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Post subject: Subwoofer connections for the Passport 250
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 12:05 pm
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What is the best way to connect a powered sub to the Passport 250? I mainly use ipod or laptop sound though the stereo jacks.

Thanks,
Shawn


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Post subject: Re: Subwoofer connections for the Passport 250
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 8:17 am
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Fender no longer makes the 250. When they did, there were two versions: the P250 and the PD250. I've just looked through the on-line owner's manual for each of them and there is no sub-woofer output on these models.

Both the current 300 and 500 models have a 1/4" line out for a sub-woofer. This involves more than just a line-level signal redundant to what is going through the amp. When you plug in a 1/4" cable to this port on the current versions of the Passport, that jack gets a signal that ONLY consists of the very low bass, sent at a line level, and the main Passport amp then ONLY plays frequencies higher than the signal sent out the Sub port. It actually boosts the volume level of the treble and midrange sound coming out of the Passport to do this, since the amp is relieved of the load of pushing bass notes out of the speakers.

So, this is something that is either designed into the amp or not. The 250 doesn't have it. The 300 and the 500 do.


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Post subject: Re: Subwoofer connections for the Passport 250
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 4:23 pm
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I have the same situation with the P250 as well. Musicians Friend has a Kustom brand powered subwoofer that has a built in crossover. Couldn't this be used using the send and return jacks on the P250? It is a line level signal (I think) - go from the send jack into the input of the sub and from the output of the sub to the return jack on the P250. Please let me know if this will work before I purchase the sub - thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Subwoofer connections for the Passport 250
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2015 8:43 am
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Aspiring Musician
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According to my interpretation of the manual for the PD250, you are totally right. You are effectively using the subwoofer's built-in crossover as if it were a graphic equalizer. Use 1/4"TS instrument cables (not speaker cables) to connect the Send port on the Passport to the input port on your Sub, then connect the output port on the Sub to the Return port on the Passport, it should work. One side effect is that adjusting the Master Volume or the master EQ on the Passport will change the sound coming out of the Passport, but it won't affect the sub at all because the Send and Return ports connect to the Passport's wiring before the signal is sent through the Master Volume or Master EQ controls.

Things to know ahead of time: Use Instrument cables, not speaker cables. Yes, both have 1/4" TS connectors, but the wiring in the cables is very different. Instrument cables are coaxial, with the ground wire forming a kind of shield for the hot wire, which is very thin, designed for line-level signals (very low amperage). Speaker cables are typically just two much heavier wires, designed for passive speaker-level signals (which can actually start a fire if they are sent through an instrument cable which is not designed to carry that much current). Basically instrument cables are better shielded and more sensitive, better at carrying the little, squiggly voltage of a line level signal, while speaker cables are designed to carry bigger, pushier speaker-level signals.

Also, note that many subwoofers have a pair of combo inputs (they can take either 1/4" or XLR inputs) and they commonly have a "pass-through" port that is only XLR. If this sub is like that, it will require an adapter to get that XLR cable plugged into the 1/4" TS Return port. The adapter needs to go from female XLR (it connects to the male XLR end of the cable) to male 1/4"TS or TRS. Either should do.

Fender makes a sub that fits this description, though it's not the easiest thing to find on their Web site:

http://www.fender.com/sound-systems/ps- ... Go&start=1

It's pretty much designed to work with bigger, newer, more powerful Passport units, so you'd have to throttle it back some, but it should really give you anything you want in bass feel/sound.

I hope this helps.


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Post subject: Re: Subwoofer connections for the Passport 250
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 10:05 am
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Thank you! :D


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