ACTIVE CROSSOVER BASICS

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  • Опубліковано 2 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 88

  • @jonwatchesnyc8777
    @jonwatchesnyc8777 11 місяців тому +3

    Two years later, and this is still the clearest explanation of the topic I’ve ever seen - thank you

  • @devstation18
    @devstation18 Рік тому +1

    Well sir this is gold , I had studied this matter while I was considering for a DIY open baffle speaker but was confused which comes after what this clarifies a lot

  • @signalpath9597
    @signalpath9597 10 місяців тому

    Man, what a great video. Thank you. I'm finally using active with DSP for a 2 way DIY Altec build and it's been a game changer. Still figuring it out but so glad I finally went active.

    • @infinitely_free_to_be_me
      @infinitely_free_to_be_me 10 місяців тому

      What DSP you using? And are you sending analog/rca input to it? -I'm trying to figure out why I don't see any with USB inputs... analog to digital for the processing/separation into high/low and then back to analog doesn't seem ideal (plus the fist DAC in my phone or computer or streaming device)..3 conversions, xD. Scratching my head for a solution isn't working, haha.

  • @lnhislmage
    @lnhislmage 6 місяців тому

    I haven’t had my rig set up for years so this is a refresher I’ve got e two Peavey gs 1800,s and run mono- bass with both channels of one and the other is pushing the stereo highs and mids . My bottoms are 2x18’s and the tops are 4x10’s and horn tweeters also running two stage monitors. Anyway thanks for posting!

  • @mercer29-4
    @mercer29-4 Рік тому +2

    Great and to the point! Useful knowledge! Thank you for explanation

  • @petekutheis3822
    @petekutheis3822 Рік тому +1

    So I imagine for 3 way (looking at sublimeaudio)--it is lows to sub-- mids to amp that drives speaker woofer, and highs to amp that drive speaker tweeter. Thinking of doing this with my C2500 pre, MC75 monoblocks, and Class D Audiophonic---speakers are Sonusfaber Olympica 1s. The Oly 1s sound great with the class D, but not so hot with the monoblocks. Perhaps this could be a remedy.

  • @ccdccd8615
    @ccdccd8615 18 днів тому

    There is even more to this. I am bi-amping, but I have a 3-way design. In my case, there is a passive crossover between the tweeter and midrange and then an active crossover to the woofers. You actually see this in some high end designs where the speaker is either 3-way or 4-way and there is an amp and active crossover inside the speaker for the woofers. The rest of the drivers are usually passively crossed over so you only need one amp. There isn’t much disagreement in audio regarding the benefits of active crossovers for the woofer. There is some disagreement as to the benefits of an active crossover between the tweeter and the midrange. Personally, I feel you have to balance the added complexity of the system versus the benefits. Personally, I’ve thought about tri-amping, but remain skeptical that it would be worth the added complexity.
    What was not mentioned is that you have full control over the crossover and you can easily experiment with different slopes and crossover types, depending on what your crossover can do. You can also time align your woofers to the other drivers if your speaker is not physically time aligned. Some equipment like mine also have DSP and can be mated with a mic so you can optimize the speakers for your listening position.
    You can do this on your own, but there is a substantial learning curve and the software for your equipment may not be the most user friendly. There are also a number of different active crossovers available and you need to make sure that the one you select does what you need it to do. Also be aware that matching amps with different topologies might affect the seamless integration of your drivers. And some active crossovers incorporate DACs which cannot be bypassed because they are part of the DSP. The benefits can definitely be there, but proceed with caution and do your research.

  • @davidketley5359
    @davidketley5359 Рік тому +1

    I run 4 way active using the Marchand XM44 and just love the sound you can get out of these simple systems. There seems to be a huge reluctance to use active systems.

  • @kevinfielding9803
    @kevinfielding9803 2 роки тому

    Thanks Mikey for your valued insights and content! Much appreciated and helps build your personal brand.
    I wanted to add something to your presentation that adds incredible flexibility when implementing an active xover which is to do it on your laptop in the digital domain within JRiver's DSP (or ROON)!!! When JRiver is combined with a multi-channel DAC (e.g. exaSound), you get the ability to control things at a driver by driver basis for each individual speaker if you wish. (You can still use the passive xovers in the speakers but can high pass the mains for example if you have subwoofers to take on the bass and lower mids.) You can control the crossover freq and slope, delay, reverse polarity, volume and finally tweak each speaker via parametric EQ such that it fits your desired "house" target curve.
    It's way better than just connecting a sub to your preamp's outputs and much better than standalone external xovers (Marchand, Bryston, etc) based on my experiments and measurements of all 3 approaches. Requirements include Jriver software (inexpensive), multi-channel DAC (expensive but not more than it's 2channel counterparts), acoustic measurement software (REW, OmniMic etc.) and patience. Currently I high-pass my mains because they're being driven by 30watt/channel 300B tube amps and use a pair of subs for the low end. If I had speakers with external passive xovers that could be bypassed then I'd just JRiver's DSP to set the same xovers as the designer had intended and multi amps to implement it. Hope this helps someone . . .

