I'm thinking of leaving the crossover external and not putting it inside the speaker cabinet.
Are there any negatives in doing this?
My reason is so that I can upgrade the crossover components when funds allow.
Are there any negatives in doing this?
My reason is so that I can upgrade the crossover components when funds allow.
No there are no negatives - the crossover components of course take up some volume inside the cabinet, so you might consider that in your box size calculations if you really want to sweat the details.
I put my crossovers on the rear panels of my speakers - I added extensions to the top and sides of the cabs to cover them from view, for aesthetic considerations - I bought them pre-built, otherwise I would have built them with the rear panel "sunk" into the cabinet for the same effect.
It's kind of fun to turn the speakers around when I have company over, so I can show off my handywork! 😀
I put my crossovers on the rear panels of my speakers - I added extensions to the top and sides of the cabs to cover them from view, for aesthetic considerations - I bought them pre-built, otherwise I would have built them with the rear panel "sunk" into the cabinet for the same effect.
It's kind of fun to turn the speakers around when I have company over, so I can show off my handywork! 😀
Right on...
I got the idea from a hifi show I went to. I saw external crossovers made with capacitors that were bigger than the speakers
I got the idea from a hifi show I went to. I saw external crossovers made with capacitors that were bigger than the speakers
Just be careful about "upgrading" crossover components - it's often a waste of money with no audible benefit. Poly caps have tighter tolerances than electrolytic, and should last longer, but that's about it IMHO.
This is of course a topic of endless debate, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. I put my crossovers external because my cabs came completely assembled, so I really didn't have much choice, but I'm also swapping out my woofers and now have a completely different XO design, so it's convenient for that too.
Hmmm...capacitors larger than the speakers - either very large caps or very small speakers, or both. Whatever they are I feel quite confident they are great for show but of little benefit otherwise.
This is of course a topic of endless debate, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. I put my crossovers external because my cabs came completely assembled, so I really didn't have much choice, but I'm also swapping out my woofers and now have a completely different XO design, so it's convenient for that too.
Hmmm...capacitors larger than the speakers - either very large caps or very small speakers, or both. Whatever they are I feel quite confident they are great for show but of little benefit otherwise.
sbelyo said:
With easy access, the urge to tweak your crossover will be much stronger, making it more difficult to relax and enjoy the music.
Dan
ackcheng said:
Of course, as sdclc126 stated. And obviously, how much volume it takes up just depends on how you'd have it mounted in the enclosure if you did keep it in there. For instance, if you kept the crossover components completely enclosed in their own little chamber or section inside the cabinet, it'll obviously take up more volume that will need to be accounted for.
Re: Re: External Crossover question
I sell my projects off as I upgrade and look back on them as knowledge learned.
Actually the cabinets will most likely cost the most so I want to be able to change drivers and change the crossover at will.
I suck at woodworking so I'll have to have the cabinets made
I know... such as my nature. I usualy build stuff with price in mind and then upgrade to other end of the spectrum just to see what the difference sounds like.owdi said:
I sell my projects off as I upgrade and look back on them as knowledge learned.
Actually the cabinets will most likely cost the most so I want to be able to change drivers and change the crossover at will.
I suck at woodworking so I'll have to have the cabinets made
Re: Re: Re: External Crossover question
I suck too. When I count the amount of time it takes me to build a simple box, it makes sense to buy from PE instead. I'm good with cutting, but finishing kills me.
I wasn't kidding with my post. With an external crossover, I find myself looking for problems that I can fix. Once I assemble the xover, it makes it much easier to just listen and accept what I built.
Dan
sbelyo said:
I suck too. When I count the amount of time it takes me to build a simple box, it makes sense to buy from PE instead. I'm good with cutting, but finishing kills me.
I wasn't kidding with my post. With an external crossover, I find myself looking for problems that I can fix. Once I assemble the xover, it makes it much easier to just listen and accept what I built.
Dan
Re: Re: Re: Re: External Crossover question
The PE boxes i've seen all need remediale work to make them decent speaker boxes. (ie better bracing)
dave
owdi said:
The PE boxes i've seen all need remediale work to make them decent speaker boxes. (ie better bracing)
dave
sdclc126 said:
You should always avoid electrolytics if you can... they don't sound as good as poly anything...
dave
Hi,
if going for external passive crossover then you can fit them on the back of the speaker where they will suffer the same vibration as they had inside but without the pressure changes, or you can separate them from the speaker.
I would go one stage further and put the external crossover on the terminals of the amplifier and run the separate output cables direct to the drivers. But keeping them short is still my priority.
This is bi-wiring taken to it's limit.
The next stage is a dedicated amplifier with it's own passive crossover feeding it's own driver.
if going for external passive crossover then you can fit them on the back of the speaker where they will suffer the same vibration as they had inside but without the pressure changes, or you can separate them from the speaker.
I would go one stage further and put the external crossover on the terminals of the amplifier and run the separate output cables direct to the drivers. But keeping them short is still my priority.
This is bi-wiring taken to it's limit.
The next stage is a dedicated amplifier with it's own passive crossover feeding it's own driver.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.