Can I bypass the sub crossover?

[Brick Top]

I have a crappy set of subs for our PA...and the one stopped working. The Driver feels fine. Since I already have and rackmount crossover unit...can I just connect the jack plate directly to the driver?

[Gizmot]

Without a crossover you're going to get a lot of upper bass and mids out of the driver that will overpower the low end. In other words, it won't sound like a sub! You won't hurt anything, but don't expect good performance

[Brick Top]

Originally Posted by Gizmot

Without a crossover you're going to get a lot of upper bass and mids out of the driver that will overpower the low end. In other words, it won't sound like a sub! You won't hurt anything, but don't expect good performance

But the signal will be going through my rackmount crossover with a adjustble subout before it goes to the amplifier to the sub.

Won't that take care of the upper frequencies?

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Yes You can. Just label the cab that doesn't have the cross-over clearly.

BTW, having two cross-overs, active and passive I'd guess in series does not improve things anyway.

Regards
Sam

[Brick Top]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Hi.

Yes You can. Just label the cab that doesn't have the cross-over clearly.

BTW, having two cross-overs, active and passive I'd guess in series does not improve things anyway.

Regards
Sam

Thanks. I plan on disconnecting the crossover from the other sub as well.

[walterw]

oh, you mean internal passive crossovers in the subs themselves?

yeah, bypass that junk and use the active one to send only what the sub should get to the sub amps. (be sure to hook the drivers up to the jacks in the right polarity).

[OtterOnBass]

It shouldn't make a difference, should it? I mean, you're sending say 100hz on down to the sub. The crossover will either further restrict down to 90hz or let everything (the 100hz on down signal) through.

The only case in which something will work that didn't before is if the wiring is currently broken.

[Downunderwonder]

Depending on what you're playing you might be in need of high pass to stop uber low frequency (eg 30Hz off a 5string) from playing hell with your subs.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

Depending on what you're playing you might be in need of high pass to stop uber low frequency (eg 30Hz off a 5string) from playing hell with your subs.

Good point. The dbx stuff has a built-in / defeatable 40 hx HPF, not sure about the other brands. Check the manual or let us know what external xover you're using.

Edit: Almost forgot...if these are passive subs, your power amp(s) may have selectable and/or defeatable HPF's. The QSC RMS series, for example, gives the user a choice of 30 or 50 hz.

Riis

[walterw]

the sub-sonic rumble filter is indeed important, but i doubt any built-in passive sub crossover would have that anyway.

[GregShadoan]

Better to lose the internal crossover. For Sure. They just get hot, and eat watts.