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  2 роки тому

      Thanks Kevin, you are taking a very Pro audio approach to things. Many people like this however I can hear processing in most DSP. Therefore I like to do all my manipulation in the analog domain. I do have a DEQX and I can hook 3 DACS to it and do all my processing pre-conversion which is the only way I would do it. So I will try than the spring .

  • @aussie_philosopher8079
    @aussie_philosopher8079 Рік тому +1

    Best way to set up to integrate and distribute the frequency bandwidths to their respective destinations. I think that discrete activate is always the best.

  • @Fyzical2000
    @Fyzical2000 9 місяців тому

    Holy cow what a great video! Best I've seen on this topic yet...particularly for a newbie like me! I do have a question...if I use the K231 stereo 3-way active crossover after my DAC will that degrade the analog signal that I paid so much for by adding the DAC🤔. Will it undo my DAC magic??

  • @hazembata
    @hazembata 10 місяців тому +1

    Can you post links to some active XO’s you like at different price points? Great video.

    • @infinitely_free_to_be_me
      @infinitely_free_to_be_me 10 місяців тому

      I'm looking for this info too. But I'm scratching my head that none I've found have a USB input.. analog input only, then convert to digital for the processing to separate the high/mid/low, and then back to analog. You find anything good since posting this question?

  • @hdibart
    @hdibart Рік тому

    So , if I have one stereo amp with left and right speaker outputs I can't use an active crossover?

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  Рік тому

      This only has to do with the inputs

  • @infinitely_free_to_be_me
    @infinitely_free_to_be_me 10 місяців тому

    I'm trying to understand one thing, with a DSP that has analog/rca input it requires 3 conversions right (assuming for example I'm playing music from a cd, or via computer/cell phone)? DAC, then ADC and then DAC? I'm not seeing any DSP's offering a USB input..why convert the music in 3 steps? Wouldn't it be better to input a digital signal, split it into 2 or 3 ways frequency (digital crossovers), and then through the DAC process? In your experience, passive crossovers still lose more detail than doing an analog to digital and back to analog conversions? -I hope my questions are clear..I'm really interested in this.. I'm building some speakers with high-end drivers and heavily considering running them active rather than waste money on passive components.

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  10 місяців тому +1

      Yes, digital signal manipulation BEFORE DAC is the way to really do it..

    • @infinitely_free_to_be_me
      @infinitely_free_to_be_me 10 місяців тому

      Thanks for the reply!@@OCDHIFiGuy

  • @shanestephenson8423
    @shanestephenson8423 3 роки тому +1

    Nice tutorial Mikey I enjoyed this one. Haven't got into the realm of active crossovers yet but after today I am considering it more then ever. 👍🎧😁

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  3 роки тому +1

      Thanks for the feedback Shane !

  • @jackofbl4des
    @jackofbl4des 4 місяці тому

    can you tell me the secrets for the mic sound in yours videos? not only the speakers sounds well on them, your voice too.. it's like not fatiguing and natural, with reverbs and ambient sounds... compared to every other youtuber they usually block those unwanted "noise" to make it sound more SHURE SM7B wich is boring and claustrophobic.

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  4 місяці тому

      No secret, Brother. Samsung S22 Ultra cel phone. On board mics. Default recording mode.

  • @bryfar6178
    @bryfar6178 2 роки тому

    Great vid! For us budget guys, can I put a 1 way passive xo between amp out and Maggies to highpass them above 80hz or so and run my Rythmix sub from my preamps 2nd pre out treminals? Set sub to 80hz or so for low pass. Reduce cost and reduce some circuits.

  • @sarahX..
    @sarahX.. Рік тому

    We have volume control at the source. Also plenty of individual gain setting on the 3 yaw active crossover units.
    Q: Are there any downsides to using HQ integrated amplifiers (as we own) in place of usual power amp in this kind of a active setup? In relation to SQ only. Thanks.

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  Рік тому

      Hi Sarah, if you use Integrated amps, there is more circuitry in the signal path including the bottleneck which is usually the volume control itself.. so Power amps offer a more direct signal path. But this is OCD level stuff.. its probably a slight difference only..

    • @sarahX..
      @sarahX.. Рік тому

      @@OCDHIFiGuy Thanks for that. This is what we thought too. And also might simply come down to the quality of the integrated and things like synergy & ears etc right...

  • @portalkeeper978
    @portalkeeper978 Рік тому +1

    Shouldn’t the gains be equal on all ranges according to the ps audio guy?

