How do I add a HT/regular subwoofer to powered speakers?

[Bruce80]

Hi,
I'm not an audio producer, but I thought you might have a good solution for my problem.
Today I'm using Topping D10 Balanced DAC connected to powered speakers Adam Audio A3x.
I have a Home theatre powered subwoofer, which I want to add to this system. Unlike audio production dedicated subwoofers, I can't passthrough audio from the subwoofer.
Instead of buying an additional subwoofer, I want to use my current sub, and I wonder what is the name of the BOX in my image I'm looking for.
I would love this solution to be relatively small and cheap.
LPF to the sub only below 80Hz and HPF to the speakers with higher than 80Hz

 

[sweetchaos]

MiniDSP Flex would work.

miniDSP Flex

Pocket size processor with flexible Input/Output configuration, Audiophile converters, 400MHz Sharc DSP processor, BT connectivity, DSP toolbox for subwoofer and multiway crossover, Dirac Live optional upgrade

www.minidsp.com

Review:

Minidsp Flex Review (Audio DSP)

This is a review and detailed measurement of the Minidsp Flex audio signal processor. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $475 for unbalanced and $550 for balanced that I tested. Flex borrows the interface from SHD and puts it in a compact package. Seeing how I really liked that...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Bruce80]

MiniDSP Flex would work.

miniDSP Flex

Pocket size processor with flexible Input/Output configuration, Audiophile converters, 400MHz Sharc DSP processor, BT connectivity, DSP toolbox for subwoofer and multiway crossover, Dirac Live optional upgrade

www.minidsp.com

Review:

Minidsp Flex Review (Audio DSP)

This is a review and detailed measurement of the Minidsp Flex audio signal processor. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $475 for unbalanced and $550 for balanced that I tested. Flex borrows the interface from SHD and puts it in a compact package. Seeing how I really liked that...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Thank you but this is an extremely expansive solution. I just need a passive HPF/LPF box.

 

[Bruce80]

Closest thing I've found is this: Behringer Super-X Pro CX2310 V2, a crossover with subwoofer Output.
As I am not familiar in production equipment, I'm not sure it does exactly what I'm looking for.
But the real problem is the size, at ~20 inch (52 cm), It is huge for my small desk. And the fact it an active (connected to AC) and passive, is also not clear to me as I don't need amplification or any change to the sound signature.

 

[fpitas]

Passive filters for subs get rather bulky and expensive. Edit: never mind, you're at line level. There are some kind of half-*ss passive filters I've seen, if you don't mind very shallow slopes. Also, some subs offer filtering.

 

[sarumbear]

Thank you but this is an extremely expansive solution. I just need a passive HPF/LPF box.

It won’t work

 

[Bruce80]

It won’t work

Can you please elaborate? and perhaps help me to understand what is the name of the component I'm looking for?

 

[Sokel]

Cheap analog electronic crossover

I've been playing lately with a very cheap analog 2-in/4-out analog crossover. Is somehow DIY but very easy to fix. To my surprise it measures very decently! (note that has been measured with the worst possible conditions,long cables soldered just to see,adapters,noisy PSU and by someone totally...

www.audiosciencereview.com

All you need is a box,connectors and a trafo for the right version.

 

[Zapper]

You need a two-way active crossover with subwoofer output. These are available in many form factors. The rack mount unit is the first link that popped up in my search, but there are versions more suitable to home stereo use, and others intended for custom audio in cars.

Behringer Super-X Pro CX2310 V2 Multi-channel Crossover with Subwoofer Output

Stereo 2-way/Mono 3-way Crossover with Subwoofer Output and Universal Power Supply

www.sweetwater.com

DBX 223XS Stereo 2-Way/Mono 3-Way with XLR Connectors Crossover for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for DBX 223XS Stereo 2-Way/Mono 3-Way with XLR Connectors Crossover at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Note: If you want to keep your balanced signals (which you should) the options are more limited to these pro audio solutions. The home and car versions use unbalanced RCA inputs and outputs.

 

[Zapper]

Closest thing I've found is this: Behringer Super-X Pro CX2310 V2, a crossover with subwoofer Output.
As I am not familiar in production equipment, I'm not sure it does exactly what I'm looking for.

It's what you're looking for.

But the real problem is the size, at ~20 inch (52 cm), It is huge for my small desk.

Smaller options are available, but maybe not with balanced signals. Spend some time searching for "stereo active subwoofer crossover".

And the fact it an active (connected to AC) and passive, is also not clear to me as I don't need amplification or any change to the sound signature.

You want the active crossover as it isn't generally feasible to produce the precise crossover slopes desired with passive crossovers. The active crossovers also give you the ability to adjust the crossover frequencies and phases, and sometimes the slopes, to give optimum matching between your subwoofer and speakers.

