Multi-Amping & Electronic Crossovers...Digital or Analog and Doing the Least Harm?

[Mister Pig]

I am strongly considering trying a tri-amped system configuration sometime this year. Since the speakers I am using ar open baffles, it is very easy to bypass the passive crossover and get this whole thing wired up.

At first I thought of using something along the line of a Mini DSP since I could get an electronic crossover, digital time correction, and measurement capabilities. But I have been doing some reading where certain owners feel the digital converters in this component are sub par.

Now I am a SET kind of pig, and that means having an unaltered source signal is of the utmost importance, even through the amplification stage. The idea of converting a source signal to digital and then back to analog does not feel right to me. Even though I understand how valuable being able to manipulate the signal in the digital realm can theoretically be.

My other option is to use an analog electronic crossover. Now since the speakers I have use a coax driver supported by two woofers per side, it seems that digital time correction for driver time alignment is of minimal benefit. Traditional room treatments can be used to take care of early reflection points. So perhaps an analog electronic crossover would be a choice that better fits my philosophy.

The only problem is that there are very few electronic crossovers intended for home audio use. The Marchand is perhaps the most recognizable choice, but the plug in modules are somewhat inconvenient, and make the tuning process somewhat difficult.

The other option is pro sound companies, where most of these devices are used anyways. Something from perhaps RANE, DBX, Ashley, or Sampson might be reasonable choices. The only problem is that most use balanced type inputs, and my gear is single ended RCA output and input jacks. As I understand it there are adapters, but once again I hate using all that extra metal and compounded connections to get the job done.

So has anyone else gone down this road? What have been your experiences?

Regards
Mister Pig

 

[GaryProtein]

You have two choices

The PassLabs XVR1 three way configuration. It is analog. It has single ended AND balanced inputs and outputs.

It is what I am using. See my signature.

As an alternative, you could use TWO Bryston 10B-STD crossovers each in a mono mode running three-way configuration-one for the left channel and one for the right channel. You would need two because it is a two way stereo crossover or run as a three way mono crossover-similar to other crossovers.

I have a single ended Bryston 10B-STD I'd sell for a song and you would only need to buy one more. Mine has about two hours on it, works perfectly and has literally 18 years left on the warranty. I went with the PassLabs running balanced because I have a 50 foot cable run between my preamp and crossovers/power amps. Two Brystons will do exactly what you want, cost you much less than the PassLabs and running single ended, you'll do excellently. I have the original box, packing and manual. It is mint, 10+condition, not even a fingerprint, from a smoke free, pet free, child free home.

One plus I will give to the Bryston is that it is very easy to set up. The PassLabs requires studying the owners manual and opening the cases to make your jumper settings.