I recently added a Definitive Pro Sub 800 to give just a little extra boost in the low end. My room is an average size living room with a vaulted ceiling which makes sound set up a challenge on it's own. My set up is a Marantz 2275 / 2 channel receiver running a pair of ELAC Debut 6 2.0 bookshelf speakers. I added an 8 in subwoofer to get a little more bottom end. So far so good. My issue is, I have to use the High Level Inputs and Outputs on the sub since its an older receiver which is okay, but that set up rolls off the bass to my mains. I am running the Subwoofer to Channel 1 in the receiver and then the Main Speakers to the Outputs on the sub. The Elacs can take full power and sound better that way where positioned in the room. An option would be to run the Mains to Channel 1 and the Sub to channel 2. That would be ideal....but I am already using a Russound Speaker selector to run several pairs of small speakers to other rooms (Deck, Dining Room, etc) so I need that Channel 2 for that purpose. Is there an solution that I am missing? I am willing to use a small external mini amp to run power to the speaker selector but I don't know if that will help. Any thoughts?
Subwoofer with Vintage 2 Channel Receiver Marantz
- Thread starter powellc3
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the skipper
Professional Curmudgeon
You can run it safely in parallel with your existing speakers. If you run the sub to a speaker output and do NOT connect your mains to the sub, the sub's very high input impedance will make it appear to be invisible to your amp.
Nightwisher
Farer In The Goldilocks Zone
If the subwoofer rolls off the bass to your mains in that configuration, then that means it is a true crossover. This is a good thing and gives you the best possible sound configuration. Having the speakers and the subwoofer playing bass frequencies can create muddy, bloated bass and/or cause bass frequency cancellations. Neither are a good thing. I've gone that route and it can sound pretty good, but never as good as a true crossover.
Personally, I'd keep everything as-is.
If you want to try it the other way, you can put both sets of speaker wire into Channel 1 on the receiver. This won't hurt anything, as the subwoofer is self-powered and won't add any load to the receiver. The tricky part is getting both sets of wires into the same hole.
Personally, I'd keep everything as-is.
If you want to try it the other way, you can put both sets of speaker wire into Channel 1 on the receiver. This won't hurt anything, as the subwoofer is self-powered and won't add any load to the receiver. The tricky part is getting both sets of wires into the same hole.
Thank you, but I am not sure I understand. You mean run the Mains and Sub to the same channel 1?
Honestly, the Elacs have plenty of bass when wired directly to the receiver but I just needed a little bit more so that's why I added the 8in sub. I wish there was a way to send a little more bass to the Mains and still have them running from the Sub Outputs to receiver. The only adjustments on the sub are Crossover and Volume on the sub. I just don't think that I can wire the Sub and Mains to the same channel using 14 gauge wire. Especially a vintage receiver with small holes for channel inputs
the skipper
Professional Curmudgeon
yes.
FWIW, I'll assume that when you "channels", you're referring to the A and B speakers. In such case, both "channels" are running off the same amp. There's not a separate amp for each set of speakers.
onplane
What! No Wake???
Sounds like the Marantz remote speaker option will NOT work, due to your other speakers. In addition, since you are powering speakers in other rooms, you really want the sub "physically tied" to your ELAC's.
You could try the parallel option as suggested by skipper. Now, the easiest way to do this since you are already have all of the wires going to the sub, is to:
Remove the wires attached to the sub's high level Out (these lines go from the sub to the ELAC's)
Re-attach these lines together with the wires already there on the high level In.
Re-attach these lines together with the wires already there on the high level In.
Now the best way to do this is to twist the wires together and attach to each post. Another alternative, is to have wires for one set and banana plugs on the other.
The whole idea here is to get a full signal to the ELAC's AND provide a high level signal to the sub.
Regards,
Jerry
Nightwisher
Farer In The Goldilocks Zone
Elacs go down to 44 Hz in the specs, which typically means that point is around -3 dB on their bass roll-off (could be lower, like -6, but likely not higher).
https://www.elac.com/product/b6-2/
The Definitive subwoofer has a variable crossover starting at 40 Hz.
https://www.definitivetechnology.com/products/prosub-800
If you want the most bass to come out of your Elacs in the current configuration, the crossover should be set somewhere between 40 and 50 Hz. By 44 Hz, the bass in the Elacs has already started to roll off, so a subwoofer is needed at that point to supplement for the best bass response. The Elac's 6.5" woofer rolls off pretty fast on the response curve.
That's the science. The rest is personal preference.
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sqlsavior
Lunatic Member
As others have indicated, run both the mains and the sub from "channel 1". You should have no wires connected to the high-level OUTPUTS on the sub. This will avoid the high-pass filter robbing your mains of the bass. Adjust the low-pass filter (knob on back) to the -3 dB down point of your mains, for a start. Use the dial on the side to adjust the volume so that the bass is sufficient but not obvious.
Ross6860
Super Member
FWIW I'm running the same speakers in a bedroom and had been using a sub until the ELACs showed up last week..
I don't feel the ELACs need a sub, just my opinion. They kick out plenty of bass and your receiver should sound pretty darn nice with these speakers. Just listened to the Dire Straits re-mastered Brother's in Arms last night and it sounded great.
I have a couple of subs that take speaker level inputs with pass-through to the mains and they do not cut the speaker out output to the mains. The speakers still run full range (just a pass through). Your subs may be different so YMMV
EDIT: - I read the manual on your sub, and it's not a simple pass through so the other replies cover the options. I should have read it first.
Still think the ELACs don't need a sub unless you like a lot of organ music
I think they are pretty decent little speakers. Enjoy them.
I don't feel the ELACs need a sub, just my opinion. They kick out plenty of bass and your receiver should sound pretty darn nice with these speakers. Just listened to the Dire Straits re-mastered Brother's in Arms last night and it sounded great.
I have a couple of subs that take speaker level inputs with pass-through to the mains and they do not cut the speaker out output to the mains. The speakers still run full range (just a pass through). Your subs may be different so YMMV
EDIT: - I read the manual on your sub, and it's not a simple pass through so the other replies cover the options. I should have read it first.
Still think the ELACs don't need a sub unless you like a lot of organ music
I think they are pretty decent little speakers. Enjoy them.
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