NAD C320/C326 BEE Sub Query

[Gamefreak501]

Hey everyone,

I've owned my NAD C320 BEE for nearly 6 years now it's probably the oldest part of my system as it was purchased around about December 2004.

However, it didn't come with a dedicated sub woofer output - so I have a tangle of wires going from my NAD amplifier to my Mordaunt Short MS-308 subwoofer then to my Heybrook HB-150 speakers.

Not sure if it's any use, but none of my equipment is bi-wireable.

I was looking over NADs latest offerings and came across a C326 BEE, whilst it's got the same features pretty much, it also has two Subwoofer outputs.

Would I see much of a difference in using the high-level connectors as above; compared with using the low-level connectors from a C326 BEE to the Mordaunt Short MS-308?

Or is this merely just for tidyness?

As an aside, I also just purchased an M-Audio 2496 for my PC and a QED interconnect and I'm impressed with the tighter vocals and the much more defined mid and high range reproduction when compared with my onboard sound (with a good 3.5mm to RCA Profigold interconnect)!

Any advice great appreciated as always.

Kind Regards,

David

 

[Gamefreak501]

Hey everyone,

Actually, I just realised it does have a pre-out and main-ins - would this be a case of using a 'y' phono lead?

I've not honestly looked into this as a possible connection - looks like there are loops between the main-in and pre-out.

Shows how much I know - is this beneficial over the high level connections I use?

Kind Regards,

David

 

[Gamefreak501]

Hey everyone,

Thank you for your continued help - I tried connecting via the pre-out and it disabled the whole left channel (or right channel respectively). I'm not sure if this indicates a problem with my amplifier, or I'm doing something wrong.

The only workaround I could employ was by using one of the tape-out connectors - however I believe these are both amplified, so I wasn't able to turn the subwoofer volume up too loudly without it starting to sound distorted.

In retrospect, it doesn't sound too bad using the Tape monitor output - but not sure if this a good idea.

Perhaps I am best keeping to the high level speaker connectors instead, and just accepting the extra messy wires this causes?

I also noticed another thing - I believe the speakers come out louder when connected via the NAD amplifier rather than the Mordaunt-Short subwoofer - this might have something to do with the difference in power, the NAD amplifier is rated at 50w+50w RMS and the subwoofer at 1x80w.

Any thoughts will be much appreciated,

Kind Regards,

David

 

[Gamefreak501]

Thank you for your replies - it seems to sound okay via the Tape out - provided the volume level on the Subwoofer is kept very low - it doesn't like being turned up - I can only describe that it starts to get muddy and distorted - which may be an indication of the cheap interconnects I'm using, or that the tape-out is amplified and therefore sending a very loud signal through it, so I'm still unsure.

Does this sound about right?

Kind Regards,

David

 

[Gamefreak501]

That is correct, tape out is not an ideal output for a subwoofer, the subwoofer is not expecting an amplified input.

Thank you for your reply;

I think I'll be getting some more ofc speaker cable so I can connect the sub up again, via the high level inputs - I have some going to my speakers and it sounds very good, better than the other cable I have.

Kind Regards,

David

 

[Gamefreak501]

Can you confirm you were looping back in the Pre In?

Pre out -> sub -> pre in?

I didn't loop it in like that - I've just ended up using some ofc cable to the high level input - which gives me a better output - than with the tape-out - and I get better control over the output to the subwoofer.

But I'm using some thick 3-4mm ofc speaker wire from my amp to my sub and from my sub to my speakers - and it sounds very good.

Kind Regards,

David