thoughts on going active [message #34315] |
Mon, 03 December 2001 07:15 |
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Messages: 284 Registered: May 2009
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Grand Master |
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hi gang! i've listened to several amps on my 4 pi's, everything from single ended tubes to cheap solid state. nothing can deliver the performance of tubes to my ears yet i want the volume of solid state. i have a set of mission 776/777 amp-pre-amp and also a pair of restored quad II tube monoblocks. after reading an article in audioexpress about the Rane electronic x-over i'm tempted to purchase a used one and run solid state for the bottom and tubes for the top end. the reviewer was impressed with the performance compared to the passive set-up. anybody running active now? do i still need to run a capacitor on tweeter to augment the top octave? cheers, george
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Re: thoughts on going active [message #34320 is a reply to message #34315] |
Mon, 03 December 2001 19:11 |
bmar
Messages: 346 Registered: May 2009
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Grand Master |
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Hi George, I have few pair of JBL cs3115's (not Pi's as yet!) Im using a Peavey active crossover http://www.peavey.com/processors/xd234.html you cant beat a Behringer for the money, and Rane is great stuff though i dont own any. I have read about guys running SS to the bottom and tubes to the top. I'd like to try this myself sometime but I dont have any tube gear yet. "they say" It takes the harshness of the compression drivers and still gives some meat to the bottom. If you want volume and thunder. I cant come close with passive to what biamp can do. I run 550wpc to the bottom, 300wpc to the mid and 100wpc to the top in a triamp. I was just as happy with biamp and running the mid and top together, and will probably go back to that shortly. for a preamp i use a Mackie mixing board. this is pretty dry and i dont car for it. have to use a BBE sonic, eq, etc. too many things to play with just to listen to a cd. Now I run a CD player direct into the active crossover and this sounds great. plenty of volume. I have another pair with a passive xo running on 110wpc receiver. this plays pretty stinkin loud and honestly as loud as i need it. This also sounds better, quality wise. much better presence and i feel like there is a band in front of me. I dont have the greatest gear for my biamp/active setup so that my be why the Denon sounds better. BUT, If you want to really feel the bass spl, rattle your windows and stress your structure. Biamp is king. there's no substitute for cubic inches! Bill
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wayne, more questions [message #34322 is a reply to message #34319] |
Tue, 04 December 2001 09:17 |
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Messages: 284 Registered: May 2009
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Grand Master |
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hi wayne, i'm going to try the active route. since the x-over point will be fixed at 1.6k and i need to boost the top octave, do i use a parametric eq or is their a simpler route? thanks, george
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Re: wayne, more questions [message #34324 is a reply to message #34322] |
Tue, 04 December 2001 12:59 |
Frode
Messages: 49 Registered: May 2009
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Baron |
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Hi! I already have an active XO and a 5-ch. amp, but I haven't tested it with my Four Pis(2226H/MD2001) yet. Maybe I'll try it when my new Beyma drivers arrive. They are supposed to have very nice HF extention, even without compensation. If I were going to use active XO with the MD2001, I would probably add a tweeter to help the HF. The tweeter would be high passed where the MD2001 rolled off, and padded down(if needed). This way I could use a very low-powered tubeamp for the very efficient HF-section.I would like to make it clear that I don't have any experience with active XO's, an this is only thoughts I have. I'll probably end up with a passive solution and a tubeamp with maybe 40-60W. I'm going to try a Kora Jupiter (60W) as soon as my dealer gets it in stock.
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