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Three-way active crossovers....anyone use one?

Urchinn

Urchinn

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Still very unsure what I'm going to do with my Karlson cabinets, but I love the bass so much that I may just add a mid and a tweeter. Looking at crossovers of all types, and would love input (for active or passive crossovers). All advice/sarcasm/suggestions welcome....
 
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I admire your sticktoitiveness Tony and I wish I could be of some help. I've tried active a few times but always seem to go back to the simpler passive set up. Why not use the Karlsons as a bass cab and use a separate box with mids and tweets?
 
I'm absolutely considering that. I'm experimenting right now with Sequerra speakers on top of the cabs. The real drive behind my sticktoitiveness is the fact that my wife hates big speakers....but these things baffle (no pun intended) her sense of design. She like 'em....
 
A friend loaned me his Pioneer 3 way about 30 years ago. I was too scared to touch the knobs- I just left it the way he had set it. I see those going for big bucks on the bay.
After that, and also about 30 years ago, I bought my own Nakimichi 2 way electronic crossover. As I had 3 way speakers I used a passive crossover from mids to tweets. It worked well for my expectations.
 
Urchinn said:
I'm absolutely considering that. I'm experimenting right now with Sequerra speakers on top of the cabs. The real drive behind my sticktoitiveness is the fact that my wife hates big speakers....but these things baffle (no pun intended) her sense of design. She like 'em....
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Aha; Now you have something to work with. Find something equally as attractive to sit on the top, dial in the crossover and it sounds like you're good to go.
 
I am triamping my living room speakers, next week starts the new setup of EV Georigan bass bins, Altec 288-8L/MRII594 mid horns, and EV ST350A tweeters fed by a DBX DriveRack PA+, Sony TA-3200F for bass, Yamaha P2100 for mids, and P2075 for tweeters.

What do you want to know?
 
I run an active crossover with my big Altec/JBL/Renkus system. Its nice to have the flexibility to change the xover frequency and see what sounds the best. You could always figure that out with an active xover and then switch to a passive with the same xover points.

I do also use safety caps for my horns. That protects them from any unwanted low frequencies that might sneak through. My current active crossover point is 750hz for the horns. The caps are a value that blocks anything below around 250hz
 
PM essNeff. He's using one of the Behringer 2946 speaker management devices that's their version of the DBX Driveracks. Maybe lay hands on the spec sheets for both and compare features. The more popular sentiment out there is that the DBX is a higher quality piece of hardware, but do some reading and take that with a grain of salt.
 
I have a set of Marchand actives set up for 3-way that you can borrow any time. I think the crossover points are 400/3400. I have to check tho.
 
Tony, I believe Dave Wojo uses an external xover on his 604-based Altecs. If I recall right, he's using a two way electronic xover to separate bass and mids-highs to four tube channels. However he is using a single cap to send the mid-high signal to a JBL tweet. You might want to check with him.

I could probably lend you a dbx DriveRack PA if you want to try it.
 
I was going to suggest the Ashly XR-2001 but I see it's no longer being made. The alternative would be to use two XR-1001 each in mono mode one for each channel. Or find a used XR-2001.

I'm going to try a vintage three way, tri-amped JBL system with two Crown VFX2A crossovers, when I get around to it. I have all the parts including Crown D45 amps for the 075 UHF drivers, D75A for the LE175DLH mids, and a nice D150A-II for the efficient D130 I'm using as the woofer. Just for fun and because the JBLs have been in my home for over 55-years and I want to bring them back to life since they've been supplanted in my main system by bi-amped 4-way JBL 4345s. :dunno:
 
I have built many passive 2,3, etc networks, and used quite a few 2 and 3 way active networks. Good things to be said of both. For accuracy and flexibility the actives had it in spades. The active- due to the shear number of electronics needed to keep it working, namely multiple amps, the crossover it self, perhaps a rack, extension plugs, etc make it impractical for some, then tere is the complexity issue! As for accuracy a good electronic x-over is great. I had Ranes, EV's and more and was impressed
DC
 
dc270 said:
I have built many passive 2,3, etc networks, and used quite a few 2 and 3 way active networks. Good things to be said of both. For accuracy and flexibility the actives had it in spades. The active- due to the shear number of electronics needed to keep it working, namely multiple amps, the crossover it self, perhaps a rack, extension plugs, etc make it impractical for some, then tere is the complexity issue! As for accuracy a good electronic x-over is great. I had Ranes, EV's and more and was impressed
DC
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Yep!
 
Did I mention you need some cables as well? Like a LOT of cabing!! L&R speakers leads for each tweeter, midrange and woofer you have. Then there is three stereo power amps L&R cables- adapters from TRS/ BNC to RCA, etc., then there is the stereo pre amp,

However like I said- the BIG reward IS the sound and the flexibility you have with that sound! No worry about speaker impedances, phase shift, time aliment, etc, etc. When something goes wrong you can be a while tracing it back however!
DC
 
I use an EV active crossover with my Speakerlab K's , an Audio-Source solid state amp for the bass(better bass response)and a Dynaco ST70 tube amp for the mids and highs. To me its the best of both worlds. JOHN
 
I have been using a Behringer DCX 2496 with my altec setups in two way configurations.I used a Carvin 2/3 way crossover prior to the DCX which worked fine, but the DCX came highly regarded by some on the Altec Hostboard forum. It is interesting trying different crossover points and slopes. I have been very happy with the Behringer product ands its flexibility, the reality is It has more features that I have not utilized yet. I have ordered a DEQ 2496 which should be here tomorrow. I plan as part of integrating the DEQ into the system, setting things up as a three way system eliminating the subwoofer plate amps. Below is a picture of what I am currently experimenting with. Its a 14.5 cubic inch enclosure with a 604e, and a Community 40x90 degree horn with Altec 802-16G. I'm running them two way, bouncing back and forth between the community horn and the 604e horn,crossing the community horns at about 800hz and the 604e horns at about 1500 hz. Problem is I like the sound of both configurations. Looking forward to trying the DEQ EQ options and eliminating my analog eq. I guess I'm pointing out my current set up to emphasis the flexibility of the active crossovers if you plan on running different configurations, or experimentation is one of your goals .
 

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