Kicker KX3?

[hdorre 1]

I was looking at getting the Kicker KX3 Crossover to let me run active.

I'll have a pair of Ascendant Audio Carbon Fiber Mids and a set of Morel tweeters. A 4 Channel will be powering the speakers. If I wire the tweets on the front channels and mids on the rear channels, should I be all set?

I'll obviously bandpass the mids, and just use the HPF on the tweets.

Ive read the manual, but the controls are odd.

I looked into the AudioControl 4XS, but this is cheaper new.

Thanks for the help

[///M5 2,833]

It will "work" but if this is your first active setup I would HIGHLY suggest a headunit with x-over capability.

[hdorre 1]

It will "work" but if this is your first active setup I would HIGHLY suggest a headunit with x-over capability.

Yes, this will be my first active setup. Right now I have an Alpine CDA-117.

[///M5 2,833]

If I were you I'd sell the CDA-117 and take the money you were going to use on the KX3 and buy a headunit that can do what you need.

[hdorre 1]

Why would you just get a new HU if an external crossover could take care of the frequencies?

Can you suggest me any good headunits that are under $400?

[Julian 641]

IIRC Alpine 9887/8 can run active with no prob

[///M5 2,833]

Local control of both eq and crossovers are hugely important. You will make changes for months. If you go with your first setting then you should have just bought passives since the result would be a lot better.

[hdorre 1]

IIRC Alpine 9887/8 can run active with no prob

When I was shopping for headunits, I was going to buy a 9887. I got the 117 for a STEAL though!

Local control of both eq and crossovers are hugely important. You will make changes for months. If you go with your first setting then you should have just bought passives since the result would be a lot better.

Oh, I see. I understand what you mean. I might just go passive lol

[swagger_wagon468 53]

passive is easy. lol

[Luke.H 33]

I don't think you can with the equipment you currently have. You don't have a crossover

[hdorre 1]

I don't think you can with the equipment you currently have. You don't have a crossover

Apparently the KX3 only does highpass. If I set the mids' highpass to 70-80Hz, and the tweeters to ~3500Hz, I'd only need a lowpass for my mids. I was suggested to get Harrison Labs Fmods to take care of the lowpass.

My headunit has some EQ controls for some adjustments.

What do you guys think?

[///M5 2,833]

I think that is a terrible idea. DON'T buy the Kicker, change headunits.

Oh and btw, having a passive crossover made will cost more than the difference in selling your 117 and buying a 9887

[Luke.H 33]

Agreed. You said you've got 400 to spend on a headunit. You should be able to find one for nearly half that to handle your processing. If you like the 9887 search around for one of those. Don't buy that kicker.

[hdorre 1]

Alright. I might just build the crossover myself with parts on Parts Express. First ill look around for decks.

Thanks for all the help.

[///M5 2,833]

Alright. I might just build the crossover myself with parts on Parts Express. First ill look around for decks.

Thanks for all the help.

Have you designed a crossover before? Have you measured your drivers in situ? Do you have measurement equipment to do those measurements?

If you answered no to all those questions then if you need to run passive you should sell the drivers you have as the implementation of the passives you build won't be successful. If yes, then I am not sure why you made this thread

[///M5 2,833]

Oh, and don't expect there to be a savings by building your own passives. The last speakers I built had $100 worth of drivers and nearly twice that in crossover components.

[hdorre 1]

No, I haven't ever designed crossovers before. I'll pay Ray from Audio Innovations to design them though.

However, if I'm going to spend around $200, I might as well just get a good sound processor. I could look for some used 3Sixtys.

[///M5 2,833]

3sixty's are noisy and don't give you anything more than a 9887 would. A different headunit is really your best option.

[hdorre 1]

Im reading about the 9887, and read Crutchfields "Hands On Research." Here's what it said about the crossover? Would I need Imprint?

Built-In Crossover: This unit is equipped with a built-in

active crossover. The crossover limits the frequencies delivered to the unit's

speaker and line-level outputs. Each channel is controlled independently so each

speaker pair can be driven by the frequencies for which they have been optimally

designed to produce. The crossover adjusts the high pass filter or low pass

filter of each band along with the slope. You can adjust the following crossover

settings.

High Pass Filter: The front and rear speaker outputs or

line-level outputs can be set to filter out low frequencies below 20 to 200

Hz with a slope of Flat, 6, 12, 18 or 24 dB/oct. In addition you can adjust

the output level from -12 to 0 dB.

Low Pass Filter: The subwoofer line-level outputs can

be set to filter out high frequencies above 20 to 200 Hz with a slope of

Flat, 6, 12, 18 or 24 dB/oct. In addition you can adjust the output level

from -12 to 0 dB.

[///M5 2,833]

No. If you "needed" imprint you could add it to your 117. You aren't looking at the right description. There should be a description for the BEP as well and that will define different crossover settings for when in active mode.

There are other non-Alpine options as well...

[hdorre 1]

If I got the Imprint H100 for the 117, I could bandpass the mids, and use a HPF on the tweets, right? Wouldn't I also be able to equalize?

I just really like my 117

[///M5 2,833]

Not sure the flexibility of the Imprint in manual mode. Its automatic mode is TERRIBLE though. Someone may have used one, but I was so discouraged with the first install I saw of it I haven't looked since.

[hdorre 1]

Yeah, I would definitely use manual mode. I think you have to choose preset crossover frequencies. I just need to find the list of frequencies.