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Then with the connections external, you can get a Behringer electronic XO (DSP or analog) for something comparable to what you paid for the silver caps and dispatch the whole crude passive crossover. If you replaced all the caps in both L and R, I would guess the Behringer would save you quite a bundle depending on how many spare amps you have in the house.
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B.
Ben, there's something here that you need to understand.
Yes, active crossovers have advantages. Direct connection between the amp and speaker, easy to adjust, precise slopes, etc etc. You know the rest.
However, there's one really huge disadvantage to them, and it's this: non-audio people can't use the stereo.
My previous system involved a passive preamp, a DSP-based crossover and a bunch of amplifiers. It sounded really good.
... Except that only I could operate the thing. If someone else wanted music on, they'd play it through their phone's built-in speaker, or ask me to set up the stereo for them.
Today, I have a Cambridge Audio CXA80 driving a pair of speakers with (get this!) passive crossovers. Shock, horror.
You know what? I listen to more music now than I ever did with my DSP system. It's. So. Damn. Easy.
I put the work into the passive crossover to make it sound good. It took a 3rd order asymmetrical crossover, 2x notch filters, a Zobel on the woofer and an L-pad on the compression driver. It's not a trivial design, but it works. It sounds clean and neutral and if you turn it up, you can have a party.
In short, passive crossovers still have their place. Those of us that choose passive crossovers have our reasons to do so - it's the compromise we choose.
Chris
