I FINALLY found an Altec 808-8a to complete parts needed for a 2 way speaker build with LF woofers and 811b horns. It's been years waiting for a reasonable price on one of these. Just need to build the cab and crossover.
I am looking into using an active crossover to determine the best XO point and then build up the crossovers. Looking at the Behringer CX3400 as I have seen many others have used this kit to good effect. but I am wondering how I am hooking this up to the amps with only balanced XLR connections?
What is the best way to connect an active XO to 2 amps biamping the highs and lows?
I am looking into using an active crossover to determine the best XO point and then build up the crossovers. Looking at the Behringer CX3400 as I have seen many others have used this kit to good effect. but I am wondering how I am hooking this up to the amps with only balanced XLR connections?
What is the best way to connect an active XO to 2 amps biamping the highs and lows?
XLR to single ended RCA cables are fine to use, you lose the benefits of the balanced signal for common mode noise rejection but it’ll be fine. I use monoprice XLR to RCA cables in my active setup when I’m using my tube amps that don’t have balanced inputs.
No experience with the behringer though, I absolutely love my Ashly Protea 3.24CL and have heard very good things about the xilica XP line as well as the electrovoice dc one.
No experience with the behringer though, I absolutely love my Ashly Protea 3.24CL and have heard very good things about the xilica XP line as well as the electrovoice dc one.
I was going to get a miniDSP to figure the same thing out for a couple boxes i am working on.
dave
dave
Hey Dave, I was looking in to the Mini DSP solution also but I have a friend that has an active crossover so "free" is nice. I'm actually weighing out both options... the cheapest one wins. If I was going to do more speaker projects, I think I would go DSP. But after this I only have plans on a full range speaker project... no XO!
I am sure the Behringer doesn't hold a candle to the nicer XO's you pointed out Zeagan! But I can use the Behringer for free and it's only temporary as I want to hardwire the XO when I find the sweet spot.
So free Active XO and some monoprice XLR to RCA cables sounds like it will be hard to beat.
I am sure the Behringer doesn't hold a candle to the nicer XO's you pointed out Zeagan! But I can use the Behringer for free and it's only temporary as I want to hardwire the XO when I find the sweet spot.
So free Active XO and some monoprice XLR to RCA cables sounds like it will be hard to beat.
Free is nice. I had a couple pro XOs. Free is about the right price (sold them for $50). These are typically very cost controlled product. Ripe for tweaking.
dave
dave
You could use a Zoudio amp for that. Has two-way DSP crossover built in. Not free (~$100) and may take some time to get, but would be a good tool to have on hand for just such a "play in software" (i.e., enter number) and see how it physically sounds, before committing to passive hardware components. https://zoudio.com/product/aio438/
Free is king, can’t argue with free. One tiny bit of advice if you ever move on to the minidsp solution, avoid the 2x4 non-HD model, it’s what I got originally and it had noticeable hiss. It’s an absolute bargain and in normal projects I’m sure is dead silent but high efficiency horns like yours can be tricky to power and feed signal and keep a low noise floor.
Good info Zeagan... I actually started to think about MiniDSP as I started to think about using it to dial in a sub also. But the Altec components are definitely very efficient. Does the non HD miniDSP have the same noise issue with higher efficiency horns? I'd prefer the $105 price tag of the non HD option anyway... keeps more money in my XO capacitor budget!
The Zoudio is above my pay grade! That looks like a project in and of itself! Interesting though and it might be worth a look for a future project.
The Zoudio is above my pay grade! That looks like a project in and of itself! Interesting though and it might be worth a look for a future project.
I'm using an old Alto processor and have for years. Signal travels computer/ dac / preamp/ processor / amps.
Set up volume (balance between them) with your 2 amps/ preamp first then do the xover. The CX3400 is basic but is regarded as decent for xover duties.