3 Subwoofer hook-up question??

[rrios28]

Would anyone be able to tell me how I would go about hooking up 3 subs, I am not sure if its a good idea but I have 2 Klipsch 12's and came into a 10 in Infinity
yesterday. I have a Y splitting the signal, then each line runs to one of the two subs using another Y at the for the input in to the Klipsch. Question is can I insert another Y at one of the ends for the 3rd sub, or will it degrade the sound quality. Thanks.

[Xerious]

Originally Posted by rrios28

Would anyone be able to tell me how I would go about hooking up 3 subs, I am not sure if its a good idea but I have 2 Klipsch 12's and came into a 10 in Infinity
yesterday. I have a Y splitting the signal, then each line runs to one of the two subs using another Y at the for the input in to the Klipsch. Question is can I insert another Y at one of the ends for the 3rd sub, or will it degrade the sound quality. Thanks.

alert the authorties... this badass mofo was the cause of the earthquake in china...

[Woody]

Originally Posted by rrios28

Would anyone be able to tell me how I would go about hooking up 3 subs, I am not sure if its a good idea but I have 2 Klipsch 12's and came into a 10 in Infinity
yesterday. I have a Y splitting the signal, then each line runs to one of the two subs using another Y at the for the input in to the Klipsch. Question is can I insert another Y at one of the ends for the 3rd sub, or will it degrade the sound quality. Thanks.

Goodness gracious, what in the world would you need 3 subs for? I would recommend against it for so many reasons.

The main reason is because you cannot begin to correctly calibrate 2 subs with MANY of today's receivers, let alone 3.

Unless you just want to knock the walls down, then more power to you.

[Beta Man]

even better idea.... get rid of your modest subs, and get 7 entry-level units.... then connect with a 7 channel external Amp. More MUST be better right?

[STARKILLER--1138]

Originally Posted by rrios28

Would anyone be able to tell me how I would go about hooking up 3 subs, I am not sure if its a good idea but I have 2 Klipsch 12's and came into a 10 in Infinity
yesterday. I have a Y splitting the signal, then each line runs to one of the two subs using another Y at the for the input in to the Klipsch. Question is can I insert another Y at one of the ends for the 3rd sub, or will it degrade the sound quality. Thanks.

Sounds like you're on the right track. Y into the first two subs, and straight into the last one. In my experience, when using more than one sub, it was always better to stack them in the same corner. To calibrate, turn each sub up half way, and then use your calibration disc to fine tune. Feel free to PM if you have questions.

[musicman1999]

Three subs is never a good idea, if you feel the need for multi subs always use an even number.Most people have a tough time with one sub, multiple subs are very hard to properly set up and can make a system sound worse if poorly set up.

bill

[Ranger-R]

Wooh hoo, sounds like alot of fun, I've got to ask how great do 2 of the klipsch sub-12's sound? I have 1 and have considered getting a second. The one alone totally kicks ass, but 2

[rrios28]

Originally Posted by Ranger-R

Wooh hoo, sounds like alot of fun, I've got to ask how great do 2 of the klipsch sub-12's sound? I have 1 and have considered getting a second. The one alone totally kicks ass, but 2

Yes Ranger, 2 of these subs kicks ass, I am using the Reference series and have one on each side of my system, then came across this infinity and though hmmmmmm? would this be possible. Thax for the feedback.

[rrios28]

Originally Posted by Lil' Louie

Sounds like you're on the right track. Y into the first two subs, and straight into the last one. In my experience, when using more than one sub, it was always better to stack them in the same corner. To calibrate, turn each sub up half way, and then use your calibration disc to fine tune. Feel free to PM if you have questions.

Thankz Lil.

[rrios28]

Originally Posted by Xerious

alert the authorties... this badass mofo was the cause of the earthquake in china...

Dont blame me.

[STARKILLER--1138]

Originally Posted by rrios28

Thankz Lil.

No worries. I've used 2 M&K MX350's for about a year; and, before that, 2 DefTech 10 Prosubs in the stacked configuration. We've stacked subs from Sunfire (true subwoofers) too. Good luck, and keep us posted.

[rrios28]

Originally Posted by Woody

Goodness gracious, what in the world would you need 3 subs for? I would recommend against it for so many reasons.

