Subbing vintage Marantz - question of aesthetics

[pocketrabbit]

I've been thinking of adding a powered subwoofer to my Marantz 2245, and have read the how-to threads about wiring, but this is more about the aesthetics of doing it. I'm wondering if it would compromise the "vintage sound" the Marantz puts out by running it through a speaker system it was never intended for. Might I be better off getting a set of larger stereo speakers? Or perhaps that vintage sound actually originates in the preamp, and the sub would still be amplifying the sound we enjoy? It would be great to hear from some who have listened both ways and have some opinions on this.

Thanks! -Steve

 

[Bert 1100]

The sub does only the very low frequencies, below say 40-50 hz depending on how your speakers are managing the low bass. So IMHO the "musicality" will not be altered at all. And yes the sound is mainly in the preamp.
What are your main speakers ?
Will you be wiring the sub from the pre-out with a splitter ?

Oh, and from the title I wanted to answer "there is no substitute for vintage Marantz !"

 

[pocketrabbit]

Thanks Bert, at the moment I have AR-4X on the system, but I also have a pair of 6" Linn Tukans and was planning on using those with a subwoofer. I guess I would either need to find a sub with a built in crossover and speaker outs, or do as you said, and connect the sub via a Y connector into the receiver's pre-out jumper. I've read differing opinions on whether the splitter method is a good solution, as it still sends the full range of sound to the mains.

Just browsing on the Web, I haven't come across many new subwoofers in my price range that include speaker outs. Klipsch models seem the most attractive in terms of reviews, and I just noticed a R-12SW is on sale at Best Buy for $360. Or this, which is 10" but seems to have better specs, and includes a free wireless kit. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1080056-REG/klipsch_1060699_r_110sw_10_400w_subwoofer.html

What do you think?

 

[Bert 1100]

I guess any powered sub has a (variable) low pass filter anyway.
I never had a sub so I can't really say which are good...
Unless your sub is far away I would avoid wireless. More technology = more possible problems.

 

[Richs_Trains]

You still want the full range going to the 'mains' and the y connector would be at the 'line' 'rca' level. An amplified sub will have a coil inside to choke out the high frequencies, but you still want the full range going to the mains. If you are trying to keep the bass from the AR-4x's because they can't handle it, you would need to filter them inline, probably using a capacitor to keep the bass out. I have a cheap Jensen sub, it is amplified and has both speaker and line level inputs with volume and frequency cut off pots.

 

[pocketrabbit]

Thanks for the responses, I'm beginning to get a better understanding of the setup. I've read some differing opinions on the Y-connector method, both here and other places, but it seems to be a pretty standard procedure, so I guess I'll get something and go ahead and try it and see how it sounds.

 

[pocketrabbit]

To follow up on this, I purchased a Klipsch 12" sub at Best Buy on sale, wired it with the Y-in-the-jumper method, at it sounds spectacular with the Linn Tukan speakers!

 

[Bert 1100]

Nice !