Hi, I just purchased a B1(only) off ebay, and I need to connect it to my amplifier at home to increase the bass, Can someone tell me how do I do that, The cable required and how it is wired to the amplifier.
Thanks,
Hello Avalon,
You will need to shop carefully for a cable.
At the B1 end of the cable you need a Neutrik NL2 (2-wire Speakon) connector.
–== click the picture to see it in context ==–
At the other end of the cable - you need whatever your amplifier requires. (banana plugs, ¼ inch phone jacks, etc).
You might do well to take the B1 into a music store and have someone help you.
The key thing is - “NL2 - Neutrik 2-wire Speakon cable” for the Bose end of things.
If you want to get something over the web, contact Mark Hellinger at http://audiopile.net/. He is familiar with the B1 and can probably hook you up.
The B1 is an 8 ohm speaker, and suitable for amplifiers that provide up to 125 watts into an 8 ohm load.
Frequency response is down to 40 Hz.
ST: I thought the B1s used NL4 speakon cables? Are you suggesting NL2 because it is going from B1 to a non-PS1 amp?
In either case, I also highly recommend working with Audiopile. Their service is great and if it’s a custom cable you need, that’s the ticket.
Hi DJ Kanoya,
quote:Originally posted by DJ Kanoya:
ST: I thought the B1s used NL4 speakon cables? Are you suggesting NL2 because it is going from B1 to a non-PS1 amp?
Yes and yes.
Yes
NL4 for connecting a B1 to a Power Stand or between two B1s that will connect to a Power Stand.
Yes
NL2 because he is going to a non-PS1 amp.
If he gets an NL4 I think he trebles or quadruples the likelihood that something will go wrong. (twice as many wires that could be wired incorrectly plus a least one pair that goes nowhere good.) If he happens to connect an amp to the NL4: 2 2- he will be running into the little resistor in the B1 that the PS1 uses to sense the presence of a B1. That’s the nowhere good part.
quote:
In either case, I also highly recommend working with Audiopile. Their service is great and if it’s a custom cable you need, that’s the ticket.
Hi, Thanks a lot for the info, since I am not a thorough professional like you all. i would just like to ask something, it may be pretty silly to you guys.
Firstly, I guess it is decided that I will need a NL2 pin for this setup, i.e. 1 positive and 1 negative. right.
Secondly…Since I have a Stero amplifier how do i plug this the other end into the amplifier, will it be the right channel or the left channel.or both, i do not know. If i had a pair of B1’s it would be pretty straigt forward, in this case I have only 1. If coonected to either channels, will there be additional load.
Thirdly, Since this will have all the signals that is Lows, and highs, and will not be coming out from a seperate bass amplifier. is there any way I can limit this speaker(B1) only to low signals, or it does not make a difference.
Fourthly, Do you think it will sound great once I do everything right. Is there something I should avoid etc. Since I am waiting for the delivery of the B1, which will be a week max. I’d better be prepared with all the material I need to put this up.
Thanks a lot for your help.
Regards.
Hello Avalon,
Does your amplifier have a subwoofer line-out?
If it does, then it sounds like you need to get an amplifier that you can connect to the subwoofer line-out, and then use that to power the B1.
Hi, Well actually, I have 2 amplifiers,one which i use for my home theater(yamaha) and the other to listen to music(crown), however the Yamaha has a Subwoofer already connected to it. As for the Crown, there are 2 pairs of Speakers connected to it, 1 is a pair of Bose 901’s and the other is a pair of RCF’s. I am lcking bass from the bose 901’s and hence decided to get the B1, what do you suggest is the best way. According to your last post, you said that I need to get an additional amplifier for the B1, please correct me if I am wrong…Thanks.
Hi also regarding the NL2 pin, which part do i connect the wires to…should it be 1 ,1-, or 2 , 2-, As you said that there is a little resistor in the B1, what is the function of that. Sorry but does this split the highs from the lows etc.
Hi Avalon,
Does the Crown (or whatever is providing the signal for the Crown) have a Subwoofer line-out?
If it does then you could probably use an additional amplifier to for the B1.
Bose makes a very nice little amplifier called the PackLite that was designed to work with the B1 (up to two of them). The intended input is from an L1™ Power Stand. This is the System we are all talking about here in these message boards. The main thing, is that the Power Stand provides the signal processing and EQ to make sure that the appropriate frequencies (40-180 Hz) go to the B1s and the rest goes to the other parts of the System. So it should be okay to drive the PackLite from a Subwoofer line-out. But the PackLite does not have the ability to EQ the signal for you.
If you don’t have a Subwoofer line-out, then things are more complicated and I’m not sure what you can do without getting another receiver/amp/decoder that does have a Subwoofer line-out.
I just double-checked my 901 Series VI processor and it does not have a Subwoofer line out although you might be able to use the tape-line outs as a source. You would still have to do something to EQ the signal so that you only get the bass frequencies.
Setting the B1 aside for a moment: To get more bass from the 901s
- Have you tried the mid-bass controls and
- the Bass I/II settings on 901 Controller?
- How about repositioning the 901s.
Hi Avalon,
quote:Originally posted by Avalon:
Hi also regarding the NL2 pin, which part do i connect the wires to…should it be 1 ,1-, or 2 , 2-,
Stick with the NL2 1 and 1-.
quote:
As you said that there is a little resistor in the B1, what is the function of that. Sorry but does this split the highs from the lows etc.
The little resistor is inside the B1, and is used as part of the L1™ System. It does not serve any purpose when used with another system.
If you were to use a PackLite amplifier (mentioned in my post above). Then you could use NL2 or NL4 cables. But you would still need to get an appropriate signal source like a Subwoofer line-out.
