If ICs matter...

[mhartman29]

... and they affect the sound quality of your system, what affect does using Y cables to split the signal have on the system? Especially, if you aren't using high quality y cables -- do they exist?

Sorry if this is a silly question, but I've been pondering using y cables to split the L & R signals coming from my preamp so that I can feed the LFE into my subwoofer. The reason I have to try this method is that my preamp (Emotiva lmc) does not send LFE output to the subwoofer output when the speakers are set to LARGE. Setting my speakers (RT3000s) to small have a negative impact on the soundstage, imo, so that isn't a viable option for me.

[ShinAce]

Added a splitter is adding a connection, a source of signal loss. Generally, this is of little concern. The loading on the preamp won't be significant. You should just try it and see considering the cost involved.

[mhartman29]

Where can one find higher quality y-cables to minimize the signal loss? Or will any type (radio shack) suffice?

[ShinAce]

The length of the cable is not really a factor, so you're just looking for decent connectors. Any splitter will suffice.

[cambir]

Where can one find higher quality y-cables to minimize the signal loss? Or will any type (radio shack) suffice?

don't know if higher-quality will make that much of a difference on a y cable, but audioquest makes one.

[jabrax]

Mhart - See if your LMC sub function has a setting for enhanced or somthing similiar.

I have the MMC. It has an option under speakers - sub - enhncd.

In this mode, you can set speakers to large and the sub will run always for movies and music.

[mhartman29]

jabrax, unfortunately, it does not. Under speakers --> sub my only options are On or Off. So far I love the LMC, but it is making it very hard to get my SW hooked up properly.

[Kex]

jabrax, unfortunately, it does not. Under speakers --> sub my only options are On or Off. So far I love the LMC, but it is making it very hard to get my SW hooked up properly.

I'm pretty sure mhartman is correct. That is one of the things I noticed about the LMC-1 also: no control over the subwoofer and LFE output other than "off" or "on".

[WilliamM2]

Parts Express has some nice y-cables:
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=181-692

But I'm not sure what you want to do will work well, as you will only be feeding the sub bass from the right or left channel. And it will not get the info from the LFE channel.

[Kex]

... But I'm not sure what you want to do will work well, as you will only be feeding the sub bass from the right or left channel. And it will not get the info from the LFE channel.

If he's going to do it that way, shouldn't he just hook up his subwoofer the Polk Audio way, with speaker wire, rather than buying "Y" type splitters? Maybe this is the way to do it, for those who haven't read about this yet:

- Speaker wire from L/R Front terminals on amplifier to subwoofer.
- Then speaker L/R from the subwoofer to Front speakers.
- No specific subwoofer cable (RCA type connectors) is used at all from the LFE output.

Of course, for movies, the effect is going to be very different without the dedicated 0.1 LFE channel. The crossover will be managed by the subwoofer in this case, not the LMC-1, but with speakers set to "large" on the LMC-1, it possibly doesn't make any difference.

[ben62670]

I make them, and sell them.

[mhartman29]

According to emotiva, when the speakers are set to large and the subwoofer is off, then all lfe effects are directed into the front main speakers. So, that is the rationale behind the setup.

Kex, I could try it out the Polk way. I would be interested in trying this method out, if it were not for the expense. An extra stereo pair of Signal Ultras would be $120 plus.

[reeltrouble1]

I think I would rather use some Home po-po 12 guage speaker wire and do it the Polk Way rather than a splitter but either way will work, since its just a "trial" I would not dump alot of dough into the splitters, at least not initially, if you like it, then I am sure someone will sell you a higher end splitter for a bit more tweaking.

RT1

[Kex]

.. Kex, I could try it out the Polk way. I would be interested in trying this method out, if it were not for the expense. An extra stereo pair of Signal Ultras would be $120 plus.

Oops! Sorry, I forgot you were using real wire. I'm still on coat hangers and twist ties from garbage bags (well, Monoprice 12 AWG).

[tonyb]

If that was me and I couldn't do what you are wanting to do,I would dump it in a heartbeat and get a real pre/pro.No offence ment.

[reeltrouble1]

you could buy an Outlaw ICBM, bass management problems with any system over.

RT1

[hearingimpared]

Where can one find higher quality y-cables to minimize the signal loss? Or will any type (radio shack) suffice?

Signal Cable here, call Frank and he'll make you a custom set of Y connectors. I purchased a pair for my old bi-amp set up and they are awesome. They DID NOT affect the signal quality. I believe they were like $75 well worth the quality.