HELP-stereo hookup question
- Thread starter mulls
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rinso
Well-known member
If it only has RCA hookups, then it most probably has it's own internal amplifier. (believe it or not, some don't) If you have tape out jacks on your amp, you can most probably use those if they are not in use already.
Yes-as Rinso suggests-use the "tape out" on your preamp.I looked up the RSW15 on the Klipsch website-it was originally designed for home theater useage-they didn't show it for "Hi-Fi stereo" use. The unit has its own amp The website manual showed it used with the "subwoofer" out on a home theater preamp or reciever.Study the rear panel of your preamp-if it has a "L+R" jack on the back you can patch from that to the input of your subwoofer.Some preamps had that. If not you will neeed to use one of the tape out connectors.
subwoofer hookup
Thanks guys-actually my Harmon-Kardon was "big time"when I bought it 28 years ago(!)so it has an extra preamp out I can use.I did not realize until I ordered it it did not have the usual hookups-lots of highline stuff now I guess it is assumed it is for A/V systems.
Tom
Thanks guys-actually my Harmon-Kardon was "big time"when I bought it 28 years ago(!)so it has an extra preamp out I can use.I did not realize until I ordered it it did not have the usual hookups-lots of highline stuff now I guess it is assumed it is for A/V systems.
Tom
Thats even better your HK preamp has another set of preamp outs-Some "Hi-End" preamps I had in the past had two preamp outs (McInTosh C28 nad a Pioneer Spec#1)I beleive these also had a L+R out in case you wanted to set up a subwoofer. For Stereo-Hi-Fi use two subwoofers are best-one for each channel.for movies -They standardized on one.Its a separate track in Dolby Digital,DTS and Sony Digital Dynamic Sound movie soundtrack formats. Glad its working-Bet it sounds really nice with your LaScalas.I knew of someone that had a hi-fi Stereo system that had two subwoofers. He built them and the amps to drive them.
two subs
Two subs would be nice,but the RSW 15 was too costly to consider two!The music I like is almost exclusively from the 50s and 60s and is not loaded with bottom end anyway.BTW,I dont know if we are allowed to mention items for sale or not but I would really like to see my Klipsch Epic CF2s and PhaseTech 15"powered sub go to someone who would appreciate and enjoy them as much as I have-I bought them new in 96.
I know it is ridiculous to become attached to things like this but I do care where they go.I got a good offer for them but after all the pleasure they have given me I did not want to sentence them to a life of playing thug noise-too much of a shock from Martin,Bennett,Sinatra,etc!Just call me goofy.
Tom
Two subs would be nice,but the RSW 15 was too costly to consider two!The music I like is almost exclusively from the 50s and 60s and is not loaded with bottom end anyway.BTW,I dont know if we are allowed to mention items for sale or not but I would really like to see my Klipsch Epic CF2s and PhaseTech 15"powered sub go to someone who would appreciate and enjoy them as much as I have-I bought them new in 96.
I know it is ridiculous to become attached to things like this but I do care where they go.I got a good offer for them but after all the pleasure they have given me I did not want to sentence them to a life of playing thug noise-too much of a shock from Martin,Bennett,Sinatra,etc!Just call me goofy.
Tom
For me two subwoofers would be good-I like to hear and feel the pedal notes of the pipe organ music that I listen too.In stereo recordings-it does make a diffrence-listened to the friends system that had two one for each stereo channel.they were used with his main stereo speakers.On the organ music-no speaker can reproduce the fundalmental notes of a 64' organ pipe.Its difficult enough to reproduce a 32' pedal note.And its difficult for most microphones to deal with them as well.
mulls: Do you know the organist on your test disc and what organ he is playing?Would be interesting to find out.I have a CD of the Atlantic City New Jersey convention Hall Organ-the Main one built by Midmar-Losh.Its the only organ in the US that has a true 64'Dulzan speaking stop.The pipe is what is called a Diaphone-its a hybrid of a reed pipe and a flue pipe-the "reed" is a "beater" valve that admits air in 8hz rate into the wooden pipe resonator.Its said when heard live -it is felt more than heard-also the pipe is not used routinely becuase its vibrations shakes plaster off the hall ceiling.Sadly at this time both organs in the hall suffered damage from remodeling other parts of the building.The ballrooms organ console leads to piperooms were severed during the remodeling. Organ techs were trying to replace these.Its painstaking work-they have to trace each lead.same as with the main organ-restoration of it has now rendered it unplayable.They are now restoring it.the restoration process could take a few to several years depending on funding,problems,etc. The Midmar-Losh organ is considered the largest and most capable organ in the world. These need to be saved!!Restoration of pipe organs is specilized painstaking work-the pipes and actions have to be removed and cleaned-pipes have to be tuned or revoiced.-or even replaced.Leather pallet valves have to be replaced.Leather so far is the only material that can be used for this-plastics won't survive as long as leather.At one time I was going to work for a pipe organ company that does restorations.In their shop tech were "repalletting" a pallet valve board as I was there.
