carver mxr-150 and powered sub

Greetings all,

I've got my dad's old Carver mxr-150 that I'm tinkering with.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to hook up a subwoofer I just bought, a Velodyne DLS - R 3750.

I'm also using an Azur 850c, CD Player, and Quad 21L's.

The sub has RCA Inputs, Speaker Level Inputs, and the LFE In.

What would be the ideal way to hook up such a sub?

J

Not sure.....but I'd say you might need a "Y" connector(s) to split the signal from the pre-amp (either the 150's or another if you're just using the 150's amp....it has a pre-out in the back with jumpers to the 150's power amp). Then feed this signal to both the main amps and the sub. - Ed

Welcome!!

I've never owned a MXR-150 but according to the specs there's dual speaker outputs so running a set of speaker wire to the high-level inputs on the sub might be the easiest way, assuming there's no RCA pre-out for the sub. Good luck!!

You're so correct, JJ (assuming the sub can handle the high level speaker out level as input??: edit-from your post I guess it can!). Totally forgot that this great Receiver has A-B-A&B selectable speaker outs...and I'm using one in my garage system!

I was just doing some reading....


regarding the first post by elgrau, would there be a benefit to splitting the signal after the preamp and going directly to the sub RCA input, vs going with the A/B speaker switches?

I read about signal degradation post Pre-amp, and thought that might be the way to go.

This receiver def. does not have a Pre-amp out.

Also, the Azur 840c has the "unbalanced audio out" RCAs (as well as a "balanced XLR outputs" 3-pin).

Maybe I could split the unbalanced audio out? One to my sub, and the other to my amp?

By the way, I've been using my MACs optical out, going into the 840c, and then out to the Carver via these unbalanced audio outs.

Welcome to the forum.

If I were you, I would open the MXR up and check the caps to make sure none are bad. Even if they look ok and with the age of that unit, you should think about sending it in for service if you decide to continue to use it.

"This receiver def. does not have a Pre-amp out. "

Unless Bob made two types of mxr-150's, it most certainitly does... look on the back panel and you should see two metal "staple" shunts used to connect the pre-amp out to the 150's main amps. These RCA out/in's would be where you can access the pre-out signal....Ed

ps: look at my sig: that's what I've done with my 150: take the pre-outs from the 150 and connect them to the M1.0t Carver amp.

hmmm.....yes, it does have the shunts. Just a short pair of RCAs. So I'd get a couple of Y's and just jump right in there, huh?

sounds easy!

I'll report back after experimenting.

thanks,

J

And just to make sure I understand things correctly, I mistyped something earlier. I said that:

"this amp definitely does not have a pre-amp out."

I was responding to the comment:

"assuming there's no RCA pre-out for the sub".

Yup. Does have a pre-amp out. But there's not a dedicated pre-out for a sub.

Will try the y-connector there.

Be careful; some units will change the main output to MONO if you hook up anything with R/L going into a single RCA....

Personally, I'd use the high-level inputs before installing "Y" adapters, but that's just me, I'm sure either would be just fine though.

so my Carver is actually on the blink, but I tried a few things.

I put in a Y at the "unbalanced audio out" from the Azur 840c, one going to the sub, and the other going to a stand-in amplifier. In this configuration I lose all volume control! So that doesn't work.

I"m guessing that if I were to tap into the pre-amp out jumper, the same thing would happen. Unless the volume controls are on the pre-amp side of the equation. Anyone know the answer to that? I'll give it a shot when I fix the balance knob on my Carver. (got some distortion a while back, and now only one channel works.)

So, so far the high-level inputs is the best so far.

Welcome

I've had this Carver for 15 years now, after I convinced my dad he didn't need it anymore.

Thanks for the welcome -

"Unless the volume controls are on the pre-amp side of the equation. Anyone know the answer to that?"

Yes; volumn control is (generally) a preamp function. Some power amps have output level control as well, but not the mxr-150.