Powered monitors - active or passive

cathode_ray · 22nd July 2010, 09:37 PM

I am assembling a pair of 2-way powered monitors. Stereo amp inside. I can go active x-over ($$$) each but was wondering about using passive components: putting the chokes on the woofer amp output, caps on the hi amp output.
As each amp would only "see" the signal passing through (same rational as bi-wiring) how would this compare to active split before the amps?
Comment opinions and facts all welcome.

dangus · 22nd July 2010, 11:09 PM

No advantage. Each amp would be operating full range, which means you lose most benefits of biamping. Plus, passive crossover components can be more expensive, and don't work as well as an equivalent DIY active crossover. A better use of two amps might be to bridge them, and use a conventional passive crossover. Although theory says that biamping should give about the same result, my gut thinks bridging will be louder.

22nd July 2010, 09:37 PM	#1
cathode_ray diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2007	Powered monitors - active or passive I am assembling a pair of 2-way powered monitors. Stereo amp inside. I can go active x-over ($$$) each but was wondering about using passive components: putting the chokes on the woofer amp output, caps on the hi amp output. As each amp would only "see" the signal passing through (same rational as bi-wiring) how would this compare to active split before the amps? Comment opinions and facts all welcome.

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22nd July 2010, 11:09 PM	#2
dangus diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Vancouver Island	No advantage. Each amp would be operating full range, which means you lose most benefits of biamping. Plus, passive crossover components can be more expensive, and don't work as well as an equivalent DIY active crossover. A better use of two amps might be to bridge them, and use a conventional passive crossover. Although theory says that biamping should give about the same result, my gut thinks bridging will be louder.

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