Ok, I have done a quick sketch and I would like to hear what you guys think - is this completely insane or something that could end up being really cool?
There is a volume control for each channel - I would probably use double pots for stereo.
The filters are going to have dip switches so that the cross frequency can be set without too much trouble.
The headers J1-J6 are intended to be expansion slots where additional filters can be added (to get more than 12db slopes). I thought I would use jumpers to short them out when not in use.
As you can probably see, I have been very much inspired by B4 and XVR1... 😉
Hi cviller,
I took a look at your schematic and I'm a little confused.
1. I can't see the filter caps and resistors.
2. Jacques' original circuit has one more buffer in each branch of the filters, with volume pot only *after* the filters. This appears quite different from your proposal, which has them before the filters.
3. Can I point out posts #24 and #74 , which have an important adjustment inthe original schematic (and addition of another buffer in the LP section). Does your plan include this and I misunderstood? Or have you found another way around the problem?
4. I like the idea of making the board enough to do a three-way, but how much does the discussion above on the LP section affect the band-pass section in your design?
5. (Dumb question, maybe) What do you mean by a dip switch?
Cheers
Nigel
I would not put a 6channel volume pot after the input buffer when a 2channel volume pot can do the job just as well.
Adjustments in the 6channels to balance out gain and sensitivity variations should be done at the output of the filters, but before the final line driving buffers. Some of this (fixed) adjustment can be built into the power amps if the gain required in one frequency band is much different from all the others.
Adjustments in the 6channels to balance out gain and sensitivity variations should be done at the output of the filters, but before the final line driving buffers. Some of this (fixed) adjustment can be built into the power amps if the gain required in one frequency band is much different from all the others.
Hi cviller,
I took a look at your schematic and I'm a little confused.
Nigel
I can see that - the blocks of filter sections need to be drawn, but what I have made is just the "conceptual framework".
I would not put a 6channel volume pot after the input buffer when a 2channel volume pot can do the job just as well.
Adjustments in the 6channels to balance out gain and sensitivity variations should be done at the output of the filters, but before the final line driving buffers. Some of this (fixed) adjustment can be built into the power amps if the gain required in one frequency band is much different from all the others.
Thanks for you comments Andrew! I know you don't like too many pots. 😉
I see it this way (for a two way full range with woofer): Normally, I would have higher efficiency on the fullrange, so I'd need to attenuate the highs - ok no need for pot on LP. This would also work if I decide to use an F4 as driver for the woofer. But right now I use a chipamp for the woofer, which has more gain than the power amps I build - in I case I would also need a pot on the woofer. But I can't take the pot away from the HP. I know I can adjust the gain on amps, but I would most likely use this XO on both home-brewed and borrowed amps, so I would lose a lot of friends this way...
Your other point about the placement of the pots is interesting. I expect your rationale is: "why throw away gain before filtering - this will hurt SNR". This is a good point, but I just copied what I saw (and heard) here:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/4486-diy-progress-report-208.html#post1921621 😀
But if I did move the pots in the end, I would have to add yet another buffer stage.

cviller,
I would love to see what you will cook up. BTW, have we dropped 2sk170 in favor of BF862?
Dinesh
I would love to see what you will cook up. BTW, have we dropped 2sk170 in favor of BF862?
Dinesh
The bf862's are really tempting. You can get 100 for $22 and if they perform as good as 2sk170 I think they are worth some design effort.
I probably have to start a new thread soon...
I probably have to start a new thread soon...
The bf862's are really tempting. You can get 100 for $22 and if they perform as good as 2sk170 I think they are worth some design effort.
I probably have to start a new thread soon...
I'm using the BF862s, and the buffers that are up and running sound great. YMMV, of course... It may be worth remembering that juma used the BF862's on little adaptor boards, which could be used on a PCB designed for 2SK170 if you wanted to.
Cheers
Nigel
I got 200 off 2sk170 for $34 and delivered to the door.The bf862's are really tempting. You can get 100 for $22 and if they perform as good as 2sk170 I think they are worth some design effort.
I probably have to start a new thread soon...
Andrew,
Cheapest I can find in the states is Mouser at 22 for a hundred.
Where did you find yours?
Uriah
Cheapest I can find in the states is Mouser at 22 for a hundred.
Where did you find yours?
Uriah
I must have been seeing things. I thought you mentioned BF862 and a cheaper price. Not quite sure how I did that 🙂
I'll love to see a gainer circuit for boosting my open baffle bass driver (frequency and Q-adjustment)
I'll love to see a gainer circuit for boosting my open baffle bass driver (frequency and Q-adjustment)
absolutely
How much gain are we talking about?
If we want a first order slope from say 40 to 400 hz, then we would need a gain of ~20dB - would that be sufficient for the booster you are referring to?
If we want a first order slope from say 40 to 400 hz, then we would need a gain of ~20dB - would that be sufficient for the booster you are referring to?
IME +6dB would be enough but maybe +10dB?How much gain are we talking about?
If we want a first order slope from say 40 to 400 hz, then we would need a gain of ~20dB - would that be sufficient for the booster you are referring to?
20db/decade = 6dB/octave
But the amount of gain you need depends on how long you want to extend the boost. 20Hz to 200Hz is a decade and 40Hz to 400Hz is also a decade.
But the amount of gain you need depends on how long you want to extend the boost. 20Hz to 200Hz is a decade and 40Hz to 400Hz is also a decade.
I am not sure how gain stages fit into this. This thread started out as an active crossover. Then we added an attentuation stage (what I refer to as LPAD stage) and a volume control stage. All of which can be achieved through buffers. Can the boost not be achieved through a preamp and then attentuating the rest? My 2c would be to keep it simple.
What stops anybody from using a preamp on the bass only? We are talking of line level systems here. One can configure things anywhich way you like. That said, I still don't see how a gain stage fits in here. It might help to read what jameshill said a few posts back.
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