hi All,
I'll explain right away that this is not about any kind of design, vector, cutting, milling or anything else - I have any design and drawing program for work experience and staying in a home made creation, I wanted to understand from you, crossover experts, what you use and how you make them.
I made one with the multi-hole base, but I won't show it to you otherwise you'll laugh until late, very late 🙂
I'll explain right away that this is not about any kind of design, vector, cutting, milling or anything else - I have any design and drawing program for work experience and staying in a home made creation, I wanted to understand from you, crossover experts, what you use and how you make them.
I made one with the multi-hole base, but I won't show it to you otherwise you'll laugh until late, very late 🙂
I use perforated pertinax boards and connect the x/o parts from the bottom side with solid copper wire.
Also I use vitroplast copper clad boards for more complicated circuits. Printer toner transfer method works
for me alright.
Also I use vitroplast copper clad boards for more complicated circuits. Printer toner transfer method works
for me alright.
For crossover, I found troels gravessen method to be a good compromise.
http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/tips.htm
http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/tips.htm
I make PCBs for the crossovers of all speakers that will be kept by myself or others. Definitely everything that goes into production. It greatly reduces the chance of a wiring error and makes the finished speakers look far more professional.
I wouldn't show anyone a picture of a prototype crossover! 😬
I wouldn't show anyone a picture of a prototype crossover! 😬
I used to do them like this:
The base is a sandwitch, so none of the wiring is visible underneath. These crossovers were going to be exposed on the back of the speaker, so it was important that they looked neat.
The base is a sandwitch, so none of the wiring is visible underneath. These crossovers were going to be exposed on the back of the speaker, so it was important that they looked neat.
no problem, the hi-fi area is fenced with 380V
Still having parts externally has no benefit (outside test phase). It is ergonomically and esthetically poor practice and generally not appreciated by anyone else except the builder/owner.
Up to everyone to decide but I can not count the times that I saw the very same person damaging those handy outside crossover filters. Or cut himself to the sharp cut off tie wraps. Or shorting amplifier outputs by changing filter parts while the stuff is playing 🙂
Up to everyone to decide but I can not count the times that I saw the very same person damaging those handy outside crossover filters. Or cut himself to the sharp cut off tie wraps. Or shorting amplifier outputs by changing filter parts while the stuff is playing 🙂
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while we're at it, if I wanted to make a custom PCB for my 2nd order 12db crossover, since I don't have anything to make it with, can they be found already made?
Just get perforated board, poke the leads through holes, and wire it on the back with ordinary hookup wire.
🙂 but certainly, what I would like to know is whether pre-printed PCB boards are available, or if there is someone who prepares them specifically to measure
there are and there are tools to prepare the drawings you need but I haven't done that in years so I asked Grok for suggestions
Here are some printed circuit board (PCB) suppliers that are known for catering to DIYers, offering affordable options, small-batch orders, and user-friendly services:
Here are some printed circuit board (PCB) suppliers that are known for catering to DIYers, offering affordable options, small-batch orders, and user-friendly services:
- JLCPCB - A popular choice among hobbyists, JLCPCB offers low-cost PCB manufacturing starting at just a few dollars for small orders (e.g., 5 PCBs). They provide an easy online ordering system, quick turnaround times, and options like multi-color silkscreen, which appeal to DIY enthusiasts.
- PCBWay - Known for its affordability and flexibility, PCBWay caters to DIYers with small minimum order quantities (as low as 5 pieces) and a straightforward design upload process. They also offer community sharing features where users can showcase projects, making it DIY-friendly.
- OSH Park - This U.S.-based supplier is a favorite among DIYers for its high-quality, purple PCBs and no-minimum-order policy (you can order as few as 3 boards). It’s designed for hobbyists and small projects, with a simple interface that integrates well with design tools like KiCad.
