Active setup

[dopey 0]

OK, my HU has 3 sets of outs.

Which set goes to tweets and which to mids?

Does it matter?

[helotaxi 46]

Having 3 sets of pre-outs does not mean that the unit can support a 3-way active setup without external processing. My 9856 is a perfect example. No filters on the preouts at all.

[dopey 0]

Having 3 sets of pre-outs does not mean that the unit can support a 3-way active setup without external processing. My 9856 is a perfect example. No filters on the preouts at all.

Good, because I'm running a 2way set.

Can the rear set signal the mids and the front set signal the tweets?

[dopey 0]

Or do I need a Y adapter?

[helotaxi 46]

3-way including the subs.

If the amp has a 3-way crossover built in it will say so in the manual and tell you which output is which when in that mode. Typically the mid is on the "rear" output.

What are the specific parts of the setup and we might be able to give you a specific answer.

[dopey 0]

I have some more questions. I'm using a Sundown 100.4

What do I do with the crossover network that comes with the speaks? (use it or toss it?)

Which preamp out goes where? If I'm running my tweets on channels1+2 and my mids on 3+4...will my amp drive BOTH SETS of channels from ONE preamp input?

There's a sale on some CDT 3way's and a buddy was trying to convince me...but I don't want to cut holes in my doors (leather) and I'm just starting and want to K.I.S.S.

Anything else I should be thinking about?

Thanks.

Still going with the 100.4...I know to toss the crossovers, I'll be using the sundown for that.

Bought some CDT M6's and DRT 25's.

Sub is BTL15 on 2 saz1500d's

I've never heard a 2 way set called 3way because of the sub...I should get out more.

Edited June 4, 2007 by dopey

[theabunai 3]

that's the same amp i am getting when i get my check next week Denim has one reserved for me...

I am putting the tweeters on the front channels and the mids on the rear

Crossing the mids at around 100-2khz and have the tweeter take the upper range of that...

unless some of the more experienced audiophiles can direct me on the settings

It's A/D/S 346cs 6-1/2 component set (tossing the passive and running active) with a 100.4 sundown

[audio-neon 34]

the h701 retails @ $400cdn??? Or is that your cost. I know it retails for ~525 american dollars and the controller is 200. You can find them on ebay all day long at 350 for the h701 and 180 for the c701.

[ANeonRider 3]

That is cost... or how much Alpine sells them to business' for, which might have gone down since then since our dollar is ~0.94US now.

[helotaxi 46]

Still going with the 100.4...I know to toss the crossovers, I'll be using the sundown for that.

Bought some CDT M6's and DRT 25's.

Sub is BTL15 on 2 saz1500d's

You're not using the HU for processing then? In that case you should be able to run a single set of RCAs to the amp and use the internal crossover on the amp. The amp will send signal to all channels from a pair of inputs.

[dopey 0]

I'm running a Kenwood KDC MP-822

Built in crossovers, quad D/A converters....but no time alignment.

# System Q Sound Control

# 3-band equalizer (bass, midrange, and treble)

# front, rear, and subwoofer preamp outputs

# high-pass crossovers for front and rear outs (12 dB/octave, selectable 100/125/170 Hz)

# low-pass crossover (12 dB/octave, selectable 50/80/120 Hz)

# defeatable internal amplifier

[helotaxi 46]

So you can't use the HU to run your front stage active. The crossover won't help you except to limit the low end of the mids. The crossover on the Sundown will do what you need.

[///M5 2,833]

I'm running a Kenwood KDC MP-822

Built in crossovers, quad D/A converters....but no time alignment.

# System Q Sound Control

# 3-band equalizer (bass, midrange, and treble)

# front, rear, and subwoofer preamp outputs

# high-pass crossovers for front and rear outs (12 dB/octave, selectable 100/125/170 Hz)

# low-pass crossover (12 dB/octave, selectable 50/80/120 Hz)

# defeatable internal amplifier

That really isn't a crossover. You need a bandpass for the midrange and a high pass for the tweeter both somewhere between 1500hz and 5khz. The "crossover" on that deck is only meant for protecting mids that can't handle bass and for crossing a sub over, but even for that the ranges are terrible. I'd never have my mids only playing above 100hz and crossing a sub at 80hz is way too high.

[dopey 0]

So, the 100.4 and the 1500d's will do what I need them to? DO I NEED A Y SPLITTER?

I don't NEED a new HU...right?

I wanna get a 2din dvd player with screen and time alignment....any recommendations?

[helotaxi 46]

Use the 100hz highpass on the deck and send that signal to the 100.4 off the front amp channels. Use the crossover in the amp to divide the signal between the mids and tweets. Use the sub output set to its highest freq for the subs amp and then adjust the crossover in the amp to actually set the freq hat you want. You don't need y-cables at all.

[dopey 0]

Use the 100hz highpass on the deck and send that signal to the 100.4 off the front amp channels. Use the crossover in the amp to divide the signal between the mids and tweets. Use the sub output set to its highest freq for the subs amp and then adjust the crossover in the amp to actually set the freq hat you want. You don't need y-cables at all.

thank you much

[theabunai 3]

Helotaxi this leaves me with a question

I understand your example to a TEE

If the crossovers on the amps allow for this type of crossovering (spelling LOL) (as the sax-100.4)

would it be advantageous at all to get a stand alone crossover like an audiocontrol 6xs....??

I guess what i'm asking is

If my amps have crossovers on them (merlin md.1d for subs and sax 100.4 for front stage) then is there an advantage in adding a crossover like an audio control 6xs or a four.1 ? If so why (Sorry i really want to learn what you guys have to offer in regards to car stereo so i do enjoy the occasional explanation of why)

If not how about an EQ ?

[///M5 2,833]

An eq is a completely different story.

The only advantage of an offboard x-over in the case you describe would be to combine with the amps crossovers to bandpass like HT mentioned above and this would only be if your headunit didn't have crossovers at all. However, if you bought a stand alone crossover/processor like the H701, P9, DCX730 you would gain the capability of controlling your crossover points with a control head in the front of the car as well as a lot of eq, time alignment and other goodies. All of which can be extremely helpful and sometimes necessary in an active install.

[theabunai 3]

Very good stuff there ///M5

Could you explain (or give an example) of using the offboard xover like a bandpass ?

would that be like say

the sub channel would be set around 100hz on the offboard then when you get to the amp the amp you could set at around 60hz LPF and 20hz on the SSF...

how would the rear and fronts along with the offboard xover be used like bandpass...?

[///M5 2,833]

Hi pass filter passes all frequencies higher than the crossover frequency with a certain slope

Low pass filter passes all frequencies lower than the crossover frequency with a certain slope

Band pass filters require 2 crossover frequencies and will pass all frequencies lower than the higher crossover frequency and higher than the lower crossover frequency with a certain slope at each end

the crossover frequency will always be the 3dB down point

the slope of the crossover rolloff is described as selecting 6db/12db/18db/24db and so on the processor typically. The x db means that an octave lower/higher than the crossover frequency will be down/up x db's.

an octave is half or twice a frequency. As an example an octave below 1200hz would be 600hz.

And the answer to your question. You can combine a high pass from a headunit with a low pass from an external crossover and end up with a bandpass.

an example: High pass set at 100hz on headunit, Low pass on crossover set at 5000hz. Together these will make a bandpass from 100hz to 5000hz passing all music between those frequencies.

[theabunai 3]

GOTCHA AND BIG THANKS