Digital active crossover using two different amps?

[Broadwayautoclinic]

Hello,

I've been messing around for a few weeks, rebuilding my old Mission 765i speakers and trying to get them to sound right. Not an easy task..

I bought a Behringer DCX2496 crossover to control these speakers. Thing is, I need four channels of amplification for a two way speaker, but I do not have an amp that has more than two channels each.

I have an Adcom 5802, (300 WPC for the woofers) and a Adcom GFA-545, (100 WPC for the Heil midrange/tweeters). Can using two different amps of different power ratings, work in such a setup? My hopes is that the Behringer will be able to adjust for that...Am I wrong?

Thanks

[Loren42]

Yes, but double check that the phase relationship between input and out of each amp is the same.

Some amps invert the input. Some do not.

[Broadwayautoclinic]

So, I should be able to get a linear response between the 100 watt amp and the 300 watt amp? My concern was that they would ramp up differently..

My understanding is that the Behringer can automatically adjust phase if required.

[doug20]

Originally Posted by Loren42

Yes, but double check that the phase relationship between input and out of each amp is the same.

Some amps invert the input. Some do not.

Depending on what the measurements show he can just adjust any phase difference using the DCX, no?


To the OP, thousands of active speaker designs use different amps all the time since most DSPs can correct any differences.

[doug20]

Originally Posted by Broadwayautoclinic

So, I should be able to get a linear response between the 100 watt amp and the 300 watt amp? My concern was that they would ramp up differently..

My understanding is that the Behringer can automatically adjust phase if required.

Amps if built properly pretty much do the same thing, they ampify sound, they should not do that at different speeds.

[Broadwayautoclinic]

I was referring more so to the differences in power, than speed..

[doug20]

Originally Posted by Broadwayautoclinic

I was referring more so to the differences in power, than speed..

I use 50Watt amps with my tweeters and 300Watt amps with my woofers.

When you design an active speaker you do adjust the gain structures to obtain a flat overall response. I utilize woofers that can handle more power to match the high sensitivity/high SPL of my tweeters.

To answer your question, YES the DCX handles the voltage gain each amp will see.

[DrDyna]

So long as the input sensitivity is similar, there shouldn't be a problem. They won't really "ramp up differently". The smaller amplifier will run out of gas faster than the big one, but a 100 watt amp probably won't get anywhere near it's headroom with an active crossover driving a tweeter unless you have some serious alcohol induced volume control problems that involve signal generators.

[Broadwayautoclinic]

Originally Posted by DrDyna

So long as the input sensitivity is similar, there shouldn't be a problem. They won't really "ramp up differently". The smaller amplifier will run out of gas faster than the big one, but a 100 watt amp probably won't get anywhere near it's headroom with an active crossover driving a tweeter unless you have some serious alcohol induced volume control problems that involve signal generators.

No need for alcohol my good man. I like to play my music on the loud side. Three wars later, my hearing is not what it used to be...

[DrDyna]

Originally Posted by Broadwayautoclinic

No need for alcohol my good man. I like to play my music on the loud side. Three wars later, my hearing is not what it used to be...

I'd still figure it'll be fine. It certainly won't hurt anything to give it a spin