Sub-Woofers - Advice needed
Discussion
My father-in-law (to be) is very proud of his home sound system, which despite being a fair few years old, is still capable of producing qute a wall of sound. However, it lacks a sub-woofer and therefore the bass doesn't quite give that rumbling in the stomach feeling that really good systems do when they are turned up loud (I'm not an audiophile - can you tell?).
I want to get him a sub-woofer for his birthday that will connect to his Arcam Delta 90.2 amplifier (couldn't get to the back to check outputs, but presume it will have all the usual connections). Budget is £100-150.
Any advice? Many thanks.
I want to get him a sub-woofer for his birthday that will connect to his Arcam Delta 90.2 amplifier (couldn't get to the back to check outputs, but presume it will have all the usual connections). Budget is £100-150.
Any advice? Many thanks.
A quick look on google images reveals that they are Mission 753 Fredo
Decent enough sound, but not gut-wrenchingly bassy - I had hoped that even a cheapish active sub would have made a bit of a difference. Of course it could be down to the settings, but don't want to play too much with another man's hifi!
Decent enough sound, but not gut-wrenchingly bassy - I had hoped that even a cheapish active sub would have made a bit of a difference. Of course it could be down to the settings, but don't want to play too much with another man's hifi!
Pigdog,
Those are some seriously wallop friendly fronts!
To make an improvement, you need a big, powerful sub. (this post would be very different if he had small bookshelves). Certainly, nothing at 150 quid will do much (you might be able to do loud, but no control).
If you can face ebay...
This would be a good punt:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/REL-Storm-Sub-Bass-System-/2...
This would be probs the smallest REL to look at:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rel-Q150E-Subwoofer-/2707545...
Above budget, but a great sub:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/REL-Q201E-Sub-Woofer-/120728...
Will knock the shouse down (but double the budget and wrong colour):
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bowers-Wilkins-ASW675-subwoo...
This looks interesting (all revel stuff is somewhat good =) ) - check it's UK voltage tho, description is a little strange
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Revel-B120-Concerta-Subwoofe...
HTH
Those are some seriously wallop friendly fronts!
To make an improvement, you need a big, powerful sub. (this post would be very different if he had small bookshelves). Certainly, nothing at 150 quid will do much (you might be able to do loud, but no control).
If you can face ebay...
This would be a good punt:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/REL-Storm-Sub-Bass-System-/2...
This would be probs the smallest REL to look at:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rel-Q150E-Subwoofer-/2707545...
Above budget, but a great sub:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/REL-Q201E-Sub-Woofer-/120728...
Will knock the shouse down (but double the budget and wrong colour):
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bowers-Wilkins-ASW675-subwoo...
This looks interesting (all revel stuff is somewhat good =) ) - check it's UK voltage tho, description is a little strange
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Revel-B120-Concerta-Subwoofe...
HTH
I knew PH could help!
The speakers are certainly good, but just feels like it is lacking the tub-thumping bass when he plays his Peter Gabriel.
If the amp has no sub output (couldn't get to the back to check, but that looks like the one) am I wasting my time? Don't want to replace the amp as he is already pleased with the wall of sound - just wanted to add to it. Its certainly loud, and good quality sound - but I can't help but feel it lacks a bit of oomph!
How do I check whether it is in phase? Room is about 5m x 5m and speaker in each front corner.
The speakers are certainly good, but just feels like it is lacking the tub-thumping bass when he plays his Peter Gabriel.
If the amp has no sub output (couldn't get to the back to check, but that looks like the one) am I wasting my time? Don't want to replace the amp as he is already pleased with the wall of sound - just wanted to add to it. Its certainly loud, and good quality sound - but I can't help but feel it lacks a bit of oomph!
How do I check whether it is in phase? Room is about 5m x 5m and speaker in each front corner.
If the room is close to square, the bass will be cancelling out to a certain degree because of cancellation nodes caused by square rooms.
To check the speaker phase is easy:
Simply ensure that the + of each speaker is connected to the + (red terminal) on the amp.
What I usually do (ensuring the speakers are disconnected from the amp first!!), is get a 1.5V battery, and touch it briefly across the speaker cables - when the woofer cones move forward, then the wire that is connected to the + of the battery is then the + of the speaker (use this technique if your speaker cable has no identifying marks for + or -).
Note that you will hear a 'pop' from the speakers when doing this - it's harmless. Just *don't* leave the battery connected for more than a second or two!
If the connections to one speaker are reversed, the bass cancels out to a degree, because the woofers in one channel will be pushing, and the others pulling, resulting in said cancellation.
You could still add a sub, but you would have to drive it directly from the speaker outputs - however this is not always desirable, due to the distortion being a tad higher than if you were driving it from a preamp stage.
Have a look at this link for speaker placement tips in various shaped rooms.
To check the speaker phase is easy:
Simply ensure that the + of each speaker is connected to the + (red terminal) on the amp.
What I usually do (ensuring the speakers are disconnected from the amp first!!), is get a 1.5V battery, and touch it briefly across the speaker cables - when the woofer cones move forward, then the wire that is connected to the + of the battery is then the + of the speaker (use this technique if your speaker cable has no identifying marks for + or -).
Note that you will hear a 'pop' from the speakers when doing this - it's harmless. Just *don't* leave the battery connected for more than a second or two!
If the connections to one speaker are reversed, the bass cancels out to a degree, because the woofers in one channel will be pushing, and the others pulling, resulting in said cancellation.
You could still add a sub, but you would have to drive it directly from the speaker outputs - however this is not always desirable, due to the distortion being a tad higher than if you were driving it from a preamp stage.
Have a look at this link for speaker placement tips in various shaped rooms.
TRPG
Phase:
Make sure red to red on both left and right speakers, both ends of cable.
If in doubt, just swap one end of the right speaker. If you get less bass, put it back. If you get more bass, leave it swapped...
For the connections, if you don't have pre outs (sorry, I assumed you had as modern Arcams do), then you need to make sure any sub you're looking at has high level / speaker level inputs. These will look like speaker terminals on the sub. If you have these, it's a simple case of wiring from amp to sub (some designs then do sub to speakers, check the manuals then it's your call).
Phase:
Make sure red to red on both left and right speakers, both ends of cable.
If in doubt, just swap one end of the right speaker. If you get less bass, put it back. If you get more bass, leave it swapped...
For the connections, if you don't have pre outs (sorry, I assumed you had as modern Arcams do), then you need to make sure any sub you're looking at has high level / speaker level inputs. These will look like speaker terminals on the sub. If you have these, it's a simple case of wiring from amp to sub (some designs then do sub to speakers, check the manuals then it's your call).
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