I'm considering building a pair of 3 way speakers, using an active crossover and tri-amping them.
In searching for a decent crossover that doesn't break the bank, I'm having difficulty finding one that integrates well with lower cost amp solutions. For example, it seems most active crossover options I'm finding use XLR outputs, and the cheaper amps I'm looking at use unbalanced RCA inputs.
1. Are there any multichannel (or even multiple 2 channel) amps exist that have built in active crossovers with continuous crossover point selection that would negate this issue?
2. Is using an active crossover just inherently expensive and going to be a challenge on a budget?
3. What are some decent active crossovers with RCA outputs for home audio (i.e. not DC powered) that have dials or some other form of continuous adjustment (i.e. not swapping modules of discrete values)?
In searching for a decent crossover that doesn't break the bank, I'm having difficulty finding one that integrates well with lower cost amp solutions. For example, it seems most active crossover options I'm finding use XLR outputs, and the cheaper amps I'm looking at use unbalanced RCA inputs.
1. Are there any multichannel (or even multiple 2 channel) amps exist that have built in active crossovers with continuous crossover point selection that would negate this issue?
2. Is using an active crossover just inherently expensive and going to be a challenge on a budget?
3. What are some decent active crossovers with RCA outputs for home audio (i.e. not DC powered) that have dials or some other form of continuous adjustment (i.e. not swapping modules of discrete values)?
Looking over their web page, these looks like a perfect solutions, regardless of what amps I choose. I was hoping for a way to integrate a PC with this process, but the others I'd seen on the forum involve non-GUI linux approaches, and that was just too cumbersome for what I wanted. Thanks very much for the recommendation.
I'm a happy customer of xkitz's K231, a bargain of a crossover product. The next best thing would be Bryston 10Bs and xkitz's only cost USD250.
K231 Stereo 3-Way Active Crossover – Xkitz Electronics
It can receive and output both RCA and balanced signals, splits signal into 3 way either with 2nd or 4th order slopes and lets you adjust the baffle step compensation by db level and speaker baffle width.
All my active designs will be using these from now on.
K231 Stereo 3-Way Active Crossover – Xkitz Electronics
It can receive and output both RCA and balanced signals, splits signal into 3 way either with 2nd or 4th order slopes and lets you adjust the baffle step compensation by db level and speaker baffle width.
All my active designs will be using these from now on.
Thanks for the other options Fishball, but the Bryston retails for $3100 and I'm on a budget ($100-300 for the x-over). And, the xkit requires swapping out modules, and I'm looking for something continuously adjustable. The reason I'm considering an active crossover is because it will be easier to adjust than changing out electronic components in a passive.
The miniDSP has an option at $170 that looks great. The only problem is the inputs and outputs are all digital, and I'm having a difficult time finding a pre-amp and amps that would work with that on my budget. Their next best option is $500, and that'd be half my budget for the entire project.
The only solutions I've found so far that stay within my budget is to use one of these XLR crossovers like the Samson S-3-Way, Peavey PV35XO, dbx 234xs, or a Behringer DCX2496LE coupled with 3 Behringer A500 amps, since they have XLR ins and supposedly have a S/N ratio suitable for home audio. The problem there is they all have XLR inputs, and I'm having trouble figuring how to get my RCA sources to the x-over. I'm also wondering if these things are meant solely for PA systems and might have more noise than I might want.
The miniDSP has an option at $170 that looks great. The only problem is the inputs and outputs are all digital, and I'm having a difficult time finding a pre-amp and amps that would work with that on my budget. Their next best option is $500, and that'd be half my budget for the entire project.
The only solutions I've found so far that stay within my budget is to use one of these XLR crossovers like the Samson S-3-Way, Peavey PV35XO, dbx 234xs, or a Behringer DCX2496LE coupled with 3 Behringer A500 amps, since they have XLR ins and supposedly have a S/N ratio suitable for home audio. The problem there is they all have XLR inputs, and I'm having trouble figuring how to get my RCA sources to the x-over. I'm also wondering if these things are meant solely for PA systems and might have more noise than I might want.
Behringer has the wiring diagram in the manual showing how to connect RCA to XLR (unbalanced out to balanced in). They also do the inuke range of amps with built in dsp. If you're prepared for a steep learnjng curve then Sure Electronics DSP boards may be worth a look, capable of limited amout of FIR filtering with Rephase.
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