Adding a sub woofer...

[Deleted member 88227]

So I'm looking for a subwoofer setup, between $100 - $150. I intend to use my amp Lepai LP-2020A+

I already have two bookshelf speakers, but I'd like to add a subwoofer to the sound now making it a 2.1 sound setup.

What do I need to do?

If I need to buy a different amp I can stretch the budget to $200.

 

[Procyon12]

which speakers are you using?

getting a subwoofer with high level inputs (and possibly outputs) is what you want.

if consider upgrading the amp for the sake of upgrading the amp (not because its needed for a subwoofer) but i'd wait on that until your budget allows for more.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Right now some cheap Panasonic speakers that came with a 5.1 HT setup, but I ordered the Pioneer SP-BS21 bookshelfs.

With that being said, any recommendations on subwoofers?

 

[Procyon12]

the matching pioneer sw-8. and then save some money for an amp down the line.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

the matching pioneer sw-8. and then save some money for an amp down the line.

Okay, so that setup is only $70; leaving me with $80 - $130 to spend on an amp. I also have an Lepai LP 2020A+ AMP that I'm currently using. Will that not be enough?

 

[Procyon12]

its enough. you can just get a better amp.

but if you are a bass head maybe spend more on a sub. maybe. i dont know. i like the pioneer because its 8" only it will blend nicely with those speakers. it would hit in your your chest or anything like that. if you have some more money you can get a BIC V1020.

if you have to burn that money now, the dayton APA150 for an amp.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

8" Sub is fine, I don't need anything Earth shattering. Just want nice clean bass and nice clean quality sound that I can crank up loud.

The Dayton APA150 AMP is the cheapest quality amp that I can use? I really would like to keep it under $130. I also don't see how I can connect that to my current system at all. I see the RCA outputs, so I'm assuming I use that to connect to the Sub, then I use those speaker outputs on the Sub to connect to the bookshelf speakers. However, how do I connect my computer to the AMP? I only see RCA inputs and my computer doesn't have RCA outputs.

 

[Procyon12]

no, but its a great amp for the price, it has a low pass filter. you need a cheap adapter to run with your PC.

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Audio-...8&qid=1357114346&sr=8-1&keywords=3.5mm+to+rca

you could also go with a Dayton DTA-100. its basically the same as your lepai just a bit more powerful.

you could also just stick to the Lepai, nothing wrong with it. but it distorts at high volume (may not matter to you for desktop use volume would be quite low)

but you seem to be insisting on spending all of your budget. the SW-8s normal price is $120, your lucky that its $70 today. that doesnt mean you HAVE to spend those extra $50.

the next logical step up from the Lepai would be something in the $125-$150 range. just doesnt make sense to spend around $50-$75 to upgrade the Lepai.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Ah I didn't know it was normally not on sale, figured it was similar to the bookshelf speakers where they went on sale ALL the time. I'm kind of doing two systems here, upgrading mine and conveincing a friend that he doesn't need to buy the $250 on the Corsair SP2500 2.1 setup since I am pretty sure for $250 he could build a better sounding setup.

Hence why I am upgrading mine now, so I can show him first hand how well my setup could sound.

With that being said, for his purchase;
The adapter from Amazon - $3
The SW-8 from Newegg - $70
The SP-BS21-LRs from Newegg - $70

Total so far $143.

So he can go with either the;
Dayton DTA-100 - $90
Total then - $263

or the;
Dayton APA150 - $160
Total then: ~$300

I think I'm gonna go ahead and go with the DT100 plus that adapter for my setup. What's the benefit of going with the APA150 over the DTA-100? Both will be used for a desktop PC setup. However I intend to keep the lepai used for the bookshelf speakers, this way I can turn the sub completely off/down separately from the speakers.

Thanks for the information so far, been very helpful.

 

[Procyon12]

the apa150 is more powerful and has a low cut for the speakers. it can be used with subs without high level inputs.


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[atarione]

you could also spend a few bucks on a better power supply for the lepai (assuming you are using the 2A wallwart one that comes with those lepai's )... i have heard numerous people verify improved performance from those lepai amps when used with a better power supply.


