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External crossover good next move?

Hello Audiogoners, budget-minded post

I have an NAD C320BEE amp with a basic Velodyne subwoofer (CT-80) inserted between pre and amp sections (per Bob Reynolds suggestion--thank you). Source is a Lite DAC-AH, fed by an NAD CD player.

The problem is the cable runs to and from the subwoofer need to be quite long (at least 6 feet). I have a DH Labs cable from the DAC to pre, but cables running to the sub and back, I am ashamed to say, are $29 Monster cable. So I wonder how much I am losing in the Monster cable. Also I wonder about the quality of the crossover in my sub: this is an 80-watt HT-oriented sub I got for $300 new in 2001.

I am considering an external crossover, like Paradigm x-30 or Outlaw ICBM. Could I expect a real improvement through this upgrade? Does anyone have a sense of quality of the crossover in a sub like mine, versus those products?

I like the sub-monitor arrangement, and am not quite ready to buy a new amp, although I would not be surprised to hear that is best route. Any ideas appreciated
abarnett
abarnett OP
18 posts
 
Rob, thanks for your post. I will try it!
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robr45's avatar
robr45
317 posts
 
Your missing the point. This is not a line level vs speaker level debate.

The issue is running it in the preout/main in loop. In this case line level forces it to be in the loop, which is why speaker level makes more sense to me.

Simple logic says that adding 12ft of ICs and an additional crossover to your signal chain is not ideal. If you are going to do it, it better have a big sonic payoff. This is where we disagree.

His speaker is efficient and represents a benign load to the amplifier. In addition, the amplifier has a respectable power supply. The NAD does not need to be relieved of the load.

If you are looking for a 75hz wallop, than okay. But if you are looking for flat response you are better off letting the speakers roll off naturally and filling in with the sub at this point. That 6.5in Peerless woofer is going to do far more justice to an upright bass than the sub.

Finally, due to this config the OP is asking about buying an external passive XO as an upgrade. His money is much better spent in other places. Why force yourself down this road when you can simply work this need out of the design?

There is no right or wrong. Just opinions- ours differ. Im suggesting he try speaker level. I see it as sonically superior and more simple.

-Rob
Post removed 
abarnett OP
18 posts
 
Thank you both for your suggestions. What is an OP?

I don't want 12 feet of ICs--that's why I'm considering this. I can connect an external XO with two short ICs of decent quality (which I have) and run less-good cable to the sub. My thinking is, if I can pick up a decent external XO for <$200 used, I can clean up the signal path compared to what I have now and avoid long IC runs. I guess I will try both approaches and see which sounds better.

Bob, if the more expensive SVS sub is a good idea, then why isn't a good external crossover also a good idea? It's the same approach, right?

What about a good-quality, external crossover designed to work at speaker level? That would avoid the objection about distortion in the woofers. Does anyone make that?
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