Adding sub to AV/stereo combined set up.

[admin_exported]

My AV reciever is an old but reliable Yamaha DSP AX620 which powers the rear and centre speakers in my set up. I use the front pre-outs on it to divert to a Rotel RA-02 stereo amp that powers the fronts and do the old 12o'clock on the Rotel volume dial when i'm watching films. When just using the front speakers for stereo, only the Rotel is on.

I've just bought a REL Q100E sub to see what difference it will make to this set up. I bought it because of price, reputation and as it has two inputs: high for stereo and low for AV. My question is can I connect it up to both amps using both of these inputs? I know that technically this is fine but as both the Yamaha and Rotel are on when watching films I would imagine that the sub will get sent two signals which might affect the sound. Could I get away with doing this if I turned down the volume on the high level (stereo) input to zero when watching films. This wouldn't be necessary when listening to music as only the Rotel is powered so no problem there.

I'd be grateful for anyone's thoughts. The sub will primarily be for AV so if necessary I wil just connect it to the Yamaha, but, if possible, i'd like to give it a go with music as well.

 

[vonchief]

If your speakers are set to large front , the Rel would underpin them when used for AV.

The low input would still work for the .1 in films

The high level would still work for just listening to the rotel in stereo

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks vonchief. Does that mean I don't need to connect the REL to the AV amp, could I just connect it to the Rotel? or does it mean I still connect to both but don't need to worry about turning the volume down on either input?

 

[vonchief]

I would connect the low input of the sub to the Yamaha for the LFE effects aswell as the high connection to the Rotel.

This will improve both AV and stereo listening.No need to adjust any volumes.

Make sure the front left and right are set to large in the AV amp set up menu and subwoofer to yes.

One thing i have found with Rel subs is that you need the crossover on the high setting very low to blend with your speakers.

They seem to work best when they are used to underpin the main speakers,taking bass much lower without adding more mid bass to the sound.

hope this helps.

 

[Anonymous]

superb, thanks again. I'll give it a try.

 

[Anonymous]

I've ended up selling the REL on and have now bought a B&W ASW300 to match my other speakers. Does anyone know if i'm able to again connect this to both my AV amp and stereo amp at the same time? I've no ideas as the connectons on the back are different.

Thanks as always

 

[Anonymous]

Mind if I ask why did you sell the REL? I have its little brother Q50 and am happy with it.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

dgriffiths77:
I've ended up selling the REL on and have now bought a B&W ASW300 to match my other speakers. Does anyone know if i'm able to again connect this to both my AV amp and stereo amp at the same time? I've no ideas as the connectons on the back are different.

Thanks as always

This has been asked before and it's a no if I can recall. I think you could damage your kit doing this. Like connecting two amps to your speakers (the sub has an amp inside) at the same time.

 

[The_Lhc]

If the sub has both high and low level connections you can do the same as you were before but I don't know if that sub does, which I guess is why you asked the question...

 

[Big Chris]

If the sub has low and high level inputs, and if you have a switched set of speaker terminals on the Rotel (Usually called something like Speaker B or Speaker 2) , you should be able to do it. Connect the sub's high level connector to your switched speaker outs on the Rotel, and the low level connection to your A/V amp as usual.

When you're running the A/V amp, you turn the switched 'Speaker B' on the Rotel off, so the sub doesn't receive two signals at the same time. The sub will receive it's info from the A/V amp alone.

Then when you're listening just to the stereo, switch the A/V amp off and switch on the Rotel's 'Speaker B' outputs to send signal to the sub.

Make sense?