johnphoto
New Member
I'm revamping my entire setup. I have a new-old-stock Marantz SR8001 (2007, HDMI sourced and switched), and a new-to-me James EMB-1000 subwoofer.
According to the what-works-with-what chart in the receiver's manual, there's supposed to be SUB output under almost all conditions, including the analog direct setting. However the subwoofer only ever kicks in (green light) when the source is specifically 5.1 or 7.1 encoded (blurays and DVDs, SACDs, some broadcasts etc). (Also with processed 5.1 effects). Never with unprocessed vinyl or CDs, even when the frequencies are there that should activate it (e.g. organ music). With vinyl I'd rather stay away from processing, otherwise what's the point?
The receiver has a full set of pre-out RCAs. Since I listen mostly to music, and mostly watch movies without a lot of explosions, my solution right now is to connect the subwoofer via the front L & R pre-outs instead of the SUB pre-out. This of course totally works with music. But does this mean that when I watch something (movie, SACD) that has LFE encoded, I won't get it; or are the low frequency effects always present in all channels? Using the LR front pre-outs, should I tell the receiver settings that there's no subwoofer, and do a new Audyssey speaker setup? (If I leave the receiver thinking there's a subwoofer I could simply change the cable to the SUB-out for a Hollywood-type movie).
Settings on the James EMB-1000 subwoofer: I have the crossover set to variable (~100) as opposed to bypass. (My new-to-me mains are a pair of elderly PSB 800 towers with decent bass response).
According to the what-works-with-what chart in the receiver's manual, there's supposed to be SUB output under almost all conditions, including the analog direct setting. However the subwoofer only ever kicks in (green light) when the source is specifically 5.1 or 7.1 encoded (blurays and DVDs, SACDs, some broadcasts etc). (Also with processed 5.1 effects). Never with unprocessed vinyl or CDs, even when the frequencies are there that should activate it (e.g. organ music). With vinyl I'd rather stay away from processing, otherwise what's the point?
The receiver has a full set of pre-out RCAs. Since I listen mostly to music, and mostly watch movies without a lot of explosions, my solution right now is to connect the subwoofer via the front L & R pre-outs instead of the SUB pre-out. This of course totally works with music. But does this mean that when I watch something (movie, SACD) that has LFE encoded, I won't get it; or are the low frequency effects always present in all channels? Using the LR front pre-outs, should I tell the receiver settings that there's no subwoofer, and do a new Audyssey speaker setup? (If I leave the receiver thinking there's a subwoofer I could simply change the cable to the SUB-out for a Hollywood-type movie).
Settings on the James EMB-1000 subwoofer: I have the crossover set to variable (~100) as opposed to bypass. (My new-to-me mains are a pair of elderly PSB 800 towers with decent bass response).