OK, I am getting some Axiom M3s to be paired up with an old 80W Kenwood KA-6100 and I am probably going to want to add a subwoofer to my system later on (not so much for movies, but for music). Do I have to buy a new amplifier to do this? If not, will it sound better with a new, digital amp?

I have heard a lot about subwoofer hookup, almost none of which I understand. My big question is can it be hooked up with my old 2-channel amp? By the way, I am thinking about the EP-125 as a sub.

I am not really concentrating on getting boomy bass, rather, I just want sharp, clean bass. I hope this subwoofer will do it for me. It seems to get good reviews, anyhow.

Hi Modest Cargo,

You can connect the high-level (speaker) inputs and outputs on the EP125 (or any other subwoofer) to use with the Kenwood stereo amp. The left and right speaker cables go from the Kenwood to the subwoofer left and right speaker-level inputs, then a second set of speaker cables go to your main M3ti speakers.

No, a more modern digital amp may not sound as good as the old Kenwood, which likely has a more robust power supply and few compromises because there are only two amps on one chassis rather than six or seven in a multi-channel receiver.

The EP125 is fine for smallish rooms. For 2,000 cu ft. rooms or larger, I'd recommend the EP175 subwoofer.

Regards,

You do not need a new or additional amp to add a powered subwoofer to your stereo system. You just route your speaker wires "through" the sub, and that is it -- a powered sub has a set of stereo speaker-wire input/output terminals. You can choose an appropriate low-pass crossover frequency on the sub, so that the sub will seamlessly extend the bass below the natural bass roll-off of the M3's. You will want to have a RadioShack sound level meter (about US$50) and some test-tone CD or DVD, in order to accurately calibrate the sub level and crossover relative to the M3's (no boomy bass once you calibrate the sub).

With regard to the subwoofer itself, I personally recommend that you spend a little more and get the Hsu VTF-2 ($500); it will be powerful enough to endure your future upgrades to multi-channel systems very well.

I actually disagree with both of the above posts on how to hook up the sub. I used to use an old Toshiba receiver (2 channel, weighed a ton, supported -- physically -- my 27" TV without a problem), and I'd run the subwoofer off of one of the tape outputs (if you have multiple and they are not in use. Any output that is not cut out when you switch channels on the reciever will work. The sound is also better, IMHO. You would need a standard RCA-RCA L/R cable.

Ah... I have to agree with you, kcarlile. Did not think about the tape output. Yes, that's definitely worth trying in addition to the usual "text-book" hookup described above.

In addition to the tape, some old receivers also have an auxiliary in/out (mine did) for other devices, so something could be rigged up there.

I second the Hsu VTF-2 vote.

I really doubt that I will be getting into multi-channel and I mostly will use my sub for music, so I really don't need anything too powerful. I'm sure the EP-125 will do the job in my small room very nicely.

My recommendation of the Hsu is not for power - it's for it's quick, tight bass. It's just a wonderfully musical sub. You won't be dissapointed with it - especially for music. I've listened to a bunch of subs with music, and so many of them sound sloppy - a bit slow - the VTF-2 keeps up with even the most demanding music.

Right. The word "powerful" I used above was not well chosen. The Hsu subs are certainly powerful, but they really shine in the quality of the bass they produce -- very clean, tight and low distortion.

I am one of those people who consider that music (especially classical) is more revealing and unforgiving of the sound quality of subwoofers/speakers than movie soundtracks. In my opinion, if the sub can do classical music "right," it will do movies just fine. And I can tell you my Hsu performs music very, very well.

Hi kcarlile,

Tape outputs are normally fixed output level, unaffected by the volume control on the receiver, so you'd have to readjust the subwoofer volume every time you changed the volume level on the receiver--a major inconvenience.

That's why I recommended he use the speaker-level inputs on the sub.

Regards,

Eh, you get used to it. (especially if you don't have a remote in the first place) I wasn't happy with the sound from my sub with the speaker line, but that could have just been my receiver or sub.