    • @TriAmpHiFi
      @TriAmpHiFi Рік тому

      What if one uses a tube amp, a Type A/B & a Class D all with different output wattage? One can't just rotate all 6 gains to 12 O'Clock & call them "equal". The drivers will all have different Db efficiencies too.
      A noob will have a pro run full band sweeps etc. & get to a somewhat flat full range response then flavor to taste. An old DJ, after setting up 3 & 4 way systems four nights a week in different venues, can do it easily by ear.
      🔈🔉🔊

  • @robtremble2277
    @robtremble2277 Рік тому

    what's your thoughts on dbx pa2

  • @andyd9126
    @andyd9126 3 роки тому +1

    Hey yo Teach
    This was a real good one.

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  3 роки тому +1

      Thanks My man .... SEE ya!

  • @stogie525
    @stogie525 3 роки тому

    Thanks for taking the time to make this video Mikey, enjoyed it👍

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  3 роки тому

      You bet stogie thanks for watching !

  • @danielesbordone1871
    @danielesbordone1871 3 роки тому

    I have 2 DBX electronic crossovers. They're not very clean sounding. Would you suggest something like a Bryston X-over ?

    • @poserwanabe
      @poserwanabe 3 роки тому

      Urei

    • @Canadian_Eh_I
      @Canadian_Eh_I 3 роки тому +1

      DEQX

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  3 роки тому +1

      The Bryson is not very good from what I hear, I would go with a Marchand, just let me know and I can help you out

  • @harrylewis7536
    @harrylewis7536 4 місяці тому

    Great Information

  • @kaap009
    @kaap009 3 роки тому +2

    Been running active xover, mono’s, with external psu’s. 4 boxes 🙈
    Good run down on active xovers 👍🏼
    One thing, I think you didnt mention, is that amps that doesnt need to work with bass, sounds better then when it has to 😄 Nice bi-product of active xovers 👌🏼
    Cheers 🍻

    • @derekviveiros
      @derekviveiros Рік тому

      Interesting point on not having to deal with bass.

  • @sloboat55
    @sloboat55 3 роки тому

    Professor Mikey, is this great or what. Hit that "Hammer ". Padron, baby.

  • @treycolston7339
    @treycolston7339 2 роки тому

    Dude I'm lost. If you have an active crossover. Why would you send a low frequency signal to an aready active sub. A sub that has its own crossover? I can't figure this one out.

  • @freeradical431
    @freeradical431 3 роки тому

    Id like to see a vid on graphic and parametric equalizers. Seems few people use them anymore. Why?

  • @bubblehead5394
    @bubblehead5394 Рік тому

    In a speaker with a passive crossover, wouldn't bi-wiring be bullshit?

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  Рік тому

      No. It's about back EMF coming down the line.

  • @reginaldburnbridge2217
    @reginaldburnbridge2217 Рік тому

    Excellent

  • @aguthrie91
    @aguthrie91 2 роки тому

    Great info! Do you have a link for the crossover you sell?

  • @jeffwood5543
    @jeffwood5543 3 роки тому +1

    You need to do an active cross over review now

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  3 роки тому

      There's only like three people that make them

  • @derekviveiros
    @derekviveiros Рік тому +1

    This was the most informative, practical hifi trickery I've ever come across.
    Control that woofer like a dominatrix LOL
    18:24 - I died LOL
    You don't have anymore Sublime Crossovers. Question: When do you think it makes sense to venture into active bi-amping?
    PS. Consider coming to Toronto, huge market. And I'm here ;)

    • @derekviveiros
      @derekviveiros Рік тому

      if you source is an all in one (with amp) can you direct it out to crossover, and then back into the all-in-one. I'd want to use the pre and power amp in the all in one, but use another A class amp for the low frequency.
      Is that going to explode?

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  Рік тому

      If you have an integrated amp you'll need to crossover after the DAC then go highs to your Integrated and lows to your other amp for subs... Crossovers coming soon..

    • @derekviveiros
      @derekviveiros Рік тому

      @@OCDHIFiGuy By all in one, i meant it including the dac/streamer/amp. So the idea is to use the Class A setting on the Yamaha for the lows as you recommended class A for lows. I'd want to only use the amp from the all in one for the highs. Hopefully that's clearer.

  • @byronb.
    @byronb. 3 роки тому

    I would like to see a demo of this with that $500 stereo crossover you sell and Magnepan .7's. Practical application professor!

  • @briansander2161
    @briansander2161 3 роки тому

    If using an active crossover, how are the passive crossovers in the speakers avoided?

    • @bat2137
      @bat2137 3 роки тому

      Crossover in speaker is bypassed internally terminals are wired directly to respective driver you may need more terminals if say speaker has only one set and is a two or three way, hope that helps. Jim.

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  3 роки тому

      Hi Brian you either disconnect them and wire past, or you simply use a two way crossover and put all the highs to your passive and all the lows to your active sub.

