Bi-amp x-over

[Woppy]

G'day chaps. Thought I'd just go out and buy an active crossover in Perth, plug her in and crank it up! uh, huh! Can anyone point me in the direction of aussie suppliers please?

[Roumelio.]

Good question, I'm also looking for decent Aussie suppliers for active crossovers at the moment for a project I'm thinking about. I'll be watching this thread.

[Weka]

Quote

 

I wouldn't have thought a generic active crossover would be much use for hi-fi unless it also has provision for baffle step equalization. One of the DEQX units would be more appropriate... at a price!

 

[Roumelio.]

On 8/5/2017 at 0:32 PM, Weka said:

I wouldn't have thought a generic active crossover would be much use for hi-fi unless it also has provision for baffle step equalization. One of the DEQX units would be more appropriate... at a price!

 

There were of course crossovers for this very purpose back in the day, some of them two way which are fairly average for modern setups. Some of them were three way... It seems they survive mostly for PA gear. It just doesn't seem like they make anything much for consumers these days. I don't blame them when most people just want two or three speakers in a box.

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

One of these:

 

http://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Signal-Processors/Loudspeaker-Management-Processors/DCX2496LE/p/P0B0S

 

will do the trick. Extremely versatile. Steep learning curve.

[Roumelio.]

5 hours ago, Zaphod Beeblebrox said:

One of these:

 

http://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Signal-Processors/Loudspeaker-Management-Processors/DCX2496LE/p/P0B0S

 

will do the trick. Extremely versatile. Steep learning curve.

 

I was looking at one of those Behringers actually.

[A9X]

On 8/5/2017 at 0:32 PM, Weka said:

I wouldn't have thought a generic active crossover would be much use for hi-fi unless it also has provision for baffle step equalization. One of the DEQX units would be more appropriate... at a price!

 

I haven't had a DSP unit through here that didn't have the ability to apply shelving filters.

[A9X]

On 8/7/2017 at 0:04 PM, Roumelio. said:

 

I was looking at one of those Behringers actually.

I've been using these for years, but they have one problem. To get a good SNR you need to add gain at th inputs and attenuate at the outputs as they're designed for very high levels in pro systems.

 

Get a MiniDSP. Generally cheaper and though they're in Honkers, it'll be about 5 days postage and they're pretty good with support. You can also do FIR on some models and they allow the use of biquads to design custom filters.

I have 4 here at the moment, one each for the L/R, sides, rears and subs and shakers.

[Roumelio.]

Thanks for the ideas. I'm trying to break out of having X set of speakers for Y purpose. There are a lot of good speakers that don't provide much below 80hz, such as my current Rogers Export Monitors. It would be nice to be able to build something custom that can actually do a little better than my current book shelfs.

[A9X]

If you're otherwise happy with the Rogers, a good way to dip your toe into the DIY waters would be to add subs to your current set up. Some of the Alpine 12/15" car subs have pretty good performance and can be had for reasonable $ down here. Dayton UM series are available from PE too.

 

That way if you want to DIY an entire speaker, you can use the subs and design a good 3 way as you learn more from 80Hz up. I suggest these paths as speaker placement for best imaging is seldom best for bass and vice versa. A suggestion for cheap amp channels at least to test, is pick up an older AVR with analogue inputs. 7 channels for <$50.

[Happy]

if you go minidsp skip dayton mic go for their own umik easier that way

[Roumelio.]

1 hour ago, A9X said:

If you're otherwise happy with the Rogers, a good way to dip your toe into the DIY waters would be to add subs to your current set up. Some of the Alpine 12/15" car subs have pretty good performance and can be had for reasonable $ down here. Dayton UM series are available from PE too.

 

That way if you want to DIY an entire speaker, you can use the subs and design a good 3 way as you learn more from 80Hz up. I suggest these paths as speaker placement for best imaging is seldom best for bass and vice versa. A suggestion for cheap amp channels at least to test, is pick up an older AVR with analogue inputs. 7 channels for <$50.

 

 

I have a sub in a box which I can attach to my amp. The problem is this kind of setup going from a line out without a crossover in between is far from ideal. Changing to a more modern AVR is an option, but when you've headed down the pathway of vintage tube audio its also far from ideal. The initial idea was to find a suitable vintage crossover that could handle the low pass filtering so I could use whatever I wanted to but they are either expensive or rare as the proverbial rocking horse poop on the ground if they do come up.

 

I am looking at a vintage Denon preamp with two line outs that would resolve a lot of the issue and give a central volume control and would work with my sub in a box, HT subwoofer I've got laying around. It would give me central volume control at least if I added that in the loop and I wouldn't have to worry about constantly adjusting the gain on both amps, but it doesn't give you the freedom to later add X driver instead of Y which is the pain in the arse when you begin to go about thinking building your own setup at home vs a DIY install in your car for example.

 

Trying to do this with vintage components can be a bit like fighting against Muhammad Ali with one hand tied behind your back though.

Edited August 8, 2017 by Roumelio.

[Weka]

4 hours ago, A9X said:

I haven't had a DSP unit through here that didn't have the ability to apply shelving filters.

My comment was regarding conventional non DSP crossovers, hence my suggestion for a DSP type such as the DEQX. Your recommendation of a MiniDSP would be as good and more cost effective.

 

[Stump]

I will be getting a Tri Amp DEQX as a crossover room correction device.

Stump