mulls:-the organist is probably George Wright-he was a famous theater organist-played during the silents-and later-made demo records for Maganavox and other Hi-fi equipment makers to demo their equipment.Hang onto yours-they are valuable to organ media collectors.
WARNING!!! DO NOT USE THE TAPE OUTPUT
The tape output line from your stereo receiver does not have volume control! Connecting your new sub-woofer up to these leads will result in the sub receiving the full-volume signal! This could possibly damage the speaker (and disturb the neighbors!) attempting to reproduce bass at that level!
Most sub-woofers have a level control on the to adjust how much response they have, but the problem is that you will want your sub-woofer to vary it's volume level with the rest of your music. Even if you do connect up to the tape outs, and then turn the level control down to a reasonable level, you will end up with too-bassy music at low volumes, and a lack of bass at high volumes, because the sub will not be receiving a volume-proportional signal.
Check your receiver, and see if it has a "pre-amp" output or something of that sorts. Some receivers even have a subwoofer output. The subwoofer output comes from what's called a crossover. A crossover divides the low and high frequencies, and directs them to the approperiate speaker or amplifier. If you use this subwoofer terminal, be sure to turn the cross-over in the sub itself up to the highest frequency level (your receiver's crossover will be performing the crossover task)
The tape output line from your stereo receiver does not have volume control! Connecting your new sub-woofer up to these leads will result in the sub receiving the full-volume signal! This could possibly damage the speaker (and disturb the neighbors!) attempting to reproduce bass at that level!
Most sub-woofers have a level control on the to adjust how much response they have, but the problem is that you will want your sub-woofer to vary it's volume level with the rest of your music. Even if you do connect up to the tape outs, and then turn the level control down to a reasonable level, you will end up with too-bassy music at low volumes, and a lack of bass at high volumes, because the sub will not be receiving a volume-proportional signal.
Check your receiver, and see if it has a "pre-amp" output or something of that sorts. Some receivers even have a subwoofer output. The subwoofer output comes from what's called a crossover. A crossover divides the low and high frequencies, and directs them to the approperiate speaker or amplifier. If you use this subwoofer terminal, be sure to turn the cross-over in the sub itself up to the highest frequency level (your receiver's crossover will be performing the crossover task)
mulls was able to find a spare "pre-amp" out connectors on his older preamp.He was able to use those.thats a good point on the "tape out" connectors on a preamp or receiver-the audio level of those is fixed.It would be a so-so emergency patch or if noting else was available.Thats is the difficulty of matching a subwoofer designed for home theater use for "Hi-Fi" use.-and with an older amp.
I just wanted to warn folks here that connecting a sub-woofer up to a tape recorder output could result in damaged equipment, or damaged hearing if the proper precautions were not taken, be it his equipment, or anybody that may read this post and applies what they read here!
Yes, the tape recorder output will work, like you said, but it's not perfect.
I wonder if a "speaker level" to "line level" transformer or anything is avaliable that could convert the higher power signal to a lower level to drive a subwoofer?
Yes, the tape recorder output will work, like you said, but it's not perfect.
I wonder if a "speaker level" to "line level" transformer or anything is avaliable that could convert the higher power signal to a lower level to drive a subwoofer?
Some powered subwoofers can take a "speaker" input from the power amp provided another speaker is connected with the sub-IE the main speaker and the sub is being used to reproduce the lower frequency program material.thats where the variable crossover adjust can be used on the subwoofer unit.If you want to use a "transformer"-you could try to use the output transformer salvaged from an old amp or radio.That may work-but not ideal.Most preamp out impedances are anywhere from 50Kohm-to 200Kohm.Many preamp design engineers make the "line driver" stage of the preamp to be a cathode or emitter follower so as to provide a low source impedance to high impedance(the power amp or input to the powered subwoofer)this is to allow max transfer of the signal voltage and to prevent loading of the preamp out.That could cause distortion.
