Stereo setup sanity check

[ruby-listens]

Building my first dedicated stereo system for music and want to make sure the approach is sound before buying.

The gear:

• Speakers: Klipsch RP-600M II
• Subs: 2x Monolith M10
• Interface: MOTU M4
• Amp: NC252MP-based stereo amp
• Bass management: EqualizerAPO
• Source: Laptop

The plan:

Using the MOTU M4's multiple outputs to route high-passed signal to the speakers and low-passed signal to the subs. EqualizerAPO handles the filtering in software before it leaves the laptop. Crossover around 80Hz (I have a UMIK to fine-tune this).

Why this approach:

• Keeps processing digital until final conversion
• Takes bass load off the bookshelf speakers for better dynamics
• Dual subs for smoother room response
• Clean amplification with plenty of headroom

Main questions:

• 150W @ 8Ω enough for these speakers when high-passed at 80Hz?
• Anyone running software bass management with multiple outputs? How's EqualizerAPO for routing?
• Better approach I'm not seeing?

 

[Chazz6]

Apparently these speakers have 94.5dB @ 2.83V / 1m sensitivity. Rated 8 ohms, and Stereophile found they got down to 3.8 ohms around 200 Hz.

Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com

Sidebar 3: Measurements I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 mike for the nearfield responses. I left the grille off for the measurements, The Klipsch's...

www.stereophile.com

Klipsch specifies power handling 100W continuous, 400W peak.

It all indicates 150 watts are sufficient.

 

[DVDdoug]

It should work OK, but using the computer as a crossover is a bit complex and things often "go wrong" with computers. However it's probably more tweakable than a hardware solution. I wouldn't expect anything terrible to happen but I'd feel a little better if this is a dedicated audio computer that's not otherwise messed-with a lot.

I have no idea how easy it is to configure the EqualizerAPO and interface together like that. The interface may work differently than a 5.1 channel soundcard. Maybe it's easy and you probably know more than me...

A subwoofer with a built-in pass-through crossover would be more convenient.

 

[sceptical1]

Welcome to the forum. A great first post. What you have is perfectly fine, get the klipsch in the right spot on the right wall at the right distance from your listeng position first then subdue those room modes with your dual subs that hopefully have a phase switch. You can measure just don't ignore what you hear if things sound off. Keep playing around to get it the way you want. If the measurement says 3db cut it in half to get closer to what we really hear.