Active crossovers


Hey all. I'm currently working on an active 3 way system and wondering if and what options are available. The plan is a tri-amped configuration with a Behringer crossover but my question is whether there is such a thing as an electronic crossover that does not require multiple amps. Finding or designing a suitable passive crossover is far beyond my means and in my humble opinion they are a dinosaur anyway. I have three amps ready to go but having the option of just one would be the ultimate versatility. Thoughts? Thank you.
csontos

Showing 2 responses by csontos

Sorry guys. I've been away. I hope this thread isn't dead. I have to apologize as I'm out of the loop in regards to this entire conversation and completely illiterate to the jargon. I have a pair of JBL 2440 compression drivers with horns and Hartsfield lenses, a pair of JBL C1200(12") mid-bass drivers and a pair of JBL 2245H(18") bass drivers. I want to cross the 2440's over at 700hz, the C1200's at around 300hz. I have the specs and requirements for the drivers and intend to build the cabs. Efficiency for the 2440's is 117db, for the C1200's 93db and the 2245's 95db. I just love the sound of the Ampzillas and have a bunch of them. The best ones IMO are the Son Of Ampzillas at 80w.min. per ch. I have three that are rebuilt and want to tri-amp, hence the Behringer. But it would be great to be able to use just one amp without the need for a passive crossover. Another question I have is whether it's possible to install a fixed resistor in conjunction with a lesser value bias pot in an amp in order to achieve a finer adjustment since you would now have a larger space of adjustment for the
wiper to rest on the pad. Multi-turn pots are such only because there is a step-down gear attached to the adjusting
screw but the actual pad is the same relative length as any other single turn mechanism. It simply allows you to arrive at the adjustment more easily but does not improve it's ability to hold the adjustment. It seems a wider place of adjustment on the pad would accomplish this. Is this a worthwhile exercise?
This is a question regarding bias pots in general. My experience has been that they don't hold their adjustment for very long. This is the case for all the amps I've owned. They may stay close to the mark, but still drift. The issue is not that they drift per se, but that they drift to different values from each other so that you lose channel balance, whether you're dealing with monos or an integrated. I'm speaking strictly of SS amps here.