My other question has to do with the hookup. The current JBL sub that I'm using has both RCA and speaker terminal hookups. I have it hooked up via the speaker terminals, to the "b" speaker switch on my Marantz 2270 receiver, which works perfectly well and of course allows me to easily switch the sub on and off. The SVS sub in question only has RCA connections though, and I wonder if there's a way to make that work with the same speaker wires that I have currently going to the JBL sub? The speaker connections are configured in such a way that there's four leads, a positive and negative for left and right channels and I wonder if I could route both the positive and negative wires each into an RCA plug and have everything work the way that I have it set up currently? Alternatively, I could route the thing through my tape monitor, but I like that solution less as I have several things that are hooked up to that thing and it seems that I'd have to have the thing set to "tape" rather than "source" which would mean that I'd loose some inputs that I'm using. If that's the only way to do it, I could buy some kind of RCA splitter box, though I don't love that idea (more wires and more clutter), particularly since I recently gave away the one of those that I had. I'm assuming that at the very least the thing can be hooked up via tape monitor... or is it really only meant to work with amps that have a dedicated sub output?
 
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only you can say if it would be a step up or down but SVS has an outstanding reputation for subs.

You say you're using a Marantz 2270. you can remove (and save) the pre/main jumpers and replace them with two M/M/F "Y" splitters and run a stereo interconnect from the female jack to the line level inputs of the sub. You won't be able to use the speaker switch to turn off the sub but you can use the sub's power switch to accomplish that. either way, you have to get up.

Forget about using the tape monitor. it's not affected by the volume control

MMF Y splitter.jpg
 
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The RCA connections are for line level input. You will dramatically overload the subwoofer amp pushing speaker level signal into them.

Tape out does not provide volume control of the signal. The subwoofer will be at same loudness at all times...unless of course you adjust it every time you adjust the volume on your main amplifier.

Your 2270 provides line level out via its preamp out jacks. Use that.
 
the skipper said:
only you can say if it would be a step up or down but SVS has an outstanding reputation for subs.

You say you're using a Marantz 2270. you can remove (and save) the pre/main jumpers and replace them with two M/M/F "Y" splitters and run a stereo interconnect from the female jack to the line level inputs of the sub. You won't be able to use the speaker switch to turn off the sub but you can use the sub's power switch to accomplish that. either way, you have to get up.

Forget about using the tape monitor. it's not affected by the volume control

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That's probably a workable solution... that I didn't think of. Thanks!
 
the skipper said:
only you can say if it would be a step up or down but SVS has an outstanding reputation for subs.
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This. But you already knew that so I will give you my experience, granted it is with two different subs.

3-4 years ago I had a similar situation going from an older Velodyne model (built circa 2002) to a Martin Logan Abyss (built circa 2010). I bought both used and paid about the same price. The ML was newer, more expensive (when new) and although it had a smaller diameter driver, it had a stronger amp. Since I live in a condo with a pretty moderate sized room, I figured the 12” Abyss would be enough sub. Furthermore, given the fact that it was a newer, more expensive item that was made by a well respected speaker manufacturer, I assumed the ML had to be at least as good if not better than a Velodyne (who also had a reputation for making decent subs).

Unfortunately, due to very limited space, working full time, going to school full time and having a 2 year old in the house, I didn’t do an A/B test before selling the Velodyne. If I had, I may have kept the Velodyne and flipped the Abyss.

Best of luck!
 
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Natertots said:
This. But you already knew that so I will give you my experience, granted it is with two different subs.

3-4 years ago I had a similar situation going from an older Velodyne model (built circa 2002) to a Martin Logan Abyss (built circa 2010). I bought both used and paid about the same price. The ML was newer, more expensive (when new) and although it had a smaller diameter driver, it had a stronger amp. Since I live in a condo with a pretty moderate sized room, I figured the 12” Abyss would be enough sub. Furthermore, given the fact that it was a newer, more expensive item that was made by a well respected speaker manufacturer, I assumed the ML had to be at least as good if not better than a Velodyne (who also had a reputation for making decent subs).

Unfortunately, due to very limited space, working full time, going to school full time and having a 2 year old in the house, I didn’t do an A/B test before selling the Velodyne. If I had, I may have kept the Velodyne and flipped the Abyss.

Best of luck!
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Yeah, it seems that if I go this route which has been suggested of hooking up the new sub via the preamp out then I can still have the old sub hooked up the way that I have it, though the "B" speaker switch which means that I can easily A/B test the two subs. I can even run both (not that I plan on doing that)! Honestly if I like new smaller SVS sub is even 95% as much as the old one, I'll be keeping it and selling the old sub. That JBL is just too damn big!
 
the skipper said:
only you can say if it would be a step up or down but SVS has an outstanding reputation for subs.

You say you're using a Marantz 2270. you can remove (and save) the pre/main jumpers and replace them with two M/M/F "Y" splitters and run a stereo interconnect from the female jack to the line level inputs of the sub. You won't be able to use the speaker switch to turn off the sub but you can use the sub's power switch to accomplish that. either way, you have to get up.

Forget about using the tape monitor. it's not affected by the volume control

View attachment 2157793
Click to expand...
OK... I finally getting around to getting the stuff together to try out this new subwoofer that I have. With the hookups in question, on the amp side and then on the subwoofer, it seems like I need a pair of male to male Y cords and then an 8-10' pair of (or single dual type) cable(s) to go from my amp to the sub. I'd rather not spend a fortune on these things, but I;d spend a bit more if it's going to make a difference. I wonder if anyone has any recommendations of which of these things to buy... or maybe for this purpose the quality isn't so important?
 
Suggestion. The next time you are considering a purchase and seek advice, you might want to change your Ready-Shoot!-Aim approach.

Once you have both components, only you can determine which works best for you. :)
 
Aaron Hayman said:
OK... I finally getting around to getting the stuff together to try out this new subwoofer that I have. With the hookups in question, on the amp side and then on the subwoofer, it seems like I need a pair of male to male Y cords and then an 8-10' pair of (or single dual type) cable(s) to go from my amp to the sub. I'd rather not spend a fortune on these things, but I;d spend a bit more if it's going to make a difference. I wonder if anyone has any recommendations of which of these things to buy... or maybe for this purpose the quality isn't so important?
Click to expand...

And so we come to the great cable debate. I don’t have any useful experience with rotating cables but the general consensus from the threads I have read is cable quality does not really affect subwoofer performance.

Monoprice or Monster offer 10’ coax cables for around $10-15. If you are using more expensive cables on the JBL, it probably doesn’t make that big of a difference. However, If you are concerned about it, consider using something more pedestrian on the JBL for the purposes of comparison.
 
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