  • @sloboat55
    @sloboat55 3 роки тому +1

    Hell yeah

  • @TriAmpHiFi
    @TriAmpHiFi Рік тому +1

    I draw the limit at one DAC channel per each driver. That's too far for me 🔈🔉🔊

  • @Below-td6xx
    @Below-td6xx 2 роки тому

    Mikey, please come to Minnesota (NW suburbs)! I need some help dialing in my Magnepan 3.7i's - spend some time on the deck, have a few drinks, let me grill up some good steaks and my wife will bake some good treats. Heck, I will even take you out on the boat if ya want some fishing time, and you have a room to stay in for the night. If it sounds good, give a comment and I will drop you an email.

  • @peterw2714
    @peterw2714 3 роки тому

    Hey OCD hi-fi guy
    enjoyed your video on active and passive crossover‘s although I’ve got a point of contention. If one was to mix types and brands of amplifiers for one speaker and have three or four different inputs of various frequencies how would you compensate for the signals being out of phase because you’re running them through different amplifiers that don’t amplify at the same speed. It seems the sound would be blurred with many parts out of phase. I’ve heard this myself in my house with two different rooms playing home theater with different brands of receivers and the audio in sync. It sounds horrible and I’m not understanding how you would keep the whole frequency spectrum in phase. The only way I think that you could keep it sounding cohesive would be to use the exact type, brand and model of amplifiers for each channel then everything will be amplified at the same speed. I remember watching a video with the “audiophiliac” and he encountered the same problems when he tried to biamplify he had to use the same brands and type of amplifiers to keep phasing the same.

    • @danielmiller469
      @danielmiller469 3 роки тому

      what i would do is add delay to the faster amps

    • @peterw2714
      @peterw2714 3 роки тому

      @@danielmiller469 I would think that would be tough to synchronize multiple amplifiers. I’ve also heard the discussion that bi-amping is a waste because compared to the woofer the tweeter puts such a minuscule amount of load on the amplifier that it makes little to no difference. I myself would disagree from my experience.

    • @bat2137
      @bat2137 3 роки тому

      Home theater amps have digital sound processing wich cause sound delays and with different amps will have varying delays normal hifi amps a lot less so, also phase reversal in most amps is in the pre amp so should be the same as you only use one preamp, phase can be changed at any driver by simply swaping red and black at any set of speaker terminals doing same for left and right speaker Hope thet helps, jim.
      Edit i use same make and model amps in a tri amp setup.

    • @johnshaw359
      @johnshaw359 3 роки тому

      If you throw different amps "into the mix", expect an even more incoherent sound from the smorgasbord. The phase switch is most useful if you have a phase inverting source. Connect via high level for normal stereo. The REL subs start at 20 Hz or whatever their lowest frequency is rated at that cannot be changed, adjust the volume to match the sensitivity of the main pair, and then you set them to roll off where the main speakers start to dip you should be able to match the sub and the main/sub bass frequency "dove tail" while you are adjusting the sub roll off (and sub volume), stick them in the corner of the room and adjust the phase for the best bass response.

    • @peterw2714
      @peterw2714 3 роки тому

      @@bat2137 I also feel that since amplifiers are not all built the same and they have different amount of components and obviously different circuit paths of different lengths that it wouldn’t be as simple as reversing speaker wires to bring it back into phase. I feel that you’re going to get substantially different timing from start of the input signal to final output signal of different types of amplifiers. I feel that anything short of using an oscilloscope to calibrate the amplfiers to each other, you would be suffering from phase discrepancies between amplifiers.

  • @alwaysexpandinghorizons6173
    @alwaysexpandinghorizons6173 2 роки тому

    THX!!!

  • @Jack96993
    @Jack96993 3 роки тому

    I really like active crossovers, but it costs me a lot in lamp cord

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  3 роки тому

      Jackie boy, I'm looking for you right now it's petit Lemans time. You better get your ass over here and see what a real hi-fi rig sounds like !! I'll be down at the track Friday and Saturday

    • @Jack96993
      @Jack96993 3 роки тому

      @@OCDHIFiGuy
      I have to bail on Petit Lemans 😪
      This year, but plan on going to Atlanta to check on my restoration car So will come by for a listen on a real stereo rig!
      Then when l get home l'll throw mine in the garage

  • @Grooverski
    @Grooverski 3 роки тому

    Or hire your local pro-audio guys for $200-250 an hr.

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  3 роки тому

      Pro audio guys don't know how to set up a hi-fi rig

  • @bubblehead5394
    @bubblehead5394 Рік тому

    I still don't understand spelling.

  • @MediaCentre-te7kp
    @MediaCentre-te7kp 5 місяців тому

    3rd graders aren't very good at spelling

    • @OCDHIFiGuy
      @OCDHIFiGuy  5 місяців тому

      But they get killer cookies n stuff..