Great information, as always! One question: When using the crossover you can now attenuate the output signal on both the amp and the crossover. Do you run the amp at 0 attenuation and adjust the crossover output? Run the crossover at Unity and adjust the amp attenuation? A little of both? Just wondering how to get the cleanest signal chain...
Good question. We always set the amplifiers at their maximum loudness (0 attenuation), and use the crossover outputs to manage the input level (input voltages) to the amplifier. If the amplifiers are attenuated too much, and the crossover output is increased too much, this could cause distortion (over-driving voltage) at the input stage of amplifiers. It's most always best to keep the amplifiers at their full output and control the volume with the crossover outputs.
Very cool. I am building a set of 3-ways for hifi and considering active crossover. Ive built/rebuilt passive crossovers before and it can be tedious and time consuming to get them right. Is it a good idea to add a cap on the tweeter for protection? I am trying too learn about active, never had much experience, a little with my car stereo.
Some do add caps for the extra protection. Make sure there is not too much power going to the tweeter. As you probably already know, tweeters do not require a lot of power.
If you were going to run a mono FOH setup, it's common to use either signal splitters at the amps (to send the same signal to 2 different amps), or you would daisy chain the signals from the mid/high and low amps to the other mid/high and low amps for the 2nd stack. If you were going to run a stereo FOH setup, the second stack would be fed the signal(s) from the other crossover output.
If you have 8ohm speakers (top box and subs) and your amp can safely run 4 ohm speakers, wouldn't it be easier to just daisy chain the 2nd pair of speakers off the first pair? @@stageleftaudio
Yes, as long as the speaker cables between the 1st and 2nd pair of speakers is not too long. Depending on the type of show we do, our speaker cable lengths are limited to 30ft (9m). Long speaker cables add resistance and can affect how the amplifier performs.
noob question: I have a 3 way active crossover and say I'm going to use 2way tops and sub (bi-amping only: tops and subs) - how do I connect my crossover? thank you! seen most of your videos and learned a lot =)
Thank you for your comment. Most crossovers (analog) support 2-way stereo and 3-way mono. If you need a 2-way mono setup, your crossover should be configured for stereo (2-chnl); this will mean you would use one side of the crossover for input and output (assuming you want mono output for FOH). Just like the video shows... "board" ---> "crossover input" (chnl A) ---> low-out of chnl A to sub/bass amplifier /// mid-high out of chnl A to mid-high amplifier. For a 2-way setup (mono), the other channel of the crossover (chnl B) would not be used. If you need stereo, channel B would be setup exactly as chnl A. If your crossover is a single channel 3-way unit, just use the "low" output for the lows, and the mid-output for the mid-highs. You'll need to widen the frequency range of the mid-output to cover the high frequency range area. The inputs and outputs for a mono crossover would be similar (if not identical) to setting up one side of a stereo crossover for a mono output.
Yeah, I didn't talk much about the x10 switch. Many analog crossovers have those switches. All they do is multiply the xover value by 10 (i.e. 200Hz x 10 = 2kHz). The switches are primarily used when using a xover in 3-way mode. It provides high xover values for tweeters/horns.
The video shows a mono setup (using the Left channel). For the right channel, just plug the output from the right side of your mixer into the right side (or maybe channel 2; depending on the crossiver) of the crossover; the right side of the crossover would be setup just like the left side. If you pan everything to the left on your board, you won't need the "Right" channel. Remember - just because a mixer has a Left and Right output, does not mean that both must be used. Unless you have a specific need to run stereo, a vast majority of sound system setups are actually mono. Setting up a true stereo sound system requires twice the amount of cables and cable-connections between the board and the amplifiers. If you are setting up a stereo system, just duplicate the number of cables and cable connections.
Hey just want to say thank you so much for this great video, i have a question for you , so if i have 2 crossover , 2 equalizer and 8 amplifiers can i connect all this together and if yes can you please explain how would you do it?
Looks like you can connect everything you listed, however, only one (1) crossover and (1) EQ should be used. Basically, run the console output to one of your EQs, then from the EQ to a crossover, then from the crossover to the low/mid/high amplifiers.
Okay, same thing with two amps, one for highs and the other for lows. Do you send the low output from both sides of the crossover to the amp for the lows? And also does channel A of the EQ affect both highs and lows? How will the connection be like if you want one channel on the EQ to control just highs and the other channel for just lows?
Sounds like the mid/high XLR is connected to the sub output of the xover. If you are using a stereo setup, it is easy to get the cables mixed up. If you are getting bass from the mid/high speakers, sounds very much like the cables are switched. Also, make sure your xover point is not set too high, that it would allow vocal frequencies into the subs. A good starting point for a xover is around 100hz.
So does it make since to connect an straight line eq from the board along with the crossover or u really don't have to have one if u have a digital mixer, (like I have)?
RoLays85 If you're digital mixer has an EQ for the mains out, and you decide to use that EQ, there will be no need to place another EQ (analog EQ) in line between the board and the crossover.
