How to use subwoofer with a Fender PD 500 Deluxe PA System?

[OneBadTexican]

I have an almost new Fender PD 500 Deluxe PA system that I am very satisfied with. However I do not have the lows I would really like. I use this system as a DJ system plugging my laptop into the RCA plugs and it sounds awesome but I really want the deeper lows.

Can someone explain to me how to add a powered subwoofer to this system and direct the lows to the subwoofer while not losing the higher frequencies out of the main speakers?

I have never done this but I am sure there must be a way. Any help would be most appreciated.

Thank you.

[Brad1]

I'm not sure it can be done with that system, because I can't find the Owner's Manual:

FenderŪ Support

Does it have a preamp-out/amp-in loop point? You have to have some way of separating the sub frequencies from the mid/highs. If it only has a "Monitor Out" or similar, then the subwoofer and the main speakers will be getting the same frequencies...which means you can't really push the bass through the sub, because it's also going to be pushing those lows through the mains.

Even if the powered subwoofer had a mid/high crossover pass-through, that would be for a line-level signal...not a speaker-level.

If it doesn't have any way of separating the frequencies between the mixing section and the power amp, you are out of luck with that.

Do you have the manual? If it has an effects loop, or "pre-out/amp-in", etc, then you could run the pre-out to the subwoofer, and if the subwoofer had a pass-through crossover, run that back into the amp-in. The sub gets the lows, and passes the mid/highs back to the Fender amp section.

If the subwoofer doesn't have a crossover, you'd have to get an outboard crossover unit, and run the pre-out into that, the bass freqs to the sub, and the mid/highs back into the amp-in.

As stated, simply connecting a sub to an Aux-Out or Monitor Out, etc., will not yield the desired results. Sure, you can crank the thing up and add some volume, but you'd likely have to contour the bass frequencies to suit the smaller Fender speakers, which won't let the subs achieve their full low-freq response.

Brad1

[SWEINC]

There is a simple answer to this. Buy an electronic crossover. They are sold at any music store with a pro audio department. It will take the line level output from your computer and divide it into low and high frequency line level signals.Plug your computer into the electronic crossover input and connect the low frequency outputs to the powered subwoofer and the high frequency outputs to the PD500. You will probably need some adapters to change the RCA plugs to 1/4".

[Brad1]

Well...THAT makes sense! I guess if it's just the music on the computer that needs the lows (and the mixer doesn't have any bass signals running through it) that's workable. I was thinking of anything going through the mixer being affected.

The one thing to keep in mind is that changing the levels on the Fender PA will not also change the levels on the sub, and vice-versa. If it is desired that the signals rise or lower in volume simultaneously, and you want the ratio of the sub-main to remain the same, you'll likely have to control the overall volume from the computer, which should leave a bit of wiggle room...or from the input level control of the crossover, which could also have a bit of wiggle room?

Brad1

[OneBadTexican]

Well...THAT makes sense! I guess if it's just the music on the computer that needs the lows (and the mixer doesn't have any bass signals running through it) that's workable. I was thinking of anything going through the mixer being affected.

The one thing to keep in mind is that changing the levels on the Fender PA will not also change the levels on the sub, and vice-versa. If it is desired that the signals rise or lower in volume simultaneously, and you want the ratio of the sub-main to remain the same, you'll likely have to control the overall volume from the computer, which should leave a bit of wiggle room...or from the input level control of the crossover, which could also have a bit of wiggle room?

Brad1

Thanks! I learned a lot from both of you. I plan on buying a crossover unit today and experiment!

[OneBadTexican]

Thank you SWEINC! I hadn't even considered anything like that. Both you and Brad have been very helpful. I think I will try putting some of that knowledge to practice today. Thanks again!