AV40 pairing sub?

K

Kaash

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Messages
237
Evening [H]

Just a quick question and hopefully easy quick answer. I have the M-Audio AV40's *great set of active speakers btw*, and i have built in sound card with my EVGA Classified motherboard. Now just was wondering how i can set up a active sub to this system? and still get great balance sound quality?


ps i mostly listen to Rock and sometimes RnB / Rap.


v/r
Kaash
 
I paired mine with a Polk PSW10.

It's surprisingly good for the price. Not at the level of a good ~$400 sub, but far far better than the tiny Logitech bullshit subs and other similar products within the same price range. IMO the sound quality of the AV40s is a little bit above that of the PSW10, but it's at the point where if you get a better sub, you'll also want to replace the AV40s themselves with a pair of better bookshelf speakers.

You can add any sub by getting a headphone splitter & plugging both the sub & speakers in. Then, set the sub's crossover to about ~85-90hz - this is the frequency the AV40s go down to. Afterwards, mess around with the sub's and AV40's volume until you find a combination you feel is good. The only downside is you can't use the AV40s headphone port or volume control anymore.
 
is there a sound card out there that i can just plug the sub directly into?
 
for music i would look into sealed subs, esp rock. how much budget you got?
 
budget ~$500 would like to spend as little as possible since i want to build a home theater system. room size i believe would be 10ft by 25ish. Its a rec room in the basement. wont know exact measurements till 28 oct when i move in. I'm military and move around a lot so it is not a set in stone.
 
Kaash said:
budget ~$500 would like to spend as little as possible since i want to build a home theater system. room size i believe would be 10ft by 25ish. Its a rec room in the basement. wont know exact measurements till 28 oct when i move in. I'm military and move around a lot so it is not a set in stone.
Click to expand...

This is larger room , cheap subs wont fit it. The minimum you should consider is Epic Legend
http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/legend.html
It's sealed dual 12" active opposed subs - it'll have great performance for music and good for movies too.
 
How would i plug that in without having to split the cable to my AV40's? is their a special sound card i need?

Was looking at getting the Asus Xonar essence One when they come out eventually
 
with active speakers, i fear the best way is to use a 2.1 pre amp, which will be quite pricey....
no sound card i know does bass management on a stereo system. someone correct me on this.
the second best option would be to get a sub with a stereo passthrough.
third best is to use 2 of these:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10429&cs_id=1042904&p_id=7186&seq=1&format=2

if your looking to get a home theater down the line, you might want to consider the emotiva HT processor/pre amp. then add a power amp when you upgrade.
its on clearance right now, excellent price.
http://emotiva.com/umc1.shtm


or this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...87227-rg1861-00-20?s=merchant&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
it was $400 on amazon just a couple weeks ago, bummer.
use the pre outs instead of the speaker terminals obviously.
with this reciever you can choose to use the internal amp or pre outs with an external amp.
 
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soo basically screwed unless i want to purchase another set of speaker and get Passive ones, than get the receiver / speakers / sub , type setup
 
no. you can find a sub with stereo passthroughs, or you can use splitters.


second, the reciever i linked doesnt need you to have passive speakers. it works with active speakers too.
it can also serve as your DAC.
and then, down the line, when you upgrade to Hometheater, its still useful, so its not money down the toilet.
 
BoredSysAdm said:
This is larger room , cheap subs wont fit it. The minimum you should consider is Epic Legend
http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/legend.html
It's sealed dual 12" active opposed subs - it'll have great performance for music and good for movies too.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Forget what I suggested earlier - for this type of setup, go with a craigslist receiver, and a sub in this type of range. You'll also want to upgrade your AV40s to a pair of nice bookshelf speakers - if not now, sometime in the future.
 
Im not 100% sure if Epik Legend does does low level output, but if it does - you don't need additional equipment
bad news are most subs in this price point don't have them.

F15G is a not bad way to go ether, there are cheaper and as good drivers out there.
If you seriously interested in DIY visit audioholics forum, DIY section..
Kappa Perfect would be one of the best designs out there
 
option b)

HSU Reseatch - VTF2-MK3
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2-mk3.html
it's on sale for $509 + s&h
IT does have low-level output and input - so it'll integrate your active speakers without additional equipment. REview here:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/vtf-3-mk3-sub
Yes, it's bass-reflex sub - not sealed, but it's rated to work in your room and It will do great job with music as well due to excellent design.

edit: I don't know what I was smoking - VFT2-MK3 Does not have low-level output ... sorry , but SVS SB12-NSD Does. B-Stock is a bit above your budget a $579 https://svsound.com/store/index.cfm...y&Product_ID=543&CFID=431042&CFTOKEN=86945344
 
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I have an STF-2 in a similar sized room, very tight and accurate. Also, it can play very loud.
 
CHT subs are good quality, but lack WAF. Keep in mind with a sealed sub at those frequencies (28-200hz +/- 3db) you would want a sealed room, not an open floorplan or a large room. A smaller sealed room will usually give you more room gain at the lower frequencies, typically improving the performance in frequency response. A similar ported sub will have (usually) greater SPL at those frequencies, but will drop off at the port tuning point of the cabinet/amp/driver. Meaning, a sealed sub will usually play flatter lower, but have lower overall SPL.
 
