BAMPing Altec 604-8G and Tannoy HPD 15- pls help w ACTIVExOVER setting suggestions

[Monad]

So it's safe to say that I'm a press smashing Luddite but I'm trying to accept the future.. I've heard about this new technology called 'active xovers' so I picked up a DBX Drive Rack PA to check it out..

I pulled the 604 out of the UREI monster boxes and wired them to some Duelund 12ga tinned copper leads, plugged those into some amps using some XLR to RCA Neutrik adapters because me no havey XLR cables in wide supply.

So I plugged it all in and amazingly, and as a testament to DBX Engineering, I was able to fumble through the iPad UI wizards and get everything set up.. I even figured out the DIRAC mic room correct, without cracking the instructions.. which elevates me to the knowledge based version of a Red Shirt extra on Star Trek.

Crossover??!

oK, i'VE started to read about crossovers but nothing is really making much relatable sense.. while I'd like to learn all this 'junk' I'd rather just get it set up now and backfill with understanding at a later time.

If anyone is familiar w DBX crossover or just general settings for either the Tannoy HPD 15 or Altec 604-8G please share here so I can fiddle, fumble and forge a path forward here.

Pretend I know nothing (which should be easy for both of us) and let's start from there.

 

[Monad]

Right now, with the 604, it sounded good. Better than the how the UREI time delayed crossover *35 year old caps were skuffing up the signal.. but after an hour, whatever I had it set at, started to fatigue. I had to turn it back down, then off, switching to other speakers.

I ran through gain settings, filters, checking out the sound variations with different selections, with varying degrees of smile/ frown factor.. but just got frustrated w my lack of understanding and clinginess to not knowing more.

 

[bowtie427ss]

knowledge based version of a Red Shirt extra...

I used to work for a gentleman who would sometimes tell us "i've gotta hire a few red shirts for the next big job, don't get too attached to 'em"

Does your HF amplifier have a speaker relay/start-up delay?

I like to ensure that the HF is protected from full range switching transients during power-up/power-down.

 

[mkane]

Try crossing the bass @ 100Hz. In real life using a mic it probably will show closer to 160Hz.Head North from there. Have fun twisting the dials.

 

[bowtie427ss]

I ran through gain settings, filters, checking out the sound variations with different selections, with varying degrees of smile/ frown factor.. but just got frustrated w my lack of understanding and clinginess to not knowing more.

I'm not intimately familiar with the driverack pa. But, i assume it has some degree of equalization available. Using that to try to emulate the EQ curve built into the UREI network, or compensating for the known response curve of the driver might be a good starting point.

 

[Monad]

hi, good question- I think so- has a Standby mode. Proceed AMP5, running nice and smooth after some caps.

 

[Monad]

Yes, auto tune EQ.. tried some of the stock settings, then sorted out the mic, got closer to music, not sound but still off and smashing my drums.

 

[Monad]

what about filters? options are like 6, 12, 30.. butterworth and litz for high and low.

i get it, fiddle with it, see how different settings sound but yesterday that got me an ear ache so.. before I put them back on I'd like to at least understand how they should sound before I figure out what flavor of should i prefer.

 

[bowtie427ss]

604's tend to work best with steeper slopes(18db/oct minimum) on the low cut-off of the HF and little overlap.

Spend some time in Jeff Markwart's corner studying the characteristics of the passive networks he's designed for 604's, they should inspire some good starting points.

 

[toddalin]

These are the slopes you are looking for. This is from a custom-made, electronic crossover just for the Super Big Reds (604E2, Utah 15" aux woofer), most probably from The Mastering Labs.

To view, right click on the icon and select "open image in a new tab"

Front:

Back:

Woofer:

Horn:

Aux woofer: