|   using a "y" adapter instead of 2 cables | Lyon
Jun 12, 2002 12:34 AM | | I currently have a rotel ra1060 (integrated) and a Velodyne powered sub connected with a "y" adapter from the rotel preout into the right chanel of the sub(using monster cable-24'). I was told that this would degrade the sound (by not using two cables). But I don't see how given that the sub is given the full signal (not to mention it is mono)? How significant a difference, if any, would using 2 cables be and why?
Thanks for any comments, Mark |
| re: using a "y" adapter instead of 2 cables | Jason Monette
Jun 12, 2002 4:41 AM | | Usually it is hard to find a Y adapter that is as good as your cables. Do you have both left and right preouts going to the sub, or just the right? if it is just the right, don't use the Y adaptor, just use one cable. The sub takes both signals and combines them into a mono signal anyway, and by using a Y adaptor, you only gain 2dB.
If you are going from both your right and your left preouts, then yes, i would use two cables. One to go from the right of the amp to the right of the sub and one to go from the left of the amp to the left of the sub.
I am just guessing here, cause i don't know how you have it set up. |
| re: using a "y" adapter instead of 2 cables | markw
Jun 12, 2002 2:31 PM | | If you were using the LFE output of a HT unit, then one cable with a "Y" connector would be fine. The LFE channel combines ALL bass from ALL channels into that one channel.
If you are using a stereo preamp, then you would want to use two cables, one from each channel, to both inputs on the sub.
The bass in a stereo preamp is NOT mono. You are NOT getting the "full" bass signal with one channel of a stereo amp.
Stereo is two distinctly separate channels, and each channel's bass is totally independent of the other. There may be bass in one channel and not the other.
In other words, the bass signal from the cableless channel is not be making it to the sub if you only use one channel of the preamp. A "Y" connector will simply feed the bass from the ONE stereo channel the both sub inputs.
And, FWIW, Monster cable is way overpriced. |
| re: using a "y" adapter instead of 2 cables | Lyon
Jun 12, 2002 10:15 PM | | Thanks for the feedback,
Just to clarify my "y" adapter came with the monster sub cable so it is of the same quality (gold plated ends and all). I of course have heard the talk of Moster Cable being too expensive, but it was what was accesable at the time. Additionaly, the Y adapter is connected to my stereo integrated amp to both the left and right chanels and going into my sub on just the right chanel. It seems to me, since a sub is mono(although, it can take stereo info and combine it) there would be no need for two cables because the signal from both the left and right chanel are being combined into one with the y adapter instead of at the sub. In other words, even if I used two cables instead of one, the same amount of information is being recieved by the sub (that being both the right and left chanel). Since a sub is mono why would it matter if it recieved that signal from one or two cables, either way it is going to be combined into one signal with all the information? The only arguement I could come up with would be that by combining the left and right signal into one cable you are apt to taint some of the quality of the signal?
Thanks, Mark |
| re: using a "y" adapter instead of 2 cables | markw
Jun 13, 2002 3:12 AM | | The "Y" connecor at the end of the "sub" cable is merely a convienence that allows a mono signal from a LFE output to be fed to both channels of a sub. Many don't require this but it does make most people feel better doing it this way.
I've noticed that many times when one combines both left and right channels via a "Y" connector at the preamp's output to feed a mono sub, they wind up losing stereo thru their main system. You might want to check this carefully. Unless the pre-outs are so well buffered to be totally out of the mainline circuit, this is a very, very good possibility. If you still have stereo thru your main system, then enjoy. |
| |
