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Recommendation On Active Crossover

kjello

kjello

Super Member
Hi all

I need some recommendation of a good active crossover, 2 or 3 way, high sound quality, low noise unit.
I found the rather vintage Pioneer SF-850, but not much else.
Also could use a preamp/crossover combination
What are the options here ?

Thanks
KO
 
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I have three electronic crossovers. A Behringer CX-2310, DBX-223SX and a Paradigm X-30. They are all two way and all work quite well. I currently use the DBX on my front speakers and the Behringer on my rear speakers.
 
The Pioneer 850 is one of the best consumer electronic crossovers from the past. There is a less sophisticated model I think 700. You might look for some pre-owned, Crown, Urei, Rane, Klarke -Teknik, if you want great signal to noise. If you are well healed there is Accuphase and Bryston. Dbx is a good machine but the controls and switches need continual service. Try to keep the recommended roll off of the speaker manufacturer. Remember to remove the passive components the electronic crossover replaces.
 
Seconding the Ashly recommendation. I use the XR2001, 3 way in my system today. I have used Behringer CX3400 and the DCX2496 in my system prior to XR2001 and to my ears the Ashly easily bests them for SQ.
 
I've purchased and used a whole slew of various crossovers, digital and analog. The one that for me has done the job and stayed out of the way of audio quality problems the best, is the Bryston 10B.

It comes in both balanced and unbalanced versions. And it also comes with two types of frequencies installed, one for normal use and the other with lower frequencies emphasized for duty as a sub crossover. That one will at least sometimes be referred to as a 10B Sub. Solid as a rock units.

Used you can over time probably catch one in the $900 range but usually a good deal is a couple hundred more. Older units do not have the IEC cord and instead have a permanent power cable.

EV3
 
Gibsonian said:
Seconding the Ashly recommendation. I use the XR2001, 3 way in my system today. I have used Behringer CX3400 and the DCX2496 in my system prior to XR2001 and to my ears the Ashly easily bests them for SQ.
Click to expand...

Is the XR2001 24 dB/octave slopes? im a bit confused about this, I have seen them described as 24 but they are marked 12, or am I missing something?
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24dB/oct.

What you may be referring to with the 12 is their response control. It doesn't change the slope, but it allows you to vary what would be like the type of slope...Butterworth, L-R, etc.
 
whoaru99 said:
Another to mention is the miniDSP stuff. A relative newcomer on the block. 2x4 or 2x4 HD, or the 4x10 HD depending what you need for number of outputs.

But, these and some others mentioned like the DCX 2496 are much more than just crossovers.
Click to expand...
I second the MiniDSP recommendation. I use one (a 2x4) as an active crossover/equalizer/delay in my main system and it's superb. The software for it is just packed with features and will probably do everything and more that the most expensive analog models will do (it's probably only limited by the number of inputs and outputs).
 
I've owned an NHT X2 and was quite satisfied with it's performance. They periodically show up on ebay. You do NOT want the NHT X1.
 
Hey again
I have to choose between Ashly XR2001 and XR4001,
What say the Ashly users ?
I want 2 channels of 3 way split SUB/LP/HP, Low noise and audio quality is most important.

Best regards
KO
 
Thinking (99.996% confident) the XR4001 and 2001 have same design of circuit. Probably doesn't matter which one you choose so much. The XR2001 can be ran as 3 way as you are needing, The XR4001 is 4 way so has extra band pass that you won't need. Unless you think you might go 4 way in the future I'd probably go XR2001. Price and condition play a role in your choice here though, neither model is made anymore by Ashly.

Ran as 3 way Xover is set up as I have below:

Low pass for your sub or low freq driver / high pass and low pass for midrange driver / high pass for tweeter

On the XR2001 there is also a built in 25 hz highpass circuit for the sub or low range that can be disabled by moving a jumper inside of the crossover. I use mine to prevent sub driver over excursion and also for turntable subsonic filter. Thinking the XR4001 has the same.
 
I have an Ashly 2 way and it's said to share many of the same components with the Marchand. I also have a Behringer CX-2310. Love the fact that it has separate controls for a sub's gain and crossover. So it's more of a pseudo 3 way.
 
Gibsonian said:
Thinking (99.996% confident) the XR4001 and 2001 have same design of circuit. Probably doesn't matter which one you choose so much. The XR2001 can be ran as 3 way as you are needing, The XR4001 is 4 way so has extra band pass that you won't need. Unless you think you might go 4 way in the future I'd probably go XR2001. Price and condition play a role in your choice here though, neither model is made anymore by Ashly.

Ran as 3 way Xover is set up as I have below:

Low pass for your sub or low freq driver / high pass and low pass for midrange driver / high pass for tweeter

On the XR2001 there is also a built in 25 hz highpass circuit for the sub or low range that can be disabled by moving a jumper inside of the crossover. I use mine to prevent sub driver over excursion and also for turntable subsonic filter. Thinking the XR4001 has the same.
Click to expand...

If you could get a older Ashly made XR2001 vs a almost new chinese XR4001 what would you chose ?
 
American made all the way baby, the XR2001.

Not sure if the Chinese made one is SMT PCB's or not, but the XR2001 is thru hole boards, much better if you decide to upgrade it later (I did)
 
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