[harley52]

 If I use the speakon cable which hooks to the main speaker amp, which is xovered at 50hz, is there any way to use the sub or is crossing the amp at 50hz. gonna screw me. I'm pretty sure I'm hosed using it that way. The manual does and doesn't explain it. And here I spent $1500 for a sub that can't serve a dual purpose. Pls. someone tell me I'm wrong.

 If I use the low level sub/lfe connections then I have volume control for the sub and another volume control with the lfe channel. Which if I want to listen to music I have to manually turn the lfe volume down to zero and that's a bunch of crap.
Thanks

[youravhandyman]

Sorry Harley,

I can't tell you that you are wrong.  With the amplified output crossed over at 50hz you are really limiting a great sub.
 
On the LFE side I have had my last 2 receivers that allowed me to control the sub output independently for each input including my new little Marantz 1605.  I have to guess that since you didn't mention that feature your receiver/pre-amp does not have it currently.

 

[Phil A]

If I use the speakon cable which hooks to the main speaker amp, which is xovered at 50hz, is there any way to use the sub or is crossing the amp at 50hz. gonna screw me. I'm pretty sure I'm hosed using it that way. The manual does and doesn't explain it. And here I spent $1500 for a sub that can't serve a dual purpose. Pls. someone tell me I'm wrong.

 If I use the low level sub/lfe connections then I have volume control for the sub and another volume control with the lfe channel. Which if I want to listen to music I have to manually turn the lfe volume down to zero and that's a bunch of crap.
Thanks

Rels have the two connections - see this - http://rel.net/support/rel-set-up/

You need to make sure that your left and right speakers are defined as full range.  I didn't read through the entire link as I own 4 Rels and have set-up at least 50 of them.  Remember when setting the high level (or Speakon connection) that bass frequencies sum.  If your mains (together with your room interaction) are producing a frequency and you have the sub doing it, you are going to get a bass bump.  I have a one third octave RTA but there are cheaper alternatives.  Rives Audio, for example, makes a $21 test disc meant to compensate for the Radio Shack analog SPL meter microphone deficiencies.  When set-up properly, when you watch a movie it is similar to any other sub.  When you listening to music, it reproduces the low bass that your mains don't produce.  In the main system I have two Rel Storm IIIs crossed over at 22Hz and bass is flat from 25 from my listening chair.  I only use one Rel for HT as I have a Dayton Audio Titan sub in the other corner and do two subs.  The older Rels I have are probably geared a bit more for audio.  In one system I have a Strata III and it is just a two channel system.  In another HT, I have a Q150 and I forget exactly where the high level crossover is set (probably in the 30s) as I have old B&W floorstanders in there.