Shock-Late Posted June 6, 2001 Share Posted June 6, 2001 I'm planning to buy an integrated tube amp. But, as I'm using LaScalas, i was wondering about the possibility to connect a powered sub to the speaker-level outputs of a little tube amp, since this last one uses output transformers, wich are for 8 OR 4 ohms, and what's more those output transformers often have a limited bandwith in the bass frequencies, so the signal sended to the sub would be also "short" in the very low frequencies? thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boa12 Posted June 6, 2001 Share Posted June 6, 2001 shock, depends on the sub, but most have very high impedance on their inputs. like 32ohms for mine. ------------------ Klipsch KLF 30 (front), KLF C-7, Cornwall I (rear) Velodyne HGS-18 sub woofer Monsterbass 400 sub interconnects & Monster CX-2 biwire & Z-12 cable Marantz SR-8000 receiver Sony DVP-C650D cd/dvd player Sony Trinitron 27" stereo tv Toshiba hi-fi stereo vcr Technics dual cassette deck Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2000 digital cable box Boa's Listenin Lounge: Klipsch RF-3 (front), RC-3, cheap little Technics (rear) Monster MCX Biwires Sony STR-DE935 a/v receiver Kenwood KR-9600 AM/FM stereo receiver (vintage 1975) Russound AB-2 receiver switch to RF-3 Teac PD-D1200 5-disk cd changer Technics direct drive turntable Sega Genesis game player Sub: None yet rock on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drobo1 Posted July 6, 2001 Share Posted July 6, 2001 I connect my REL Strata II to the speaker output terminals of my 300B SET 11 Watt amps. No problems, sounds great, blends nicely with the La Scalas. I do think the speaker line inputs of the sub need to be a high impedance load. drobo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Garrison Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 Shock, Yep, it'll be fine. The bandwidth limiting on the tube amp is primarily due to the output transformers inability to deliver large amounts of CURRENT to low frequencies / low impedence loads - here, low impedence being less than 10 times the output impedence of the amp, more or less... so, if the tube amp has an output impedence of, say, 1.5 ohms (which would be a pretty good tube amp), and the impedence of the speakers in the bass is less than 15 ohms or so, you're going to see a restricted output. The impedence of the power subwoofer's speaker level inputs is VERY, VERY HIGH. The amp will be "showing" a voltage to the sub, but delivering virtually 0 current. A bonus - by using the speaker level sub inputs, whatever the "sonic signature" of the amp might be will be carried over to the subwoofer, which usually results in superior blending between sub and mains. I have La Scalas and an REL Storm, and though I'm using a little bitty solid state integrated right now (for reasons I won't bore you with), I have in the past had it hooked up to Jolida 502 series amps, among others, and it worked fine. Ray ------------------ Music is art Audio is engineering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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