Crossover or filter for this budget setup?

[saulty]

Pretty basic question that I need some of your collective expert advice on.

I have a basic stereo setup with an AudioSource AMP300 directly powering two or four BIC DV62si speakers. Two indoors and two outside on the back porch. I use the speaker a/b option on the amp which just combines all four speakers into 2 channels (4ohm load) when I need it. Otherwise it just powers two with an 8ohm load.
I feed the amp300 directly with either a COWON portable player or an iphone via LOD and headphone amp to control volume.

Here is where the question comes in. I'm now building a sealed Kappa 12 VC Sub that I'd like to add to the setup. The Sub will be powered by a plate amp which takes care filtering out everything above 80 or 100hz. But my Bookshelf speakers will still be receiving the full frequency spectrum as they are wired directly to the AMP300. What is the most cost effective way (without sacrificing quality) to filter the frequency range hitting my DV62si speakers?

Could I accomplish this with a handful of "80 Hz High Pass 8 Ohm Crossovers" from Parts Express? Or should I be looking into a Behringer CX2310? Or something else entirely?


Thanks

 

[Swerd]

… Here is where the question comes in. I'm now building a sealed Kappa 12 VC Sub that I'd like to add to the setup. The Sub will be powered by a plate amp which takes care filtering out everything above 80 or 100hz. But my Bookshelf speakers will still be receiving the full frequency spectrum as they are wired directly to the AMP300. What is the most cost effective way (without sacrificing quality) to filter the frequency range hitting my DV62si speakers?

You didn't mention what plate amp you will use for your sub. Many of these amps allow two types of connection, line-level and speaker-level. Your set up rules out a line-level connection, so if your plate amp allows it, you can connect speaker cables from your amp to the subwoofer's plate amp. It can pass this through to your speakers through a high-pass filter. This plate amp, a Dayton SA240, is an example of what I mean. Download the manual for more details. Make sure the plate amp you get for your subwoofer has a similar feature.

Could I accomplish this with a handful of "80 Hz High Pass 8 Ohm Crossovers" from Parts Express? Or should I be looking into a Behringer CX2310? Or something else entirely?

Avoid using a passive high pass filter in this frequency range. The cap(s) and inductor(s) required for that frequency will be large, expensive, and will suffer from problems that filters at frequencies above 300-400 Hz don't encounter.

An external active crossover would also get the job done, but will add to your cost. Why do that when you can do something similar with the right plate amp?

 

[saulty]

Thanks for the reply. I thought about trying to use the plate amp as my crossover for my mains but ruled that out because I'd like to keep the sub portable. I will be taking the sub out on the patio when the weather is nice, then maybe pop it into my HT setup indoors later on for a movie. I'd like to allow the patio speakers to play on rainy days when I wouldn't necessarily take the sub out to play...
Although, I guess a modification to this idea is to build the plate amp into its own small enclosure and build the sub as a passive one. I was thinking about doing this anyhow to ensure a perfectly sealed enclosure for the driver. Then I could leave the plate amp indoors near the AMP300 and use the existing wire runs out to my speakers.
That said, it doesn't look like the O Audio 500W Bash has hi level inputs. nor does the 500W Dayton or Bash amp on PE.

I guess if I were to separate the plate amp from the sub, then why not go the EP1500 route?

 

[lsiberian]

Thanks for the reply. I thought about trying to use the plate amp as my crossover for my mains but ruled that out because I'd like to keep the sub portable. I will be taking the sub out on the patio when the weather is nice, then maybe pop it into my HT setup indoors later on for a movie. I'd like to allow the patio speakers to play on rainy days when I wouldn't necessarily take the sub out to play...
Although, I guess a modification to this idea is to build the plate amp into its own small enclosure and build the sub as a passive one. I was thinking about doing this anyhow to ensure a perfectly sealed enclosure for the driver. Then I could leave the plate amp indoors near the AMP300 and use the existing wire runs out to my speakers.
That said, it doesn't look like the O Audio 500W Bash has hi level inputs. nor does the 500W Dayton or Bash amp on PE.

