[guest1121]

The subject says it all!  Not being familiar with the terminals on the back of a Larger sub, is it possible to power two of them from one channel of an amp, provided that amp offers enough power (say, if I had a 500 or 1000 watt amp)?

Next question: what amp would you recommend?  I'm looking to not break the bank here, if you know what I mean.   Would something like this be a quality amp to mate to a Larger Sub or two?

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=300-808

[zybar]

The subject says it all!  Not being familiar with the terminals on the back of a Larger sub, is it possible to power two of them from one channel of an amp, provided that amp offers enough power (say, if I had a 500 or 1000 watt amp)?

Next question: what amp would you recommend?  I'm looking to not break the bank here, if you know what I mean.   Would something like this be a quality amp to mate to a Larger Sub or two?

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=300-808

I would not try two Larger subs off a single channel.  You can do it with a good single stereo amp (I am currently doing it with a Crown K2) and run a channel to each sub (you will need biwire cables or jumpers to do this).

Never heard that plate amp, so I can't say how it will work.

George

[doug s.]

scott, you could run two largers from one single amp channel, providing the amp is good for 2 ohm loads.  but, i dunno why you would want to - stereo subs are the way to go, imo...

doug s.

[Brian Cheney]

The LSW has two sets of input binding posts, one for each active driver.

Strap them together for a 4 Ohm load and one input channel.  Separate them for two 8 Ohm loads and feed both channels of a stereo amp in.

[guest1121]

Thanks for all the help guys.  I want to explore the idea of using a stereo amp such as a Crown K1 or K2 but I'm not totally sure I understand how that works.  My MC-12B has a LFE out, so let's assume I want to use this output. Should I use a splitter and run one interconnect to channel one of the stereo amp, and the second interconnect to the second channel of the amp?  Then, I guess I would just run speaker cable from channel one of the amp to the first sub, and run speaker cable from channel two of the amp to the second sub?

Why would I need jumper cables?  Sorry Brian and others, I just don't understand that part (I wish I were more technically/electrically inclined sometimes!).

[doug s.]

scott, do you have two separate subs, or are you talking about hooking up the two drivers of one sub, per brian's comments?

if you use the lfe out from yer preamp (that is a preamp?), then you will have mono to each sub (or driver, if per brian's scenario), but it would work.  

i'd suggest getting an active crossover, run output from your preamp to the x-over, then run the low pass outs to yer sub amp(s), & the hi-pass outs to yer main speaker amp(s).  

if this mc-12b thing is a receiver, then you'll likely have to run it as you have described, unless it has preamp outs, in which case, you could run yer main speakers full-range, & use a low-pass filter to run the subs from the pre-outs to the sub amps to get stereo subs.

if this mc-12b is a receiver & has preamp outs *and* main inputs, then you could still use an active x-over by running preouts to the x-over, then hi-pass to either the main inputs or the separate amp, & vice-versa for the low-pass...  

doug s.

[John Casler]

You know I am just amazed that your "VMPS dealer" hasn't addressed all those issues with you.

Oooops   I am your dealer

OK, the short answer, to your question is "probably not a good idea".

Each VMPS Larger Sub has two active drivers.  Each active driver has its own set of binding posts.  This is why some have suggested a "stereo" amp for "EACH" sub.

For those who are using a "mono" amp or a single channel, the two binding posts can be "strapped" by simply connecting them together (in parallel) to each other and connecting that single amp channel to one set of binding posts.

As Brian said, when these are "strapped", the amp will see a 4 ohm load.

If you run TWO strapped largers of a "single" amp channel the amp will probably see a 2 ohm load.  While some amps boast of 2 ohm stablity, it is a "very" difficult for most amps, especially at the power needed to "light up" two subs.

It would be far better to use a "robust" stereo amp, with each channel running a single "strapped" sub.

As far as how you would hook up you amp.  The Lexicon MC12B has 3 sub outputs.  One is the standard mono LFE (Low Frequency Effects) output and if you use this one it "would" require a Y-connector to connect both channels of a stereo amp.