The main reason is because you cannot begin to correctly calibrate 2 subs with MANY of today's receivers, let alone 3.

Unless you just want to knock the walls down, then more power to you.

Thanks for your reply, prob overkill.

[rrios28]

Originally Posted by musicman1999

Three subs is never a good idea, if you feel the need for multi subs always use an even number.Most people have a tough time with one sub, multiple subs are very hard to properly set up and can make a system sound worse if poorly set up.

bill

Thanks 4 ur feedback.

[Big Daddy]

Problems Associated With One Subwoofer
With some care in placement of a single subwoofer and the listening location, one listener can experience fairly smooth and deep bass in a rectangular room. Unfortunately, other listeners seated elsewhere in the same room will hear different bass response, which may be significantly irregular. Trying to reduce some of the largest peaks (too much bass) at one or two frequencies is possible with careful placement and equalization for one location and one listener. But attempting to apply equalization for multiple locations is usually ineffective. There are far too many problems in a small home theater room that cannot be solved with one subwoofer.

In most circumstances two subwoofers will perform better than one. While you might assume this is for added SPL, the greatest benefit will actually be smoother bass response. Using two subwoofers is preferable as you will get a better bass performance and will have less of a problem with standing waves, since the bass will originate from two locations. Two subwoofers are easier to place and result in a flatter frequency response and creation of a much larger “sweet spot” for everyone in the room to hear smoother and more consistent bass.

Use An Even Number of Subwoofers
Two or four subwoofers deliver the greatest benefits in smoothing out irregular bass for multiple listening seats. According to Todd Welti at Harmon International, whose white paper, "Subwoofers: Optimum Number and Locations," explored in detail multiple subwoofer performance: “The conclusion I came to was that two subwoofers give you about 90% of the performance that is possible, and that four take you about as far as you can reasonably expect to go. Anything more than four is not going to get you much in the general sense -- and these are general conclusions.”

Please read the explanation for multiple subwoofers in the two threads on subwoofers, particularly the second one. They have sticky under Speaker Discussion. A Guide to Subwoofers, Part II.

[STARKILLER--1138]

Nice find BD; and, I agree that using an odd number of subs in multiple locations (front/rear) is more trouble than it is worth. 2-4 stacked in the same location, however, is gold!

[mdabb]

an odd or even # of subs is really not going to make a big difference. when you have subs placed in different locations is where it gets tricky. They tend to cancel eachother out being out of phase. side by side or all in the front should reinforce the sound. Having the same specifications would be of help.
if you have them in the front and rear of the room adjust the phase as if they were working in a push/pull scenario.

[BB3]

If you don't use that infinity sub I'll buy it off you potentially. I have the Beta Towers and 162 bookshelf for rears.

[rrios28]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Problems Associated With One Subwoofer
With some care in placement of a single subwoofer and the listening location, one listener can experience fairly smooth and deep bass in a rectangular room. Unfortunately, other listeners seated elsewhere in the same room will hear different bass response, which may be significantly irregular. Trying to reduce some of the largest peaks (too much bass) at one or two frequencies is possible with careful placement and equalization for one location and one listener. But attempting to apply equalization for multiple locations is usually ineffective. There are far too many problems in a small home theater room that cannot be solved with one subwoofer.

In most circumstances two subwoofers will perform better than one. While you might assume this is for added SPL, the greatest benefit will actually be smoother bass response. Using two subwoofers is preferable as you will get a better bass performance and will have less of a problem with standing waves, since the bass will originate from two locations. Two subwoofers are easier to place and result in a flatter frequency response and creation of a much larger “sweet spot” for everyone in the room to hear smoother and more consistent bass.

Use An Even Number of Subwoofers
Two or four subwoofers deliver the greatest benefits in smoothing out irregular bass for multiple listening seats. According to Todd Welti at Harmon International, whose white paper, "Subwoofers: Optimum Number and Locations," explored in detail multiple subwoofer performance: “The conclusion I came to was that two subwoofers give you about 90% of the performance that is possible, and that four take you about as far as you can reasonably expect to go. Anything more than four is not going to get you much in the general sense -- and these are general conclusions.”

Please read the explanation for multiple subwoofers in the two threads on subwoofers, particularly the second one. They have sticky under Speaker Discussion. A Guide to Subwoofers, Part II.

Thanks Big D, your explanation was very helpful.