between the amp and driver, even with active. My HF drivers are at least 6, maybe 10 dB hotter than the LF system in use. When I go active, if I decide to implement top octave EQ, one possibility is use normal 2 way active xover, and use resistive padding and passive EQ on the HF driver as Wayne does. Or use more op amps. Passive EQ can be tweaked by ear easier. Sam