Protection of small mains when run fullrange

[Cataclysm]

I am utilizing a pair of Zaph SR71's for two channel duty, and I would like to somehow offload the lower octave work, or protect them from needless excursion at volume. I am using an Anthem Integrated 225 for power, and because this amplifier has no means to route the LFE content to my subwoofer, I really feel as though my mains are being subjected to copious amounts of needless excursion. Would it be wise to invest in some Nerf balls to stuff the ports of the SR71's? Or is there a superior solution, perhaps electronic, that I am not aware of. (Judicious volume control aside)

[Jed]

I am utilizing a pair of Zaph SR71's for two channel duty, and I would like to somehow offload the lower octave work, or protect them from needless excursion at volume. I am using an Anthem Integrated 225 for power, and because this amplifier has no means to route the LFE content to my subwoofer, I really feel as though my mains are being subjected to copious amounts of needless excursion. Would it be wise to invest in some Nerf balls to stuff the ports of the SR71's? Or is there a superior solution, perhaps electronic, that I am not aware of. (Judicious volume control aside)

Get an electronic crossover such as a Behringer unit. You'll need a sub amp and subwoofer for the low frequencies then.

[Cataclysm]

I'm running a Rythmik Audio servo sub, so I have no issues on that front.

[Jed]

I'm running a Rythmik Audio servo sub, so I have no issues on that front.

HP your mains with an electronic crossover.

[Cataclysm]

Thanks for the insight, Jed, I really appreciate it.

[Jed]

Thanks for the insight, Jed, I really appreciate it.

No problem. The cheapest one I linked there should be fine.

[bluewizard]

Having a sub doesn't matter if you don't have a way to manage bass on the main front speakers.

Most AV amps can be set to 'Small', meaning the low bass is not directed to the fronts. That will save you cone excursion on the fronts. However, your amp does not already have bass management built-in.

If you have a sub, then the best bass management, assuming you have a stereo amp, is to simply turn down the BASS control and let the Subwoofer fill in the low bass. That may not be ideal, but it is certainly the simplest.

When others suggest you add an electronic crossover, it is to separate the low bass for the subwoofer, and to direct the midbass to you main speakers.

Again, this all assumes stereo. If you had a surround sound multi-channel AV amp, then likely that amp has some bass management built into it. Correct configuration of the AV amp will give you exactly what you need.

Your options are limited without some means of filtering and separating the low bass from the midbass, and the only way to effectively do that is with a crossover.

It is possible if your sub has high level/speaker level input, then it might have speaker level outputs. If it does, the Sub filters low bass from the Subs speaker level output. Though it does this by simply putting a huge capacitor in series with the speaker level out. That works, but most thing it is very unreliable, somewhat sloppy, and not the best for fidelity. Still, it works.

So, either use those Speaker Level Outputs on the Sub, or use an electronic crossover.

Steve/bluewizard