designing inputs + outputs of electronic crossover

[stinkpot]

So I've decided to build an electronic crossover. Do I give it line-in or speaker-level inputs? In other words, do I position between my source and my amp or between my amp and my speakers?

Thanks!
-LD

[richie00boy]

In between source and amps.

[audiousername]

Originally posted by richie00boy
In between source and amps.

Just to make sure nothing gets lost along the way, that means line-level

[AndrewT]

Hi,
yes line level.
Most amps require a MAXIMUM signal of 200mV to 2000mV. Your spec sheet should tell you what your sensitivities are. You need the same gain in each filter/amp/speaker combo. If all your speaker units have the same sensitivity and all you amps the same gain then you can manage without gain adjust on the filter outputs. Otherwise add a buffered gain adjust.
The voltage that your filter opamps run at could be +-15Vdc. The maximum signal through the filter string and output will be approx (15+15)/3 Vrms i.e. about 10Vrms into a high impedance and somewhat lower into lower loads. This will easily drive any unbalanced amp input with an impedance >=10k.

[dmfraser]

By definition an electronic crossover is a line level device. Your power amps always come after the electronic crossover.

[Bill Fitzpatrick]

Stinkpot:

I notice you said amp, not amps. If you have one amp only, you have no use for an electronic crossover. You need 2+ amps; one for each frequency band.

[stinkpot]

Thanks all for the info.

Bill:

I have a powered sub, so that's the second amp.

Everyone:

I guess I phrased the question this way, because I have been thinking of getting an integrated amp that may or may not have pre-out/main-in jacks. As a result, I was trying to figure out where to stick the crossover.

[Bill Fitzpatrick]

If the integrated has no pre out/amp in then you don't have use for an electronic crossover either.

[planet10]

Originally posted by dmfraser
By definition an electronic crossover is a line level device. Your power amps always come after the electronic crossover.

But it doesn't say where you get the input signal for the XO. In a case where you have no pre/power inputs on a receiver or integrated, speaker level inputs can be used (almost every plate amp has them). This is usually considered a compromise, but there is a school of thot that has the SS sub amplifier feed from the output transformers (ie speaker level) of a SET to get better integration of the sonics of the woofer & the speakers on the top.

dave

[dmfraser]

Yes but you still need power amps after the electronic crossover. Besides, when the signal is taken from speaker level it has to be greatly attenuated. Even a sub plate amp has a power amp built in. Perhaps the originator of the thread could more fully describe what he was trying to do.