 

[sarumbear]

Can you please elaborate? and perhaps help me to understand what is the name of the component I'm looking for?

You are looking for an active crossover. Line level passive crossover is not a thing because it cannot be designed as the load impedances are not defined.

 

[Bruce80]

You need a two-way active crossover with subwoofer output. These are available in many form factors. The rack mount unit is the first link that popped up in my search, but there are versions more suitable to home stereo use, and others intended for custom audio in cars.

Behringer Super-X Pro CX2310 V2 Multi-channel Crossover with Subwoofer Output

Stereo 2-way/Mono 3-way Crossover with Subwoofer Output and Universal Power Supply

www.sweetwater.com

DBX 223XS Stereo 2-Way/Mono 3-Way with XLR Connectors Crossover for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for DBX 223XS Stereo 2-Way/Mono 3-Way with XLR Connectors Crossover at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Note: If you want to keep your balanced signals (which you should) the options are more limited to these pro audio solutions. The home and car versions use unbalanced RCA inputs and outputs.

Thanks for the in-depth answers!
* The Behringer Super-X Pro CX2310 has a dedicated sub out, so I see where the subwoofer is connected, but each of the main channels has two outputs, how can I connect a single input balanced speaker to it? I don't have in my speaker a separate input for high and for mids.
The DBX 223xs doesn't - It has no Sub Out connector. How do I connect a subwoofer to it?

 

[Zapper]

Thanks for the in-depth answers!
* The Behringer Super-X Pro CX2310 has a dedicated sub out, so I see where the subwoofer is connected, but each of the main channels has two outputs, how can I connect a single input balanced speaker to it? I don't have in my speaker a separate input for high and for mids.
The DBX 223xs doesn't - It has no Sub Out connector. How do I connect a subwoofer to it?

There are two outputs per channel: high and low frequency (the labels below the jacks). Your speakers go on the high outputs. Ignore the "mid" label - that's for using the crossover in mono 3-way mode (hi/mid/low frequencies).

The DBX223 would require a Y connecter to combine two low freq outputs to the sub input. It's better if this is done inside the crossover like the Behringer.

 

[Bruce80]

There are two outputs per channel: high and low frequency (the labels below the jacks). Your speakers go on the high outputs. Ignore the "mid" label - that's for using the crossover in mono 3-way mode (hi/mid/low frequencies).

The DBX223 would require a Y connecter to combine two low freq outputs to the sub input. It's better if this is done inside the crossover like the Behringer.

Thanks again, that's great! So it looks like this is exactly the missing part in my system! The Behringer CX2310 also has a great price.

Are there any drawbacks? could it degrade the sound quality of my main speakers?

 

[sarumbear]

Are there any drawbacks? could it degrade the sound quality of my main speakers?

Any device inserted to the signal chain has the potential to degrade the sound quality. How much is to do with the device inserted and the devices that you already have. We don’t know them hence we can’t comment further.

 

[Zapper]

Thanks again, that's great! So it looks like this is exactly the missing part in my system! The Behringer CX2310 also has a great price.

Are there any drawbacks? could it degrade the sound quality of my main speakers?

The main drawbacks are more boxes and wires. The main potential sonic drawback is more noise. The Behringer's 95dB SNR is plenty good for CD quality music. If you are into high res music and have a 120dB SNR DAC, then this will be a limiting factor. However, your speakers don't even list a SNR or noise spec, so I'm guessing the speakers are the limiting factor, probably by a lot.

 

[Bruce80]

The main drawbacks are more boxes and wires. The main potential sonic drawback is more noise. The Behringer's 95dB SNR is plenty good for CD quality music. If you are into high res music and have a 120dB SNR DAC, then this will be a limiting factor. However, your speakers don't even list a SNR or noise spec, so I'm guessing the speakers are the limiting factor, probably by a lot.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[dasdoing]

I use a (older) 8 channel Motu audio interface with internal mixer.
unfortunatly the new ones seam to have ditched the low-pass

 

[LTig]

Thanks again, that's great! So it looks like this is exactly the missing part in my system! The Behringer CX2310 also has a great price.

Yes, it should work. Set the crossover frequency of both channels to the same frequency as the sub woofer, connect the speakers to the high outputs and the sub to the sub output.

Are there any drawbacks? could it degrade the sound quality of my main speakers?

It will introduce some noise but whether that is audible depends on how sensitive your speakers are. If they have volume controls set them as low as possible and compensate by a higher volume setting of the preamp.

It will also introduce distortion but I'm sure your speakers distort more and anyway the sound with sub and a little more distortion will be much better than without both.

 

[LTig]

Just for the records: If you buy a sub which has such a crossover built in you spare this additional crossover and the cables. Such a sub will be more expensive but probably not by the same amount. The JBL LSR310 is such an example.