Hi, The signal to the crown is provided directly from a Kenwood pre-amplifier,which in turn gets the signal from the Bose EQ(901). There is no subwoofer out from the Kenwood at all. Since I am using the signal for a subwoofer from the yamaha to a powered subwoofer. I do not have anymore options there. with reference to my above query, what if there is no way I can get a signal from the subwoofer, and connect it directly liket the bose 901\s to tyhe amplifier, what do you think will happen. Will there be a lot of distortion, and how ill i divide 1 speaker input to the B1 to 2 amplifier output. Thnks for your patience.
Hi, sorry. regarding the Bose 901’s, they are connected exactkly the way as mentioned, Can you believe the mid-bass controls are all the way up.since i have no problems with the highs.they are just half way. I have also tried both the Bass I/II settings on the eq, not much difference. As for the position, the speakers are a couple of inches away from the wall. and on the bose stands. no obstructions etc.
For the 901s, I would double check the recommendations for placement.
See: http://www.bose.com/pdf/customer_service/owners/og_901.pdf
Page 6
Hi Avalon,
quote:Originally posted by Avalon:
Hi, The signal to the crown is provided directly from a Kenwood pre-amplifier,which in turn gets the signal from the Bose EQ(901). There is no subwoofer out from the Kenwood at all. Since I am using the signal for a subwoofer from the yamaha to a powered subwoofer. I do not have anymore options there. with reference to my above query, what if there is no way I can get a signal from the subwoofer, and connect it directly liket the bose 901\s to tyhe amplifier, what do you think will happen. Will there be a lot of distortion, and how ill i divide 1 speaker input to the B1 to 2 amplifier output. Thnks for your patience.
I can’t predict what will happen. I think you may need some other kind of device to do the equalization - but by the time you find/purchase that, and an amplifier, and add in the cost of the B1 you might have been able to get a powered subwoofer that could take the output from your Crown amp and to the necessary signal processing.
Let’s hope that some others will have some suggestions.
Hi, With regards to the Bose 901’s, I do not see anything wrong with the placement/connections etc. As for the B1, I do understand your point, and looking for all the equipment for this, is really not feasible, I guess all I have to do is try connecting it directly to the Crown amplifier, with the highs and the lows. if it sounds good, Great. else I shall have to think of something else…I dont know. another thing, can you tell me if i do all this, how can i connect the B1 to the amplifier…that is, The b1 will have a negaive and a positive, while the amplifier out will have 2 positives and 2 negatives, what do you think…Thanks.
Hi, Avalon:
As may be becoming clearer to you now:
– the B1 is an unpowered speaker … just a speaker.
– the B1 input is not set up for use as a single sub-woofer for a stereo audio system; it is designed as a component of the L1 family of Bose products, not as a general-purpose bass speaker.
I can’t think of any way that will give you satisfying results with just the components you have described; you would need a means to take the stereo channels and create a single combined (and frequency-limited) signal and amplify that signal to drive the B1. The “least cost” path may be to take a “Y” cable out from the Yamaha’s sub-woofer output … sending one leg to the existing powered sub-woofer and the other leg to a separate amplifier which you would then connect to the B1 – but that assumes you desire to use them both together, not independently … and you still would have to acquire another amplifier for the B1.
You may want to consider re-selling the B1 and getting a powered sub-woofer which is designed to take Left & Right stereo inputs.
While some here may be able to give you further advise about specific equipment or “how-to’s” … (just so you know) – this forum is primarily focused on the Bose L1 family of audio products for musicians and DJ’s, and thus such recommendations are beyond the interest or scope of most readers of this forum.
Hi Avalon,
quote:Originally posted by Avalon:
Hi, With regards to the Bose 901’s, I do not see anything wrong with the placement/connections etc.
Earlier, you said
quote:
As for the position, the speakers are a couple of inches away from the wall.
I was wondering if you have the recommended 8-18 inches between the V-shape and the rear wall. I also notice it then goes on to say a 18-48 inches from side to rear walls.
quote:
As for the B1, I do understand your point, and looking for all the equipment for this, is really not feasible,
The B1 is a great loudspeaker when used as intended, connected to the L1™ family of products. Outside of that, well … you are getting the idea.
quote:
I guess all I have to do is try connecting it directly to the Crown amplifier, with the highs and the lows. if it sounds good, Great. else I shall have to think of something else…I dont know. another thing, can you tell me if i do all this, how can i connect the B1 to the amplifier…that is, The b1 will have a negaive and a positive, while the amplifier out will have 2 positives and 2 negatives, what do you think…Thanks.
There are several ways in which you might damage your amplifier if you connect the B1 to the speaker outputs of your amplifier.
We can get into all the things you should not do, but that doesn’t mean you won’t damage the amplifier anyway.
Sorry, but I can’t think of a good suggestion here except that you might want to look for a new home for the B1 and then find a home audio solution for your bass requirements.
Hi Guys, I would like to thank you all for your inputs, I knew i was going wrong somewhere. I also would apologize if I have wasted som of your time…Thanks a lot. If Icome out with something good, I shall keep you informed.
Thanks once again.
Hi Avalon,
Regarding the lack of bass from the 901’s, the speakers may be connected out of phase with each other. This could be with the cables from the amp to the speakers or before the amp.
A simple test is to disconnect one of the speakers and listen for any perceived increase in bass with only one speaker connected. If there is an increase in bass then reconnect the speaker that was disconnected but reverse the wires (the wire that was connected to the positive terminal will now be connected to the negative terminal and vise versa).
If the above did not help, your 901 controller may need to be repaired.
Hi Le5, Thanks for the Info, i shall try it out and let you know, if there is any difference.