Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Line level input on EP 500 subwoofer

Does anyone know if the line level input on the EP 500 bypasses the crossover? In other words, is the crossover on the EP 500 only effective for the speaker level inputs?

I think the crossover is active even with the line level. But there is a bypass setting for the low-pass crossover if you don't want to use it.

Dave - I went home and checked and you are right, the Line In is definitely run through the crossover... so now that I know that, I have a question about wiring two EP 500s in a stereo system. I started with one EP 500 and it sounded great. I was sending it the full stereo signal (left & right channels) via speaker level inputs. I have this stereo system in a very large room (9900 cu/ft) and the base was a bit boomy/flat in a few places so I bought another EP 500 to even it out. I switched from driving one sub via the stereo high level inputs to driving each sub with one channel via the line level input. The line level signals are from the loop outs on my parasound amp. The problem is that now the sub(s) don't have the same punch. And I don't think it's a placement issue. You can just put your hand by the sub and feel that it's not producing as much movement. Even with the volume turned up very loud on the subs. Much louder than I could have turned them up when I was driving just one with the stereo high level signal. Should I be sending each sub both channels of stereo via high level inputs? But wouldn't that defeat the stereo sub effect? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

How about sending each sub just 1 channel (left or right respectively) from the speaker/high level inputs?

The only reason I can think of that the line level isn't performing to your expectation, is that the signal level of the line level output is unusually low. Can you turn up the sub gain within your pre-processor, and compensate by turning the sub volume gains down? I run my 500s at just 6 o'clock on their volume controls.

Also make sure the 2 subs aren't fighting each other or the mains in phase. I am guessing the placement of both subs are up front, so the phase is probably set the same on both subs? Take an SPL meter reading with just one sub on, playing it's test tone with the mains. Flip the phase switch between 0 and 180 and use the setting with the highest SPL. If your 2nd sub is also up front, you should set it to the same as the first- but you can verify by taking SPL readings with the 2nd sub on, and try both of its phase settings.

I apologize if you've already checked this, just wanted to be sure.

I think you also have a line-level out on the sub. Just chain them together. Being that a subwoofer is non-directional it you don't really need a left and right channel sub. You could put one sub up front and one behind, etc. Also, your line out on your receiver may be attenuated? Is that a possibility? Not sure. Also you may be having phasing issues. Try switching the phase on one sub, then the other.

Stereo subs do add another element of realism and nuance not only to music but also to HT. I'm recently reconfigured my system to run a pair of EP600s as stereo subs with two monitors and I'm really liking what I'm hearing so far. Here is a classic thread on stereo subs from one of its biggest proponents, Soundhound an LA recording engineer. http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/idealbb...20&pageNo=1