Connecting a REL S/510 to McIntosh MA12000 via High-Level Input

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by MrMudPuppy, Sep 27, 2021.

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  1. MrMudPuppy

    MrMudPuppy Forum Resident Thread Starter

    I have spoken with REL and I've emailed McIntosh, but I'm curious if anyone has practical experience with connecting a REL subwoofer to a McIntosh integrated amplifier.

    Did you connect the black wire to a negative speaker terminal, let it float, or connect it to a phono ground?

    Thanks for any input you may have.
     
  2. MrMudPuppy

    MrMudPuppy Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Update: I received an answer to my question from Chuck Hinton at McIntosh. I am sharing his response in hopes that it may help other forum members in the future:

    The problem using the common ground REL connection is only a problem on McIntosh QUAD BALANCED AMPS. The MA12000 is fine to use with the REL. The way to tell on our amps is to look at the speaker terminals, the Non-Quad balanced amps have only 1 negative speaker post, and 3 positive 2, 4 & 8 ohms).

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    These amps are Common Ground, the negative is tied to the amp chassis and both Right and Left channels are on the same ground, so: Common. The REL sub uses one wire for negative and 2 for left and right positive and so works fine on any of our amps w/ speaker terminal like above.

    The Quad balanced Amps, (like the 450 watt stereo and all the larger mono blocks) has one negative for each positive, so + & - 2-ohm, + & - 4-ohm and + & - 8-ohm: negatives are not connected to the chassis ground. Using a common ground connection like the REL sub on a quad balanced amp will cause it to go into power guard protection at 10% power, which is not so useful.


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    Barky and beowulf like this.
  3. Clay B

    Clay B Forum Resident

    MudPuppy

    Interesting and helpful.

    Thx
     
  4. Mad Dog

    Mad Dog Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chester County, PA
    Good info @MrMudPuppy

    I have MA7000 Integrated Amplifier and hooked up a Rel T/9i subwoofer.

    My connections from the T/9i to the MA7000 are:

    Red wire from T/9i to MA7000 right speaker terminal +
    Yellow wire from T/9i to MA7000 left speaker terminal +
    Black wire from T/9i to MA7000 left speaker terminal -

    I believe the Black wire can go to either left or right speaker terminal -.

    How did you end up connecting yours?
     
  5. MrMudPuppy

    MrMudPuppy Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Mad Dog,

    The REL arrives on Friday, and I will be connecting it just as you describe.

    So, do you like your REL?
     
  6. Mad Dog

    Mad Dog Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chester County, PA

    No regrets. Love it.

    Post some comments when you gets yours hooked up.

    Some good info and comments in this thread.

    Questions for REL Subwoofer Owners
     
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