Clarification and explanation

Posted by neolith (A) on October 12, 2016 at 15:26:42

In Reply to: RE: active crossover install posted by neolith on October 12, 2016 at 07:31:47:

I want to expand on my comment about the Magnepan recommendation for active biamping.
Magnepan spends a good amount of time and effort to optimize the OEM crossover before committing to production. It is unlikely that an amateur audiophile, like myself, would improve on the design. Therefore the ideal active crossover should simulate as closely as possible the OEM XO.
OTOH, the recommendation for active biamping is a compromise brought about by the limited function of the active crossovers available at the time production of the speakers commences. Most commercial crossovers have limited flexiblity. In particular the Bryston 10B cannot produce a 4th order LR without modification of the unit by Bryston and almost as important the choice of crossover points in the region of interest is limited to 200 Hz (perfect for the HP filter) and 300 Hz (close but no cigar for the LP filter).
If you want to do it right, your friend has a few choices:
1) Send the unit back to Bryston for modification
2) DIY - cheap and not overly difficicult to do with modest soldering skills using modules from Rod Elliott
3) Marchand XM-44 - the appropriate modules can be readily supplied by Marchand (cost about $50 for the 4 required modules). About $1000 new and includes the modules.
4) miniDSP (others can comment on the best unit - cost is $200-500 depending on the unit). Very flexible.
5) First Watt B4 (I believe it can give you 275Hz which is close enough to 280 Hz) for about $1500.
#3 and #5 come up for resale from time to time.
Finally a disclosure: I do have a Marchand for sale on Audiogon so I will refrain from making any recommendation about the various choices. I have tried to be as objective as possible in my comments.

"Our head is round in order to allow our thoughts to change direction." Francis Picabia

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - active crossover install - tberd 06:44:50 10/12/16 (24)

RE: active crossover install - watts 20:23:18 12/31/16 (0)

IME dipoles do not respond well to typical symmetrical steep crossovers - Timbo in Oz 03:22:24 10/18/16 (4)

RE: IME dipoles do not respond well to typical symmetrical steep crossovers - Roger Gustavsson 03:42:34 10/18/16 (3)

RE: IME dipoles do not respond well to typical symmetrical steep crossovers - neolith 17:17:57 10/18/16 (1)

RE: IME dipoles do not respond well to typical symmetrical steep crossovers - Satie 08:52:31 10/19/16 (0)

Yes, of course that is implicit they should be connected to match the panel's connections - Timbo in Oz 13:37:00 10/18/16 (0)

RE: active crossover install - andyr 19:39:21 10/12/16 (4)

RE: active crossover install - Norman M 07:36:16 10/13/16 (2)

RE: active crossover install - andyr 12:20:47 10/13/16 (1)

RE: active crossover install - Norman M 07:41:58 10/14/16 (0)

RE: active crossover install - BDP24 00:24:23 10/13/16 (0)

RE: active crossover install - Norman M 17:57:28 10/12/16 (0)

RE: active crossover install - play-mate 10:22:56 10/12/16 (5)

RE: Key... Active measurement Assistance... - BigguyinATL 12:30:32 10/12/16 (4)

RE: Key... Active measurement Assistance... - Davey 08:51:11 10/13/16 (3)

RE: Key... Active measurement Assistance... - BigguyinATL 09:26:32 10/13/16 (2)

The great advantage of a Active crossover is [to] veer away from the manufacturers design... - neolith 11:29:58 10/13/16 (0)

RE: Key... Active measurement Assistance... - Davey 09:38:18 10/13/16 (0)

RE: active crossover install - Davey 09:09:34 10/12/16 (0)

RE: active crossover install - neolith 07:31:47 10/12/16 (2)

Clarification and explanation - neolith 15:26:42 10/12/16 (0)

RE: active crossover install - Roger Gustavsson 09:09:47 10/12/16 (0)

RE: active crossover install - Satie 07:19:35 10/12/16 (0)

RE: active crossover install - grantv 06:53:35 10/12/16 (0)

Follow Ups

Clarification and explanation - neolith 15:26:42 10/12/16 (0)

Clarification and explanation

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