bluesound node icon with topping b200 mono amps

[MattiasFloeman]

I'm thinking of getting a bluesound node icon with two topping b200 mono amps, do I need a pre amp or is the node icon good as a pre amp.

The speakers I have are monitor audio gs60 (sensitivity etc. in the picture) should I have a high or low gain setting

 

[NTK]

Welcome to ASR!

You can use the Node Icon as pre-amp and connect directly to the B200's. No need for a separate pre-amp.

Actually, if you are using a subwoofer with the Node Icon, having a pre-amp between the Node Icon and the B200's would be totally unnecessary because you'd have to control volume at the Node Icon, and not at the pre-amp as the pre-amp would have no control over the sub.

 

[MattiasFloeman]

thanks for your answer!
I have a subwoofer but am thinking of changing to a sub with High-Level inputs, I have read and been told that it will be better for music but I might be wrong

 

[voodooless]

I have a subwoofer but am thinking of changing to a sub with High-Level inputs, I have read and been told that it will be better for music but I might be wrong

Don’t drink the REL kook aid!

 

[NTK]

thanks for your answer!
I have a subwoofer but am thinking of changing to a sub with High-Level inputs, I have read and been told that it will be better for music but I might be wrong

@voodooless is correct. The best bass management methods use separate and different signals to feed the sub(s) and the main speakers. A major benefit of using subwoofer(s) is to relieve the main speakers of having to try to reproduce the low frequencies sound which they are often incapable of. By relieving the mains of the low frequencies, it reduces the strain on the woofers so they will have an easier time and can do a better job at reproducing the higher frequencies (in technical terms — reduces intermodulation distortions).

If you connect the subwoofer using high level inputs (the amplifier outputs for the main speakers), you cannot filter out the low frequencies for the main speakers, as the sub is fed with the same signals (and therefore these signals cannot be missing the low frequencies).

 

[Norcal]

Besides the excellent points NTK has made, there is no objective evidence of which I am aware that using high-level inputs improves the sound quality.

 

[MattiasFloeman]

I haven't decided if I should change the subwoofer, I have an SVS SB-2000 today, so if I have to change it, I will change it later. But what gain should I have on the Topping B200, low or high?

 

[Redacted]

Using high-level inputs on a powered sub means your signal path to them puts two separate concatenated power amps between source (or pre-amp) and the the speaker driver, while your mains have only one power amp between source and speaker.

While you may not perceive the added delay between the subs and the mains, a purist might argue it's not good practise.

I think the speaker level input on subs (instead of line-level) was there as a convenience for the wiring, but the marketing team decided that could make up some FUD about it being better.

On the other, if you are running long cables carrying line-level signal between amp and sub, you need to not go too cheap on those cables, else you risk a bit of noise pickup. I run 4m or so, from my amp's pre-outs to each sub, with no issues at all. I use the subs' crossover settings knob and volume knob to blend with the small main speakers (with blocked rear ports), but it took me 3 days straight to get the settings right (no suckouts or booms) without using measuring gear (just my ears, a bass sweep tone, and dozens of album tracks; the latter being the best in the end).

 

[NTK]

I haven't decided if I should change the subwoofer, I have an SVS SB-2000 today, so if I have to change it, I will change it later. But what gain should I have on the Topping B200, low or high?

The input sensitivities for the low and high gain settings are 12.5 V and 3.9 V (RMS), respectively. The de-facto standard output level of balanced XLR is 4 V, but certain "pro" focused gears can output to 24 dBu (= 12.3 V). Chances are that the Node Icon can only output 4 V (I wasn't able to find its output spec.), therefore, if you want your B200 to be able to reach full output, you'll need to use high gain. However, if you find it loud enough to listen to with low gain, you can use that too. Theoretically you can get better performance with low gain, but the differences are most likely below audibility.