jackrcox Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Hello all, I recently picked up a Monolith 12 to pair with my Klipsch LaScalas, but the method that I am using to send signal to the sub is not providing enough and I was wondering if there anything I can do to better amp the signal. I had thought that I could just use one of the two RCA outs on my Schiit Freya and connect this directly to the sub which has a line level input. The problem is that the signal is far too weak and the sub is barely audible at all listening levels. My current dirty solution is to send a signal to a second preamp and crank that, but the signal is still relatively weak and I am sure this is not the most ideal way of doing this. Is there any sort of separate step up amp I can use that is designed for this or anything? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 What feeds your Freya preamp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackrcox Posted March 4, 2019 Author Share Posted March 4, 2019 @CECAA850 Topping D50 DAC -> Freya -> Adcom 555ii -> LaScalas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Does the Monolith 12 have high level inputs (speaker wire)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackrcox Posted March 4, 2019 Author Share Posted March 4, 2019 No, it does not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Have you tried "Y" ing into both of the RCA inputs? Or are you already sending a pair of signals to the Monolith? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackrcox Posted March 4, 2019 Author Share Posted March 4, 2019 @babadonoThe monolith accepts line level stereo inputs so I have an stereo rca interconnect running from the preamp to the sub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 5 minutes ago, jackrcox said: @babadonoThe monolith accepts line level stereo inputs so I have an stereo rca interconnect running from the preamp to the sub. Add a Y as mentioned above. That will double the voltage that the plate amp sees. Single cable - Y- plate amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Do you have a way of sending a test tone say 35 to 40 Hz through your whole set up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 An Art Cleanbox would be another alternative. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackrcox Posted March 4, 2019 Author Share Posted March 4, 2019 @CECAA850 I had a y input going into it originally but since it is able to process a stereo left and right signal I decided to go that route since my interconnect was of better quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 8 minutes ago, jackrcox said: @CECAA850 I had a y input going into it originally but since it is able to process a stereo left and right signal I decided to go that route since my interconnect was of better quality. Was the volume any better with the Y? It should have been. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackrcox Posted March 4, 2019 Author Share Posted March 4, 2019 @CECAA850 I honestly could not tell the difference. That said I think that art cleanbox might be the way to go. Thank you for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackrcox Posted March 4, 2019 Author Share Posted March 4, 2019 @babadono yes. I could play test tones through the dac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 OK I wanted you to get set up to run tones through the Freya and into the Monolith sub. It looks like the Monolith is made for HT and I am not understanding why it does not have enough gain reach to work with the Freya. That said, true to form the Monoprice website does not give very much info(read none) about what level is needed to drive the sub. My fear is it is defective. Has it ever worked to your satisfaction with any other input? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackrcox Posted March 5, 2019 Author Share Posted March 5, 2019 @babadono I thought the same thing so I was able to test running the freya with my downstairs svs pb2000 with the same results. Very little output. Could it be that the lascalas are just too efficient given too high of wattage to pair effectively? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Yes of course that is possible. I'm getting a clearer picture now, sorry. So the power amp feeding the LaScalas does not have gain controls? I am assuming the Monolith does have a level control and you have it maxxed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackrcox Posted March 5, 2019 Author Share Posted March 5, 2019 (edited) @babadono @CECAA850Correct. The adcom does not have controls for gain. The second freya rca out is now connected to an adcom preamp solely to gain signal to the monolith. Only then with the adcom and monolith gains set at about 4/5ths I am able to get usable amounts of low end. That said it is not much, and I would like a bit more headroom. According to the specs for the Art Cleanbox, sending an unbalanced signal through and converting it to balanced provides a maximum of +21db of gain. Assuming I do this and combine both balanced cables into one using an xlr y connector and connect it to the sub, do you think this will provide enough gain? Edited March 5, 2019 by jackrcox Clarity of problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 I've only used the Clean box when driving pro amps with consumer level pre amps. Without the Art there was no output from the amps. With it in line I had more than enough gain to drive the amps to full output. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakedmb Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 When you run directly to the sub from the Freya, without being connected to the Adcom, are you able to get a usable signal? It could be the efficiency of the speakers. This is may sound dumb, but is your crossover turned up on the sub’s plate amp? I’d also make sure that none of the settings on the sub are set to THX. How much do you have the sub gain turned up on the plate amp? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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