Crossover help - Wideband + Woofers

Hi all,

Any assistance appreciated. I like overall the drivers here and would like to build with them, but I can't seem to come up with a basic crossover to match them up passively.

I'm thinking of crossing around 300~400hz, or even 500hz with the planar wide band driver. The low end will be a bass reflex cabinet with the two woofers. Was thinking of doing the two woofers in series (8ohm) dual opposed in the cabinet (tower) with a 28~35hz tuned port.

Goal is a stereo tower pair. Crossing around 500hz maybe? 1 wide band, 2 woofers. A WAW/FAST at heart I suppose? Bass reflex towers tuned to 28~35hz range. Goal is to be 4ohm~8ohm range as seen by an amplifier. Will only ever give it about 100w total. Ok to not be flat, but prefer it to not be super bright so was trying to calm down the top end with compensation. Baffle width total will be about 12 inches I think.

Drivers:

Planar wide band:

https://www.parts-express.com/GRS-PT6816-8-8-Planar-Slim-Tweeter-8-Ohm-272-128?quantity=1

Was thinking crossing anywhre from 300~500hz range?

1729359737087.png


Woofers (was thinking 2 per tower in series):

https://www.parts-express.com/GRS-1...-Excursion-Subwoofer-4-Ohm-292-818?quantity=1

Maybe take these up to 400~500hz range?

1729359756806.png


I have loaded these into X-sim to experiment. But I'm really falling apart on it. This is my weakest point in speakers... passive x-cover design. So any help super appreciated.

Xsim attached with drivers pre-loaded for any help to make it easier and less tedious to enter info. 🙂

I keep getting nasty cancellation or silly low impedance. It's bad. Real bad. I'm bad at this lol.

1729359653384.png


Very best,
 

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Before adding the cross-over, simulate the two woofers in the intended box, You will have two impedance peaks due to the ports, but that high frequency garbage and 2 kHz peak in the frequency response curve you will have to sort out that nasty first in my opinion..
 
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You might have hit on a design that can't done. I prefer VituixCAD but I was at least able to get the impedance under control.

Thank you for taking the moment, that is super helpful and gives me something to work with and learn from. You're right, it may not be possible, but I think your example is quite acceptable as it is!

If it's doable, I would build it and then measure the drivers in the enclosure to build the final actual crossover. Just wanted to get an idea that this is an option to work with first before doing all that of course. I know I can do this in active DSP, but I'd like this one to be passive so it can be used on basic analog amp system with no extra electronics as a baseline.

1729368242847.png


Very best,
 
Don't be too concerned about the impedance peaks, these occur at resonance and would also produce the highest output at these points therefore you don't see amplitude drops at the impedance peaks on frequency response. But I take it you knew already.
 
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Looks good so far, You don't seem to be lost at all. I prefer WinISD as well but the final tweaks would require your ears, unless you are doing something solely👍 to specification.
Don't be too concerned about the impedance peaks, these occur at resonance and would also produce the highest output at these points therefore you don't see amplitude drops at the impedance peaks on frequency response. But I take it you knew already.
I trust the project is successful. When you eventually stuff the boxes, do it by ear to tone down any cabinet resonances.

Thanks, I appreciate the help!

I'm comfortable designing basic enclosures like this, my biggest weakness is the crossover. Especially something like this, where I'm using a wide band driver and sub woofers and finding something usable between the two. I don't mind giving up sensitivity to the wide band to get it in line with the woofers. It will never see high power. It doesn't need to be super loud. This will ultimately be in a living room for family use as a stereo with no sub. Ideally able to run from a basic stereo amp or basic AVR in stereo (full range signal to them) without having to resort to active DSP (this is my typical use, I like DSP, but I want to go passive this time). A basic speaker for sure. I will be putting more effort into the finish using live oak slabs as the front of the baffles on the cabinets.

So, any help on being able to marry these drivers into a workable crossover is super helpful! 🙏

Very best,
 
Good lord, I have never seen anything like that before. That is quite stunning. You would need a slightly bigger tree for those woofers. I do not think that you would get much resonances there! 👍👍👍

I have some 70" x 18" slabs, mirror matched already, waiting for the job.

20240810_140006.jpg


Here's how I do it, if you care to see how I worked the oak on those monitors:


And my detailed notes here:

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/markaudio-chp-90-bass-reflex-monitors-live-oak-slabs.3309193/

Very best,
 
Any assistance appreciated. I like overall the drivers here and would like to build with them, but I can't seem to come up with a basic crossover to match them up passively.
Greets!

Interesting! Never tried choosing a pioneer's polar response matching BW for a ribbon and came up with basically 'does not compute' except at the woofer's dustcap dia = ~34400/pi/5.08 = ~2155 Hz, which is no good for this woofer, so FWIW based solely on the woofer's BW get ~ 233, 709 Hz.
 
Interesting! Never tried choosing a pioneer's polar response matching BW for a ribbon and came up with basically 'does not compute' except at the woofer's dustcap dia = ~34400/pi/5.08 = ~2155 Hz, which is no good for this woofer, so FWIW based solely on the woofer's BW get ~ 233, 709 Hz.

Thanks, so basically, these woofers are a no go for this? Crossing too high at 500hz for these woofers? I'm still only planning so I'm not married to any of these drivers, they're just first draft of things I've looked at.

I may have to choose a different wide band that can get down to 100hz in a sealed enclosure within the overall tower then. I have some 6.75" mark audio full range drivers in mind if I have to move this way.

I suppose I could also introduce a mid-woofer to handle 80~500hz range too. But then a 3 way design, gets complicated, gets pricey for the crossover. Probably not where I will go. I like simple mostly. But open to suggestions.

Very best,
 
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Using subs for deep bass of course is a great Idea.

Unfortunately the Subwoofers dont have enough Bandwidth to Crossover high enough to meet the Planar.
They are limited to typical 80 to 100 Hz for subwoofer.

The 8" planar would need a crossover of yes 600 to 800 Hz
So you have a big hole in frequency response.

I love your idea, something I have pondered as well, 2 way with one large planar.
All with passive crossover, plug in play so to speak.

What you will find is 100 Hz passive low pass crossovers will use incredible large inductors.
In sim land you just see a value. Real world when you check inductor stock.
You will find incredible large inductor values needed and they are incredible large and expensive.

Easy solution is stick with your 2x10" concept but find woofers that extend to 700 Hz
and making a 2 way will be rather easy and work.
Inductor values will also be much more friendly.

Once you are set with a suitable 10" will be more willing to help with the crossover.
All drivers need to be simulated on the baffle size being used.
Would be counter productive to sim now. Once the baffle size is confirmed and drivers.
Would love to help sim this, something that has lived in the back of my head for awhile.
Off axis for a 8" planar will have its tradeoffs, so a smaller one might be needed for high frequency
if desired.
 
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