Oh-if you want to try the transformer idea-make sure your power amp or receiver can look into the parallel load-IE the transformer and the main speaker.This may present problems to some solid state amps-it would load them down too much causing the stages to overheat.A tube power amp-you could select the 4 ohm tap instead of the 8 ohm one.The "secondary 8 ohm" of the transformer would be connected to the amp with the speaker and the "primary-tube side" would go to the subwoofer input.This would be another "emergency patch"wouldn't recommend it.Would be one of those "Mr. Wizard " experiments to use with a subwoofer that has "line level" input only.
Oh-if you want to try the transformer idea-make sure your power amp or receiver can look into the parallel load-IE the transformer and the main speaker.This may present problems to some solid state amps-it would load them down too much causing the stages to overheat.A tube power amp-you could select the 4 ohm tap instead of the 8 ohm one.The "secondary 8 ohm" of the transformer would be connected to the amp with the speaker and the "primary-tube side" would go to the subwoofer input.This would be another "emergency patch"wouldn't recommend it.Would be one of those "Mr. Wizard " experiments to use with a subwoofer that has "line level" input only.
Scared
You guys are scaring me!I dont want to blow up my house-or something I have been saving for for a good while.I cant believe Klipsch did not put regular binding posts on this unit-it is their top of the line and to assume we music listeners dont want good stuff is silly to me.On my old stuff,speaker cables came out of the power amp to the sub then from the sub on to the regular speakers.I am glad I have a seperate pre-amp out to run it with.
Tom
You guys are scaring me!I dont want to blow up my house-or something I have been saving for for a good while.I cant believe Klipsch did not put regular binding posts on this unit-it is their top of the line and to assume we music listeners dont want good stuff is silly to me.On my old stuff,speaker cables came out of the power amp to the sub then from the sub on to the regular speakers.I am glad I have a seperate pre-amp out to run it with.
Tom
Mulls:-Yes on older design subs-the output of the amp or receiver went to the sub first-(there was a crossover built into the sub)the lower frequencies were handled by the sub-and the other was handled by the main speakers. Again your new Klisch was designed for home theater-to be connected to an amp or receiver that has its own subwoofer out.(the output on the home theater type amp is line level to be used with an amplified sub like yours)The crossover is handled by both the amp and sub. Some HT amps have an adjustable crossover-some do not.The subs crossover is (or should )be adjustable.For your unit you will need to use one of the other "pre Amp out" connectors.when you connect up the system-be sure the input level control on the sub is turned ALL THE WAY DOWN.That should prevent damage to the sub and your ears.Of course the power should be off before connecting the sub to the rest of your system.It would be difficult to explain here how to set the sub up to "match" your system-you may want to contact Klipsch or look it up on their website.Either one should give you a better setup recommendations for your unit and system.It would be difficult to explain it since I can't see what your have.
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Hooking up the sub
Thanks Tolivac.As you may know Klipsch Lascslas have the same guts as the big Klipschorn that have to sit in a corner,and the sound is incredible but the bottom end only goes down to 53 hz.and is weak at that.I assume I would set the sub's crossover at that point,then adjust the volume of the sub to my liking.my old sub has the volume control on the back,so you have to stand on your head to adjust it,but the Klipsch has it on the side-a nice touch.
Tom
Thanks Tolivac.As you may know Klipsch Lascslas have the same guts as the big Klipschorn that have to sit in a corner,and the sound is incredible but the bottom end only goes down to 53 hz.and is weak at that.I assume I would set the sub's crossover at that point,then adjust the volume of the sub to my liking.my old sub has the volume control on the back,so you have to stand on your head to adjust it,but the Klipsch has it on the side-a nice touch.
Tom
Yes-you could set the crossover on the sub to work at 53 hz-you may have to experiment.Those LaScalas are still with us-You will see their "bass bin" used with the new Klipsch MGM Cinema Grand" theater speakers-thats what you would put behind the screen. That folded design is still good for theaters-fills the large space with nice sound at lower amp levels.The amps are less expensive-and would draw less power.the side mount volume control is nice.Otherwise you may need two people to adjust the sub level.And on the theater speakers-Klipsch uses a subwoofer with them.They have a picture of them and an installation behind a screen-with the screen removed so you can see them.You can see it on the Klipsch link on my previous entry.-and go to Klipsch "commercial " products section.They now build a lot of cinema speakers.At one time cinema speakers were from Altec Lansing,JBL,and RCA.