- Seeed Studio Fusion - Seeed Studio provides PCB manufacturing and assembly services tailored to DIYers, often with promotions like free assembly for small batches (e.g., 5 PCBs). Their pricing is competitive, and they support small-scale prototyping.
- Aisler - A European supplier that integrates with KiCad for direct ordering, Aisler offers high-quality PCBs with a focus on small runs (minimum of 3 boards). It’s user-friendly for DIYers and supports the open-source community by contributing to KiCad development.
Generic 2nd order low pass and high pass as well as notch filter are at the very bottom of this page
https://www.mtg-designs.com/crossover-pcbs
https://www.mtg-designs.com/crossover-pcbs
here is what Grok had to say about pre-made PCBs
yes, there are premade PCBs (printed circuit boards) available specifically designed for speaker crossover networks, catering to DIY audio enthusiasts. These boards are offered by various suppliers and are tailored to simplify the assembly of passive crossover circuits for speakers. Here are some examples and sources where you can find them:
If you’re looking for something specific (e.g., a Butterworth 18dB/octave filter), you’d typically need to design the circuit and populate one of these boards yourself, as pre-assembled crossovers are rarely tailored to exact filter types without being part of a complete speaker kit. Suppliers like those mentioned often pair these boards with resources or schematics to guide DIYers through the process.
yes, there are premade PCBs (printed circuit boards) available specifically designed for speaker crossover networks, catering to DIY audio enthusiasts. These boards are offered by various suppliers and are tailored to simplify the assembly of passive crossover circuits for speakers. Here are some examples and sources where you can find them:
- Parts Express - They offer a range of passive crossover boards, including perforated boards and specific 2-way or 3-way crossover PCBs. These are blank or partially pre-configured boards that allow you to solder your own components (capacitors, inductors, resistors) based on your crossover design. For instance, they sell perforated crossover boards and pre-etched 2-way/3-way boards for common configurations.
- DIY Sound Group (DIYSG) - This retailer provides custom PCBs for specific DIY speaker designs, such as the "1099" or "Overnight Sensations." These boards are tailored to the crossover schematics of popular kits, complete with labeled spots for components and terminals for easy wiring. They’re often sold as part of speaker kits but can sometimes be purchased separately.
- MTG Designs - Specializing in crossover PCBs for popular DIY speaker projects, MTG Designs offers premade boards for designs like the "Sunflower Redux" or "VBS-10.2." These are available via platforms like eBay and come with terminal blocks, standoffs, and instructions, making assembly straightforward for hobbyists.
- Intertechnik (via Willys-Hifi Ltd) - This German brand supplies high-quality glass fiber PCBs for crossover networks, including development boards, grid boards, and modular cascadable boards. These are premade with pre-etched traces and are widely available through audio specialty retailers, ideal for DIYers building custom crossovers.
- SoundImports - They sell blank perforated crossover boards and cloverleaf pitch PCBs designed for passive crossover applications. While not fully pre-assembled with components, these premade boards provide a structured layout for soldering your own crossover network.
If you’re looking for something specific (e.g., a Butterworth 18dB/octave filter), you’d typically need to design the circuit and populate one of these boards yourself, as pre-assembled crossovers are rarely tailored to exact filter types without being part of a complete speaker kit. Suppliers like those mentioned often pair these boards with resources or schematics to guide DIYers through the process.
👍
looking more closely at the various PCB boards on the market, I got an idea on how to make one at home without much equipment, starting from the classic copper on one side only, with transparent film printed with the various symbols that we all know, such as C1 - C2 - L1 - L2 - R1 etc...epoxy resin with the tracing of the channels using a milling cutter on a guide template and final drilling.
looking more closely at the various PCB boards on the market, I got an idea on how to make one at home without much equipment, starting from the classic copper on one side only, with transparent film printed with the various symbols that we all know, such as C1 - C2 - L1 - L2 - R1 etc...epoxy resin with the tracing of the channels using a milling cutter on a guide template and final drilling.