It also has a pair of "stereo sub" (L&R) outs, which would allow you to run a standard (L&R) interconnect to the (L&R) channels of a stereo amp.

I think you may have to read your Lexicon manual about "activating" the Sub outs properly.

Personally I like using the stereo sub outs, and I'm sure the set up menus will allow you to get full LFE impact via that implementation.

Hope that helps

[guest1121]

You know I am just amazed that your "VMPS dealer" hasn't addressed all those issues with you.  

Oooops  I am you dealer

Well, it is SO hard to find good dealers these days...  Just kidding John; you know I think extremely highly of you!!!  Heck, I never addressed these issues with you because at present I only ordered one Larger Sub.  So, how could you know?  Now that I have a sub on the way, I now need to consider what kind of amp to get but before I purchase, I want to consider one that will power two subs - might as well plan ahead in case I want to add a second sub later on.

OK, now I think I understand the issues and connection options a little better; thanks for the explanation.  Initially, I will probably want to use a single amp channel for each Larger Sub (i.e. one amp channel to power both drivers of a Larger Sub).  Exactly how do I connect the binding posts together - do I just use two short pieces of speaker wire?

As for connection options to the Lex MC-12B, you're right - I'll need to check out all the different sub connection options.  I just wanted to make sure I understood one option for connecting them.

In terms of amps, I've heard the Crown "K" line is good - is this overkill for one or two Larger Subs?  Other good options?  John has mentioned the Earthquake amps; I'm just looking for other options to consider alongside this one.

[ABlakeG]

Hey guys --

Make sure with the MC-12B that if you activate the R & L subs, and do not have anything hooked to the LFE out, that you deactivate it in the menus. That will redirect all the LFE to the other sub outputs, I believe split 50/50.
If not, then you loose all the LFE info. Or you can hook up a third sub and not worry about it.

Blake

[guest1121]

Thanks Blake; that's good to know!

Hey guys --

Make sure with the MC-12B that if you activate the R & L subs, and do not have anything hooked to the LFE out, that you deactivate it in the menus. That will redirect all the LFE to the other sub outputs, I believe split 50/50.
If not, then you loose all the LFE info. Or you can hook up a third sub and not worry about it.

[ABlakeG]

No problem Scott --

It is probably the most common mistake with the MC-12. I missed out on the LFE channel for the first couple of weeks that I owned it because of that. I have found that stereo subs seem to work better in my set-up, although some people have cancellation issues. I use 2 SVS PB2+'s with Dynaudio Confidence 2 mains, and it sounds pretty seamless. Although I am anxiously awaiting the v4 upgrade, which offers RoomEQ.

Blake

[Xi-Trum]

Talk about the Crown K line, would a K1 be able to drive two Large Subs?

[guest1121]

Blake, sounds like a super setup!  With stereo subs, is placement difficult or are you just corner-loading them?  Did you run any frequency response tests to identify the best (i.e. flattest response) placement options?

As for amps, I'm trying to decide the best way to go and one idea I had was to pick up a Parasound HCA-1500A.  It's a 2-channel amp that will deliver 315 watts into a 4-ohm load.  This gives me the opportunity to run one strapped Larger Sub off of each channel (4 ohms per sub).  This amp has some nice features including a trigger input for remote turn-on, and trigger output so you can "daisy-chain" amps and pass the trigger signal through the Parasound amp onto other amps for remote turn-on.  Pricewise, it's a little cheaper than the Crown K line, though I've heard they're great for running subs.

Any thoughts on using a Parasound HCA-1500A for one (or possibly two) Larger Subs?  Is anyone doing this?

[guest1121]

Xi-Trum, my understanding is that a Crown K1 would easily be able to drive two Larger Subs.  I may be wrong but I've not heard otherwise.

[zybar]

Talk about the Crown K line, would a K1 be able to drive two Large Subs?

Can't speak for a K1, but a K2 does a great job driving my pair of Larger subs to 110+ db's in my room (25x18x7).

George