amp for TN1220

[fengxia]

Hi,

I have just ordered a TN1220 without the HSU amp. I'm looking for something like a mono amp to drive the sub.

A few questions:

1. Does the sub has a build-in crossover? From what I can get from HSU's website, it doesn't seem so.

2. If not, any recommendation/experience on which amp I should look into?

3. How about a setup using a completely seperate crossover unit + an amp? And how big the amp needs to be? 100W? more?

Any inputs are hightly appreciated! Owning this sub has been my dream for years!

feng :)

[Sorny]

I've got a pair of TN1220HO subs, with the HSU Bass Optimizer, running off of my Sunfire Cinema Grand power amp (400W into 4 Ohms).

1. There is no crossover. I use the "subwoofer out" on my receiver to do all crossover activity. You should get the Bass Optimizer to give you gain control, and a subsonic filter, and proper EQ to get flat response down to below 18Hz.

2. I'd look into an amp that does a MINIMUM of 250W into 4 Ohms, preferably closer to 500W into 4 Ohms (my amp dishes out 400W to each sub at 4 Ohms). The 250W HSU amp would also work great for this.

3. The HSU High-End Crossover would work great for crossover activity & EQ on a stereo-only setup. If you have a Dolby Digital receiver, then you can use the sub out, but should still use the HSU Bass Optimizer for additional gain control and EQ. The HSU Plate Amp would also be acceptable to drive the TN.

Hope this helps,

Sorny

[John Firestone]

I am in the process of getting a TN1220 for listening to music and
looked into various ways of driving it. I eventually picked up a
T.amp S-150 (http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/tamp_s150_prodinfo.html?sn=d1a908056933215af39246c 9ee4eff69) stereo studio amplifier for 150 euros (ca. $185) from Thomann
Musikhaus here in Germany. It is made in China for Thomann, but I am
sure you can find something similar, perhaps even from the same maker
under a different brand for someone else.

I looked at various subwoofer plate amplifiers, including Hsu's 250W
unit, but decided I would prefer something I could neatly stack with
my other equipment. The plate amplifier approach would also not have
been any cheaper for me and would have meant one more thing to drag
home and possibly pay customs on.

The studio amp I bought is "only" rated for 200W per channel at 0.1%
THD but that is perhaps a little misleading since it is designed for more
demanding professional use. To give you some idea, a studio amp is
normally tested to run at 30% full power for hours at a time; most
consumer audio manufacturers are happy to manage a third of that.
Another advantage of most studios amps is that you can bridge their
outputs to drive a single loudspeaker at twice the power. I expect
400W short term (120W continuous) is going to be plenty for driving a
TN1220.

The disadvantage of going with a studio amp is that you still have to
do something about a crossover. I am sure what Dr. Hsu offers would be
fine. I decided to design and build a custom 2nd- and 4th-order active
crossover to match the TN1220 and my satellites. This certainly didn't
save me any money – even after EDN magazine published its muting
circuit as a design idea – and it certainly didn't save any time! I
rolled my own because it was fun, and to see if I could correct some
shortcomings in the first subwoofer system I put together about 20
years ago. (We shall see!)

I should also mention that professional equipment uses a different
line level, input topology, and connectors but that is quickly solved
with a few more Euros/dollars worth of adapters and plugs. Thereafter,
you have to "put up with" having to use use XLR and Speakon connectors
:):):) instead of RCA plugs and binding posts.

My wild guess is that was a somewhat more intense suggestion than you
were after. :) But if it isn't or if anyone else is curious about this
approach or how it works out, just let me know.

[Ddavidson]

For the Tn1220 to have a ruler flat response down to 18Hz running a non Hsu amp you really need the $100 re-eq of the HSU Bass Optimizer (it also has the infrasonic filtering to protect the driver).

150w @ 4 ohms rms drives the Tn1220, but IMO you really need 250w @ 4 ohms rms or better to get the most from it especially with deep loud organ music. I myself like a more solid high current amp with 500w rms + as the control it gives really does good things for the Hsu driver. As an example the old NAD 208THX gave 500w rms x 2 @ 4ohm and made a great amp for the Tn1220's. Most of the Crown amp (especially K1 or K2 depending on how many 1220s) with the HSU Bass Optimizer really work well. Of course Hsu's rack mount 500w/800w amp is ideal and works really well as it has the good crossover system, filtering and re-eq curcuit inbuilt.

Ddavidson

[John Firestone]

The NAD 208THX looks like a studio amplifier. Thanks for the tips about the amplifier power. If I bought too few watts, I will get some more!

