Using a subwoofer with a stereo amp

[Jmater]

Hi everyone, just joined this forum , this is a lovely one !

here is my question :

I have a Stereo Amp (Kenwood ka-1400B / 140 watts) and I have 4 Loudspeakers connected and everything works fine . (two speakers for channel A and two speaker for B channel).

now i want to add a subwoofer to the existing system , and of course all of my speaker output ports are used .

how can i do this ?

thanks for your help 🙂

 

[Netlist]

Welcome. 🙂

You could use the amp's Rec outputs if your sub has an input attenuator and build-in amplifier.

/Hugo

 

[Wildcard26]

Hey there. Using your Rec out would be a good idea but what may happen is that you may not be able to control the volume from your main control on the receiver. If the Receiver has Pre-amp out puts you could add Y splitters and use that to connect your sub, that way it would allow for control of the volume through the Main Volume control.

 

[Cal Weldon]

If you don't have variable pre-outs, this is how you can do it. Use speaker level outs on your receiver to run the bigger or more important of your two sets of speakers. Run the other set of speaker outs to a plate amp that you are going to buy for your new woofer. Run the second set of speakers from the speaker level outs on the plate amp. These out leads are usually crossed over with a first order around 100 Hz so you will lose a bit of low end from the smaller set but that's OK because you now have a woofer to look after that loss.

Hope that helps.

 

[Naudio]

or you could wack a crossover on the inputs of the main speakers

just 2 way or your could take the speaker apart and use 3 way

so 150hz> goes to subs and the rest goes to your mains

as long as you get some nice easy to drive subs that is, and you would need to use two of them

this would however enable you to take the bass from the main speakers enabling the whole system to go louder

my speakers i made are basically 3 way with subs built in

 

[Cal Weldon]

Sounds like expensive XO parts and doesn't give you the variable bass as with a plate amp. You might not get the bass you're looking for as many subs require an amp just to bring them up to the equivalent efficiency of the mains.