What Active crossover to get?

[Mike82]

I am looking to get a active crossover for my mains and center channel. Later on I would not mind having it my sub. I am not sure which brand offers best value for dollar, I have been recommended Rane so far. Also I have not found one that could run that many channels yet, would I have to get 2 to run a 5.1 system. I would need 4 channels just for the mains then one more channel for the center so I would need 5 to start with. Any help is muchly appreciated.

Mike

 

[WmAx]

I am looking to get a active crossover for my mains and center channel. Later on I would not mind having it my sub. I am not sure which brand offers best value for dollar, I have been recommended Rane so far. Also I have not found one that could run that many channels yet, would I have to get 2 to run a 5.1 system. I would need 4 channels just for the mains then one more channel for the center so I would need 5 to start with. Any help is muchly appreciated.

Mike

The Behringer DCX2496 is by far one of the best deals. It is more sophisticated and higher performance than anything anywhere near it's price point. You have to spend more then 2x the amount to get a unit that is comparable(but in many ways still inferior) to the DCX.

The DCX has 3 inputs and 6 outputs. You can daisy chain multiple DCX units and assign one as a master control unit and the others as slave units. Perfect for expansion to a large number of control channels. The DCX has a very easy to use/powerful GUI interface for use on PCs.

-Chris

 

[Mike82]

The Behringer DCX2496 is by far one of the best deals. It is more sophisticated and higher performance than anything anywhere near it's price point. You have to spend more then 2x the amount to get a unit that is comparable(but in many ways still inferior) to the DCX.

The DCX has 3 inputs and 6 outputs. You can daisy chain multiple DCX units and assign one as a master control unit and the others as slave units. Perfect for expansion to a large number of control channels. The DCX has a very easy to use/powerful GUI interface for use on PCs.

-Chris

So with 3 inputs and 6 outputs i should be able to hook up my mains which require 4 channels and my center which will require one for now maybe two later. Just to get this straight I would hook this up between my pre amp and amp please correct me if I am wrong. If so which output of the pre amp do i use for which input of the active crossover. Are the inputs of the DCX Low-Mid-High?

 

[WmAx]

So with 3 inputs and 6 outputs i should be able to hook up my mains which require 4 channels and my center which will require one for now maybe two later. Just to get this straight I would hook this up between my pre amp and amp please correct me if I am wrong. If so which output of the pre amp do i use for which input of the active crossover. Are the inputs of the DCX Low-Mid-High?

I am not sure what you intend to do; your description is a little confusing to me.

The DCX can be assigned as you like. It has no specified Low, Mid and High except for some default associations which can be defeated. You can literally assign any type of isolated setting/filter to any channel you so desire without limitation(s). 3 inputs would cover of course, main Left and Right and Center. You should send L and R as full range (large) so that you can use the DCX to split the LF out of it and send to the subwoofer(s).

-Chris

 

[lsiberian]

I am not sure what you intend to do; your description is a little confusing to me.

The DCX can be assigned as you like. It has no specified Low, Mid and High except for some default associations which can be defeated. You can literally assign any type of isolated setting/filter to any channel you so desire without limitation(s). 3 inputs would cover of course, main Left and Right and Center. You should send L and R as full range (large) so that you can use the DCX to split the LF out of it and send to the subwoofer(s).

-Chris

This is a great and easy way to update your system.

 

[Mike82]

I am not sure what you intend to do; your description is a little confusing to me.

The DCX can be assigned as you like. It has no specified Low, Mid and High except for some default associations which can be defeated. You can literally assign any type of isolated setting/filter to any channel you so desire without limitation(s). 3 inputs would cover of course, main Left and Right and Center. You should send L and R as full range (large) so that you can use the DCX to split the LF out of it and send to the subwoofer(s).

-Chris

I am new to this sorry for being confusing. I am in the process of building fronts and want to do a active crossover rather than a passive crossover. What I gather is this unit will take the place of a passive crossover. But hooking it up is what i am not sure about. As far as how many speakers it can control. I am planning on doing a 2.5 way at this point so i guessing I could hook both mids in one cabinet to one output and into one channel on my amp. And one output would go to the tweeter. I am thinking this is wrong and thats why I seek advise.

 

[mike c]

yes, you can input your LEFT CENTER and RIGHT and output LOW and HIGH to each
OR
input LEFT and RIGHT and output LOW - MID - HIGH to each.

basically anything you need to do that uses 3 ins, and 6 outs.

 

[Mika75]

What I gather is this unit will take the place of a passive crossover...... I am planning on doing a 2.5 way at this point so i guessing I could hook both mids in one cabinet to one output and into one channel on my amp. And one output would go to the tweeter. I am thinking this is wrong and thats why I seek advise.

This can be done, although u still will have a passive network to separate the Mid & Mid bass (2.5 way)
If I misunderstood and u have amplifiers for all separate drivers, then all 6 output channels on the DCX will be used (6 drivers, 6 individually filtered outputs)
If in the future if u do the full 5.1 ...u will need 2 extra DCX.
Why not just build an MTM design ..saves on some outputs, and gains u some db, and u will need only 2 DCX for 5.1

 

[Mike82]

This can be done, although u still will have a passive network to separate the Mid & Mid bass (2.5 way)
If I misunderstood and u have amplifiers for all separate drivers, then all 6 output channels on the DCX will be used (6 drivers, 6 individually filtered outputs)
If in the future if u do the full 5.1 ...u will need 2 extra DCX.
Why not just build an MTM design ..saves on some outputs, and gains u some db, and u will need only 2 DCX for 5.1

Thats what I will be doing a MTM design i messed up by saying 2.5 way. That way i could hook both mids up to one filter and save two filters just in my mains alone, correct.

 

[Mika75]

Thats what I will be doing a MTM design i messed up by saying 2.5 way. That way i could hook both mids up to one filter and save two filters just in my mains alone, correct.

Yes, correct

Behringer ULTRADRIVE PRO DCX2496

At the bottom of that page u will find the User Manual in pdf.
Open that, & scroll down to page 33