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Powered sub with MAC1500?

S

sunnbumm

New Member
So I was gifted a JBL E150P powered Sub-woofer this past week...
The sub is capable of functioning with an amplified source from my MAC1500 and then connecting my B&O P45 speakers to the sub. My gut says don't do it (and lots of cable pulling to try it).
Am I going lose all the qualities I enjoy from the Mac1500 if I push it through this digital powered Sub and allow it to manage the output?
thanks,
 
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I am not sure whether the load presented to the MAC1500 output section would be sufficient to maintain stability. It might be fine.

If it were me, I would try running the the B&Os directly from the MAC and use the headphone output to run the subwoofer.

If that doesn't sound good, then I would drive the JBL from the MAC's headphone output with the SPEAKERS switch on the back panel turned OFF.

The MAC's headphone output is driven by the main output section through a step down transformer so load is maintained with the speakers shut off.
 
I wouldn't use the sub as a power source for my speakers. Just send the signal from one of the outputs on the MAC1500 to the sub and let the subs power handle it's self. Then at this point you can control the subs output independently and even turn it off if you don't need it.
 
In no case will the sub "power" the connected speakers.

However, the sub does have a fixed high pass filter for the speaker out connectors. Problem is, the high pass filter is really high, 150Hz, which is only appropriate for very small speaker.

I suggest connecting the B&O speakers as you would normally to the 1500. Then, connect the left and right speaker inputs on the sub in parallel, respectively, to the regular left and right speaker connections to the 1500. Since the input impedance of the powered sub is high, it does not materially alter the load on the 1500.

You can use thin wire to connect the sub in parallel since it only needs the voltage signal from the 1500. There is no current worthy of consideration in the wires feeding the sub. You could connect in parallel either at the 1500 terminals or at the speaker terminals, whichever is more convenient.
 
Thank you all, I will try these options and listen. Looking forward to filling in the low end on this rig, the B&Os are great but not much for bass. I don't want to shake the house apart just a little more depth.
Thanks Again!
 
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