Hello, SLA, first I thank you for all the videos you present here at You tube, very informative. I have a dbx 223 xl, and noticed that the low freq knob has to be wide open, for the bass from the subs to even be noticeable. Coming from a Dj mixer straight to xover at +0 db, and unity at dbx 223. For comparison's sake, I switched the dbx for my older dod 835 18 db xover, and the bass response is like night and day. I have even switched line cables with same result. I bought the dbx thinking it would be an upgrade. Any comments is greatly appreciated. Stay safe. God bless.
There can be a lot of variables involved with troubleshooting. Start with these: - Make sure the (1x 10x) buttons are out (not pushed in) - Are you running mono? Make sure your Low freq. cable is connected to the correct Low out. Looking at the back of the unit, this would be the "Low" output on the far right under "channel 1". - Make sure the "mono" button is pushed in. - Make sure the "Low Freq. Sum" is out (not pushed in) If you are running stereo. try your same setup using the opposite side of controls. It is possible there could be an issue with a Low-output control.
@@stageleftaudio Hi SLA, thx for replying, so I checked my settings. x1 button is out, running stereo direct from a dj mixer, so I had the low freq sum button pushed IN as I'm using one sub amp in mono, and using Ch1 output labeled LF sum. I'll try it again with the LF sum button out in stereo. I'll keep you posted. Thx again.
Hello SLA, same output in db measured. Both channels, stereo or mono, it does not matter. Switched it to my older DOD, and the bass is drastically noticeable. Both xover with amp used at 75 pct wide wide open. I may have a defective unit. One thing of note though, the low freq knob is more sensitive when I hooked up a powered top at unity on the volume knob. What gives?
Certainly sounds like it could be a defective unit (it does happen... often). The low frequency knob on the xover isn't actually more sensitive when a powered speaker is attached... it's the powered speaker connected to it that is sensitive. Depending on the brand of powered speaker, some of them are set to be very sensitive than others (like turning the input/volume knob of the powered speaker all the way to the right). Not all powered speakers are the same (reference the input sensitivity of the speaker). Some speakers require little input voltage (compared to others) to get them to sound loud. Something to consider... when turning the knobs of the xover, if they "crackle" or have static (with a speaker connected), when the knobs are rotated; this is most always a sign the controls are "dirty" which usually results in a comprised result of lesser quality issues. A good cleaning of the controls could correct the issues. Thanks for the follow up.
sir my question is, i have a speaker which is 2 way system. 1 twitter and 1 woofer. i dont have subwoofer... my woofer is also acting like a sub. now i hav this crossover using 2 way system. i will connect from crossover High to my channel A (Amplifier) for my high like twitter only. and from crossover Low, i will connect channel B (Amplifier) for my Low (Woofer). your video is showing 2 way.. your Peavy mid and high cabinet are using dividing network inside this cabinet?
Those Peavey speakers have 2 types of speaker connections on them. One of the connections is for a full-range input (for using the internal crossover - this uses a 2-conductor speaker cable). The other speaker connection is for bi-amping when using 4-conductor speaker cable. The bi-amp speaker input does NOT use the internal crossover. The bi-amp input is a direct connection to the drivers; meaning one-pair of speaker wires goes to the horn, and the other pair of speaker wires go to the woofer... all through one speaker cable (a 4-conductor cable). Sounds like you have your 2-way system setup correctly.
Connect it the same way as in the video, but add the mid range. The xover in the video is a 3-way mono, but I only showed how to connect it as 2-way mono; adding the mid freq. range is as simple as setting up a 2-way. If you are only needing a 2-way system and you have a 3-way xover, just connect the low and high outputs.
The crossover in the video is a 3-way stereo (2 channel) unit. If running the crossover in 4-way mode, this can only be done in mono. Other crossovers can do 4-way stereo.
@@stageleftaudio I'm still confused. Okay so I don't use as left and right stereo hooking up both speakers ch.1 using low, input for my 12" jbl irx high input for my 8" jbl irx.??
You are correct. If you are wanting to use the crossover, yes... connect the 12" to the low-out and the 8" to the high-out. Run a single output from one of the DOD channels, and connect it into one of the inputs of the crossover. Then connect your speakers as referenced above. They way you are wanting to setup your speakers is a very common method.
If your top speakers only accept full-range signals, it's possible the 12" speakers could be blown. Or there could be a problem with the internal crossover of the speakers. What brand/model of speaker are you using?
There is no best setting with any EQ. It all depends on what music is being played, the position of the speakers, the amplification, volume level... there's a lot of variables. Also, of which is very important, EQ adjustments should always start out as subtractive. Rarely do we ever add volume to an EQ setting.
"Subtractive EQ" just means reducing the EQ frequency (on the EQ) to correct an audio problem. Most of the time, lowering (reducing) an EQ frequency will make the sound better. Sometimes, people will "add" more EQ (using an EQ) to correct an audio problem... however, adding more volume to an EQ frequency can sometimes make the audio worse. It's usually best to first reduce an audio frequency to make things sound better before adding to it. Hope this helps.
The "left" out of the CD player is connected to channel 1 The "right" out is connected to channel 2. Both connections are using an RCA to 1/4" adapter.
Any EQ should be placed before the crossover (i.e. in-line between FOH output and crossover input, or as an "insert" directly off of FOH). We have a couple of videos on this site that reference adding EQ as in-line or as an insert.