For the Tn1220 to have a ruler flat response down to 18Hz running a non Hsu amp you really need the $100 re-eq of the HSU Bass Optimizer (it also has the infrasonic filtering to protect the driver).Or you can design that into the crossover. :) (Thanks Dr. Hsu!)

[John Firestone]

Most of the Crown amp (especially K1 or K2 depending on how many 1220s) with the HSU Bass Optimizer really work well.I was just looking at the K1 which outputs 550W stereo or 1500W mono bridged into a 4 ohm load. Is that a continuous 1500W and would that be too much into a TN1220?

[Lwang]

Here is how much power a 1998 vintage TN1220HO can handle, as reviewed by Don Keele in an review in Audio (http://www.hsuresearch.com/reviews/index.php?id=11)

The Hsu's peak power input capability starts at a fairly high 150 watts at 12.5 Hz, then rises through 660 Watts at 16 Hz to a high of 1.35 kW at 20 Hz, then stays at about 1 to 1.2 kW from 25 to 75 Hz. At higher frequencies, the input power rises rapidly, reaching 6,550 watts at 200 Hz.

The current TN1220HO might be very significant in terms of power handling capability. You might be better off with 2 TN1220HO and run the K1 into bridge mode if it can handle a 2 ohm load, otherwise in stereo.

[Ddavidson]

No the single TN can handle the K1 at 550w continuous and sounds great. As Lwang said Don Keele found this out in his review. The K1 can handle 750w continuous driving a 2 ohm loads (stereo TN config) Obviously no amp likes two ohms in bridged mode. The only thing that does that is an arc welder.

Ddavidson

[John Firestone]

No the single TN can handle the K1 at 550w continuous and sounds great. As Lwang said Don Keele found this out in his review. The K1 can handle 750w continuous driving a 2 ohm loads (stereo TN config) Obviously no amp likes two ohms in bridged mode. The only thing that does that is an arc welder.O.K., O.K., I will admit it: I should have reread Keele's article. :) Thanks for the comments guys. It is always great when someone has done things before and you can learn from them!

[Ddavidson]

John it sounds like you have it sorted. You do know that the 500w rms Hsu amp is an very well built and an excellent choice. Yes it can run 800w rms into a 2 ohm load (stereo TN config). The big bonus over other amps is that the high-end crossover is inbuilt into the 500w amp complete with infrasonic filtering. This inbuilt crossover can have different HP and LP filter settings, along with selectable response curves (Flat or THX). For anyone with a analog stereo system this is one of the best amp/crossover choices for one to two TN1220's.

By the way since you in Germany do you visit Europes AVForums?
http://www.avforums.com/frame.html?http://www.avforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=158

Ddavidson

[John Firestone]

By the way since you in Germany do you visit Europes AVForums?
http://www.avforums.com/frame.html?http://www.avforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=158
I visit 'avforums' periodically as well as http://www.hifi-forum.de/

There seems to be rather little discussion in either of Hsu subwoofers. I tend to the notion that TN1220 owners are a very small minority in Germany.

[Ddavidson]

That's a shame as I think most Europeans would like the sound of Hsu subwoofers. Unlike some US based subwoofers ... Hsu Research are not just targeting loud special effects reproduction.
I don't think Hsu sell into Germany, but who knows perhaps you will start a trend after a few friends get to listen.
http://www.hifi-forum.de/
Reading though that forum was interesting, but I admit I got a little lost as my German is more that a little rusty (non-existant). http://www.hsuresearch.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

Ddavidson

[Lwang]

The TN series should be fit well in those European homes since it has a very small footprint, but does not compromise anything to get there.

[Rob Babcock]

I had two of the 500 Watt Hsu amps, but I eventually migrated to a separate amp + the Hsu Sub optimizer box. One thing I'll add- I know that supposedly the EQ is needed to flatten response down to the infrasonic level, but in many setups, room gain at low freqs makes this irrelevant. I use the optimizer, but in my setup the EQ really wouldn't be needed. Of course, without that box I wouldn't have a volume knob for my sub, so the unit is worth it.

BTW, I use a late-90's vintage Carver A400X to drive my subs. Works like a charm, better in fact than the Hsu Model 500.

[John Firestone]

The TN series should be fit well in those European homes since it has a very small footprint, but does not compromise anything to get there.I live on the top floor of a 11-unit apartment building built after the war. I am actually a little concerned that the TN1220 will work too well. I may have to find a brick farmhouse out in the country. Well, one has to set priorities. :)