12V 5A -6A should give you noticeable improvements with the lepai.. you can find PSU's pretty cheaply on amazon

i know from another forum someone that just got one of these to replace the stock power adapter for their Lepai and reported good success with it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006FCAQSS/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00


I'm using Polk T15s and a Polk PSW10 subwoofer w/ my SMSL SA-S3 t-amp... the polk sub i have is possibly easier to work with in conjunction w/ the t-amps as it has speaker level inputs and outputs.... the pioneer one only has inputs ... which would be sort of a pain... with mine i have speaker wires from amp to sub and then from sub to speakers and then i have set the low pass filter to my requirements (thus only sending the desired range to my bookshelf speakers.)

I have good results with my set up but my Polks are higher efficiency than those pioneers and are 8ohm vs 6ohms but since you have the lepai already i'd probably just try it and see how it goes... maybe order the sub ...if it isn't doing it for you look at replacing the amp at that point.

 

[Procyon12]

also, I don't know what you mean when you say you're going to use the lepai so you can turn the subwoofer off


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[Deleted member 88227]

also, I don't know what you mean when you say you're going to use the lepai so you can turn the subwoofer off


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Yeah, I just went through the setup in my head a few times after making that post. It's when I realized that if I turn off the amp that's powering the SUB, then it will turn off the signal going to the LEPAI as well. Which is a bummer. Really wanted the ability to adjust the SUBs volume/power on a separate level from the bookshelf speakers.

 

[Procyon12]

Yeah, I just went through the setup in my head a few times after making that post. It's when I realized that if I turn off the amp that's powering the SUB, then it will turn off the signal going to the LEPAI as well. Which is a bummer. Really wanted the ability to adjust the SUBs volume/power on a separate level from the bookshelf speakers.

you can...at the back of the sub. also the sub has its own amp.

 

[Procyon12]

I'm using Polk T15s and a Polk PSW10 subwoofer w/ my SMSL SA-S3 t-amp... the polk sub i have is possibly easier to work with in conjunction w/ the t-amps as it has speaker level inputs and outputs.... the pioneer one only has inputs ... which would be sort of a pain... with mine i have speaker wires from amp to sub and then from sub to speakers and then i have set the low pass filter to my requirements (thus only sending the desired range to my bookshelf speakers.).

its not really any more of a pain, you just cant low cut the speakers. its not a huge deal on th pioneers, but if they were like 150hz satellites, id tend to agree with you.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

you can...at the back of the sub. also the sub has its own amp.

Yeah the problem is it wont be easy to reach those buttons when the amp is under the desk. However I think I solved my own problem by doing some more thinking. If I change my onboard sound to 6-channels, I can plug the lepai into the front speaker port, keeping the bookshelf speakers plugged into that, then plug one of those two Dayton amps into the sub port, then plug the sub into that Dayton amp.

 

[Procyon12]

if you do it that way you dont need the second amp....

 

[Deleted member 88227]

if you do it that way you dont need the second amp....

I like the idea of having the amp sitting on the desk for easy access to adjust it's volume and/or turning it off. Which was one of the big selling points on the LP-2020A+, since it's sitting on my desk with a power button and volume control. I can easily power them off if I need to.

 

[Procyon12]

I like the idea of having the amp sitting on the desk for easy access to adjust it's volume and/or turning it off. Which was one of the big selling points on the LP-2020A+, since it's sitting on my desk with a power button and volume control. I can easily power them off if I need to.

you still dont need the second amp.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

you still dont need the second amp.

I'm assuming you are referring to the amp to power the sub? Why would I not need that amp?

 

[Procyon12]

because the subwoofer has its own amp.

 

[Deleted member 88227]

Alright, then explain how I can adjust the sub's sound and turning it on/off without having the crawl under the desk to adjust the buttons on the back of it? Is there some kind of other inline remote I could use that will intercept the signal allowing me to easily adjust it's volume/power?

 

[atarione]

Alright, then explain how I can adjust the sub's sound and turning it on/off without having the crawl under the desk to adjust the buttons on the back of it? Is there some kind of other inline remote I could use that will intercept the signal allowing me to easily adjust it's volume/power?

Most power subs have a auto power setting when the ampm comes on it will trigger the sub to come out of standby

 

[atarione]

Dup

 

[Procyon12]

Alright, then explain how I can adjust the sub's sound and turning it on/off without having the crawl under the desk to adjust the buttons on the back of it? Is there some kind of other inline remote I could use that will intercept the signal allowing me to easily adjust it's volume/power?

you can get an inline volume attenuator. but just beware, i would not set it up this way. if you do not connect the sub to the lepai an you do not have a dedicated LFE channel it wont sound good. you are then, better off getting a mixer or equilizer with sub output.