Computer + JBL LSR305s + 12in Subwoofer = Is it possible?

[Jist]

Hello everyone!

I would just like to thank y'all for taking your time and helping me out today. I appreciate the effort to help a fellow in need!

Currently, I have a 2.0 speaker setup with my JBL LSR305s. I am looking to make it a 2.1 speaker setup with a 12in Subwoofer. I connect the LSR305s to my Lenovo Yoga 720 13'' laptop using a 1/8 TRS to 1/4 Mono cable.

After downgrading from my PC to this laptop, I have also noticed that the sound quality is not as great as before. My previous PC had an Asrock X370 motherboard which I suppose made the difference.

I mainly use the speakers for playing music and watching the occasional movie or two and do not plan on creating music with them.

Is it possible to add a sub-woofer to this system? I am planning to purchase an ELAC S12EQ (active subwoofer w/ amplifier).

Once again, I would like to thank y'all for taking your time and helping me out today. Feel free to leave me some recommendations if any!

 

[ien2222]

It is possible, but you'll have to spend some money for good results. The Elac sub only has one RCA input, normally a very cheap way (though not the best sound quality wise) would be to simply split the signal (for each channel) and have one path go to the sub and one go to the speakers. This requires that the sub have at least L/R inputs.

In this case, if to do a variation on it and try to combine the L/R signal at the sub, you'd also combine it for the JBL's which just wouldn't work. At best they'd sound mono, but more likely they'd sound worse than that.

So you're choice is either to get a different sub (assuming you haven't purchased the Elac yet) or a much better solution would be to get a dsp with bass management. Since you've already noticed a decrease in SQ moving to the laptop, getting a USB dac could solve that problem too. Certainly this isn't the only choice, you could go with a pre-amp or even certain AVR's too.

If you weren't looking to really spend that much more on your setup, you could go with a cheaper sub and then use the difference to get something like the miniDSP 2x4 HD. In combination with their UMIK-1 and using REW (free), you'd have much better room correction than what the Elac could provide plus you get the benefit of having that for the JBL's also.

The miniDSP + UMIK-1 is about $280 on amazon. If you are looking to offset that from the sub, you could go with Emotiva's BasX S12 sub. Here's a decent review of that sub (check the comment section for more info). You'll be losing the room correction of the Elac, but getting better RC (among other goodies such as FIR filtering) with the miniDSP. As far as capability goes you will be losing some total output, but unless you plan on playing this really really loud you may not know the difference.

This is only one solution, but I figured I'd put that out there for some consideration.