I guess if I were to separate the plate amp from the sub, then why not go the EP1500 route?

Get an EP2500 and a DCX246 that's my opinion.

 

[saulty]

Yes, EP2500 and the DCX would be the perfect answer. Although far too painful for my wallet to endure. What is the 2nd most perfect answer?

 

[Swerd]

I don't know what sound quality expectations you have for this "budget" system, but the bass will sound significantly different when you move it outside. It might not be worth the effort. Just how heavy and easily moved is your subwoofer?

You could always try those cheap 80 Hz high-pass filters from Parts Express. They're meant for auto sound and not home audio, but it would cost a lot less than the other options.

 

[lsiberian]

Yes, EP2500 and the DCX would be the perfect answer. Although far too painful for my wallet to endure. What is the 2nd most perfect answer?

QSC amps seem to be the most common found for cheap. I plan to get one of these in the future.

 

[TLS Guy]

Pretty basic question that I need some of your collective expert advice on.

I have a basic stereo setup with an AudioSource AMP300 directly powering two or four BIC DV62si speakers. Two indoors and two outside on the back porch. I use the speaker a/b option on the amp which just combines all four speakers into 2 channels (4ohm load) when I need it. Otherwise it just powers two with an 8ohm load.
I feed the amp300 directly with either a COWON portable player or an iphone via LOD and headphone amp to control volume.

Here is where the question comes in. I'm now building a sealed Kappa 12 VC Sub that I'd like to add to the setup. The Sub will be powered by a plate amp which takes care filtering out everything above 80 or 100hz. But my Bookshelf speakers will still be receiving the full frequency spectrum as they are wired directly to the AMP300. What is the most cost effective way (without sacrificing quality) to filter the frequency range hitting my DV62si speakers?

Could I accomplish this with a handful of "80 Hz High Pass 8 Ohm Crossovers" from Parts Express? Or should I be looking into a Behringer CX2310? Or something else entirely?


Thanks

I would definitely not use a passive crossover at 80 Hz. I would find a used stereo two way active crossover on eBay.

 

[saulty]

Thanks for all the advice. I went the active crossover route. Just bought a used CX3400 on ebay. Now I need to figure out how to wire it.

I have a feeling this is going to be a pretty silly question but here it goes:
What is the wiring order that I should use? Does the CX3400 crossover only low voltage inputs or speaker level inputs as well?

Is this how it should be wired?
audio source -> AMP300 -> speaker out to cx3400 & line out to sub plate amp -> speakers?
or
audio source -> CX3400 -> line level to both AMP300 and sub plate amp -> speakers/sub

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks for all the advice. I went the active crossover route. Just bought a used CX3400 on ebay. Now I need to figure out how to wire it.

I have a feeling this is going to be a pretty silly question but here it goes:
What is the wiring order that I should use? Does the CX3400 crossover only low voltage inputs or speaker level inputs as well?

Is this how it should be wired?
audio source -> AMP300 -> speaker out to cx3400 & line out to sub plate amp -> speakers?
or
audio source -> CX3400 -> line level to both AMP300 and sub plate amp -> speakers/sub

Here is your manual!

Select two way crossover. Set crossover frequency range to 44Hz to 930 Hz.

Connect the amp to you main speakers to outputs 3 and 10. Connect you sub to outputs

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks for all the advice. I went the active crossover route. Just bought a used CX3400 on ebay. Now I need to figure out how to wire it.

I have a feeling this is going to be a pretty silly question but here it goes:
What is the wiring order that I should use? Does the CX3400 crossover only low voltage inputs or speaker level inputs as well?

Is this how it should be wired?
audio source -> AMP300 -> speaker out to cx3400 & line out to sub plate amp -> speakers?
or
audio source -> CX3400 -> line level to both AMP300 and sub plate amp -> speakers/sub

Here is your manual!

Select two way crossover. Set crossover frequency range to 44Hz to 930 Hz.

Connect the amp to you main speakers to outputs 3 and 10. Connect you sub to outputs 5 and 11. connect preamp to the inputs.

And no you you can not use speaker level inputs.

Note, I do not even own the thing!