AVT said:
I paired mine with a Polk PSW10.

It's surprisingly good for the price. Not at the level of a good ~$400 sub, but far far better than the tiny Logitech bullshit subs and other similar products within the same price range. IMO the sound quality of the AV40s is a little bit above that of the PSW10, but it's at the point where if you get a better sub, you'll also want to replace the AV40s themselves with a pair of better bookshelf speakers.

You can add any sub by getting a headphone splitter & plugging both the sub & speakers in. Then, set the sub's crossover to about ~85-90hz - this is the frequency the AV40s go down to. Afterwards, mess around with the sub's and AV40's volume until you find a combination you feel is good. The only downside is you can't use the AV40s headphone port or volume control anymore.
Click to expand...

I have had my AV40s a year and always wondered how I could add a sub. Thanks dude.
 
LeninGHOLA said:
CHT subs are good quality, but lack WAF. Keep in mind with a sealed sub at those frequencies (28-200hz +/- 3db) you would want a sealed room, not an open floorplan or a large room. A smaller sealed room will usually give you more room gain at the lower frequencies, typically improving the performance in frequency response. A similar ported sub will have (usually) greater SPL at those frequencies, but will drop off at the port tuning point of the cabinet/amp/driver. Meaning, a sealed sub will usually play flatter lower, but have lower overall SPL.
Click to expand...

But The sealed sub will also be a bit more accurate, and OP isnt listening to anything with low boomy bass.
 
mannyman said:
But The sealed sub will also be a bit more accurate, and OP isnt listening to anything with low boomy bass.
Click to expand...

That is an outmoded concept, really. Properly ported and tuned sub cabinets can have similar transient response to a sealed sub, though the port tuning causes a sharper frequency rolloff. This shouldn't be an issue when looking at frequency specs. A sub rated to 18hz +/- 1db will play to that frequency smoothly regardless of ported vs. sealed.

The Hsu's mentioned will not give you port noise, or chuffing, unless played well above reference levels. They will also show fast attack and little overhang when compared to traditional big box subwoofers.

A good quality ported sub will perform admirably even when tight, accurate bass and good transients are required. Boominess implies the sub is not tuned, producing peaks or distortion in frequencies. Hsu, Outlaw, Rhythmik, SVS and others properly tune their cabinets, amps and drivers before release.
 
LeninGHOLA said:
That is an outmoded concept, really. Properly ported and tuned sub cabinets can have similar transient response to a sealed sub, though the port tuning causes a sharper frequency rolloff. This shouldn't be an issue when looking at frequency specs. A sub rated to 18hz +/- 1db will play to that frequency smoothly regardless of ported vs. sealed.

The Hsu's mentioned will not give you port noise, or chuffing, unless played well above reference levels. They will also show fast attack and little overhang when compared to traditional big box subwoofers.

A good quality ported sub will perform admirably even when tight, accurate bass and good transients are required. Boominess implies the sub is not tuned, producing peaks or distortion in frequencies. Hsu, Outlaw, Rhythmik, SVS and others properly tune their cabinets, amps and drivers before release.
Click to expand...

Similar but not the same, Anyways If he is pairing it with a pair of studio monitors he wants the flatness of the sealed sub that has no drop off or port noise if it is located close by.

Are there any decent quality Subwoofer's with passive radiators yet?
 
mannyman said:
Similar but not the same, Anyways If he is pairing it with a pair of studio monitors he wants the flatness of the sealed sub that has no drop off or port noise if it is located close by.

Are there any decent quality Subwoofer's with passive radiators yet?
Click to expand...

Nah, not really. Come demo any Hsu sub or ID listed on AVS where people volunteer to demo for anyone enthusiastic for the cause. Sealed subs defintiely have dropoff below their amp/cabinet size vs. frequency, just normally less steep after the listed spec lowend hz. You're welcome here to bring any sealed sub and test it vs. a good ported sub. Noise is never localized on a ported sub, unless you cross it over above 80hz or buy a lessor sub. I'd be willing to demo mine.

Yes on the passives question. Funk Audio/Funky Waves makes some nice cabinets with passives. Sunfire is usually regarded decently.
 
LeninGHOLA said:
Nah, not really. Come demo any Hsu sub or ID listed on AVS where people volunteer to demo for anyone enthusiastic for the cause. Sealed subs defintiely have dropoff below their amp/cabinet size vs. frequency, just normally less steep after the listed spec lowend hz. You're welcome here to bring any sealed sub and test it vs. a good ported sub. Noise is never localized on a ported sub, unless you cross it over above 80hz or buy a lessor sub. I'd be willing to demo mine.

Yes on the passives question. Funk Audio/Funky Waves makes some nice cabinets with passives. Sunfire is usually regarded decently.
Click to expand...

Lol if you where located somewhere close enough to me i would come have a listen, I do enjoy a good stereo system.

I Have never heard of Funky waves but was in awe of the products they offer and was saddened by the prices. lol im to poor to enjoy nice things.
 
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