My speakers are bi-wire able.
Upper section consists 2 midrange drivers and tweeter.
Bottom section just bass driver.
I would like the bass driver to be more flexible in addition to whole speaker volume regulation from amplifier.
That means, while low level listening it can be fully engaged, when volume rises, I want to reduce its output to my liking. And I would like to do it on the way from speakers terminals of amplifier to the speaker post.
The best one volume pot for both right and left speakers. Is that possible?
Thank you
Upper section consists 2 midrange drivers and tweeter.
Bottom section just bass driver.
I would like the bass driver to be more flexible in addition to whole speaker volume regulation from amplifier.
That means, while low level listening it can be fully engaged, when volume rises, I want to reduce its output to my liking. And I would like to do it on the way from speakers terminals of amplifier to the speaker post.
The best one volume pot for both right and left speakers. Is that possible?
Thank you
It is not normal to control bass speaker volume with a 'pot', or more properly, an L-Pad because the power levels involved are so high, but this 100W L-Pad may just do the job if you don't listen at high levels.
8 Ohm L-Pad Attenuator - 100 Watts - Willys-Hifi Ltd
8 Ohm L-Pad Attenuator - 100 Watts - Willys-Hifi Ltd
Willys' blurb says the L-Pad's fine for guitar amps up to 70W. I'd be more conservative regarding the power it can handle from the bass frequencies in your Hi-Fi system. It's not too expensive if you want to experiment though - at least it may keep you warm during the cold winter nights to come! 
The attachment shows how it is wired.
The attachment shows how it is wired.
Attachments
Thanks a lot for the link. That L pad is for one driver only right? I am not much DIY-er, but I guess I have to create some box. How should I connect the 3 pins there? And why not up to louder levels? Just what I have seen, the resistors in crossovers are usually 5-10-20 watts, this one is 100w. Sorry for my ignorance, just learning how it could be possible to solve this issue.
For one driver only and you've just missed my wiring diagram. Yes, house in a box.
Too much attenuation and the L-Pad will burn out as there's lots of power in the bass frequencies - about 80% of the power is in the bass.
Mids and tweeters consume only about 20% of the amplifier power. Rough figures, but they illustrate my point.
Too much attenuation and the L-Pad will burn out as there's lots of power in the bass frequencies - about 80% of the power is in the bass.
Mids and tweeters consume only about 20% of the amplifier power. Rough figures, but they illustrate my point.
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I can see your second post now, the connection is there, thank you �� The amp I am going to use is 150w/ 8Ohms. I am rarely listening to very high levels, if ever.
I have to caution you that yours may not be a good idea if you want lots of attenuation i.e. to turn loud bass down by a lot.
However, the price is low enough to allow for experimentation. Watch out for overheating of the control.
However, the price is low enough to allow for experimentation. Watch out for overheating of the control.
I had different solution for this when preamp was used. Either with 2 outputs or one output with rca splitter. Then I have used 2 separate power amps for horizontal bi-amping. The power amp for the woofer had adjustable volume output, so I was able to reduce amount of bass without any issue. Another solution was to put passive preamp in the between of preamp output and power amp input, if the power amp had no adjustable volume output. Anyway, I used Rotel RMB1066 with 60w for bass duty, and it was sufficient enough. The reason for different approach is to reduce amount of boxes and using just powered dac NAD C390DD.
Yes, I understand your point. It is specific case. I like my speakers despite of that they are not very suitable for my small room.
It is my whole life issue with bass and trebles. Too many various recordings and various level of listening. Room interaction. Speakers itself. Matching. I also used miniDSP. If there would be electronic device programmeable to adjust frequency responses for various levels of listening to exactly suits your liking, for a few types of recordings, that would be ideal. But I guess not such a thing exists if I am right..
I wouldn't be without bass and treble controls in the preamp for the very reasons you state.
In my man cave, I can just stretch out my hand and twiddle to my heart's content!
Heck, even some of my old amps have/had middle controls and loudness controls!
In my man cave, I can just stretch out my hand and twiddle to my heart's content!
Heck, even some of my old amps have/had middle controls and loudness controls!
Some old speakers had mids and/or trebles adjustments too, loudness feature on amps, yes, also bass/mids/trebles adjustments even for chosen frequencies. For the sake to get as purest signal as possible, most of those things are abandoned in modern hifi..
For the purest signal, attend an orchestral concert! 😀
Given the amount of distortion produced by speakers, I don't worry about that produced by tone controls.
Then again, I'm an old duffer and can no longer hear my vintage valve amp producing the hissing, humming and crackling noises that so annoyed me 50 years ago!
Or maybe, my recent renovation using modern, improved components did the trick! 😉
There is a stereo version.
8 Ohm L-Pad Attenuator - 100 Watts, STEREO - Willys-Hifi Ltd
It may not actually be as powerful as the mono version linked to earlier which was claimed to work with 70W valve guitar amplifiers, but who knows?
It is also so individual, when I was young, I played in rock/metal band, practicing aloud, gigs, working in recording studio, listening whatever source available with big enjoyment. Nowadays my hearing is damaged a bit too, and in addition I am sensitive to extremes like too much high or low frequencies, whatever I am able to hear. The goal is still to enjoy good music, just in these older age years I am more picky. Similarly though, I am open minded when it comes to new technologies and I believe they have the advantages. That’s why a swap to digital source - amplified dac - speakers is the way I am trying to go. Even though NAD has preamp out, I could use additional pre - power amp to connect the bass drivers, I am trying find to way to avoid it, less boxes is better..