CROSS OVER HELP PLEASE

[rptrsn2]

I have 2 cabs a 210 and a 115, the 115 is getting a 3015LF. I want to do one of two things.#1-install a passive crossover in both cabs 0r #2- install a 2way in the 210. if option 1 what frequency lowpass in the 115 and what freq high pass in the 210 and if option 2 what should i look for? should these overlap? Thanks

 

[rptrsn2]

ok found an emminance crossover PXB2:500, it is a 2way at 500hz, would this be what i need? It is 8ohm, both of my cabs are 8ohm.

 

[AlexanderB]

Crossing your rig over at 500 Hz is not optimal for most users and applications, if you want to utilize the 10"s. In that case they will be asked to do what a single 8" or 6" would do equally well or better in a much smaller enclosure.
100 - 150 Hz is a more balanced in terms of power distribution, maximum total SPL and utilization of the speakers. You would probably want at least 12 dB/octave. Passive cross overs for that low frequencies require large and very expensive inductors and capacitors. A second hand, active crossover and a two channel amp will almost certainly yield better audio quality, better ROI and requires no modifications of the speakers.
Having tried both solutions, the active crossover was a no-brainer to me.

/Alexander

 

[rptrsn2]

if i had a 2 channel amp i would agree.i did see other crossovers that were 100hz though so thanks for that. maybe just low pass the 3015LF and leave the 210 alone?

 

[lbwdog]

if i had a 2 channel amp i would agree.i did see other crossovers that were 100hz though so thanks for that. maybe just low pass the 3015LF and leave the 210 alone?

100Hz would work ok if you want to use the 15 as a sub type driver. When I bi-amped with my G-K 800RB, I had a large 1x15 cab that was very good for low bass, and a 2x12. I would experiment by sweeping the amp's internal active crossover till I got a pleasing sound. Usually it would land at about 200Hz.

In your case, rather than low pass the 15, I'd crossover from 100 to 200Hz so as to relieve the 2x10s of some of the low bass duty.

 

[mulchor]

Why not run them both full range?

 

[lbwdog]

A 3015LF is not designed for full range as it rolls off quite low on it's high end. Also, 15s are not optimal for mid to high frequency dispersion, although many do use them full-range.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

I have 2 cabs a 210 and a 115, the 115 is getting a 3015LF. I want to do one of two things.#1-install a passive crossover in both cabs 0r #2- install a 2way in the 210. if option 1 what frequency lowpass in the 115 and what freq high pass in the 210 and if option 2 what should i look for? should these overlap? Thanks

There's not enough difference between the response of a 210 and a 115 to make using a crossover worthwhile.

 

[lbwdog]

There's not enough difference between the response of a 210 and a 115 to make using a crossover worthwhile.

I tend to agree, but he seems to want a dedicated low end cab. Personally, I'd install a 3015 (non LF), or bi-amp if using the LF version.

 

[AlexanderB]

I agree with lbwdog. 3015LF + biamp for trouble free additional low bass.

Bill said:
"There's not enough difference between the response of a 210 and a 115 to make using a crossover worthwhile."
Maybe not (impossible to say without knowing the box, drivers and application...), but taking the low bass away from the 10"s will increase the potential max SPL of the combo. My EBS 210 (with Gammas) will exceed Xmax at 10% of the power it takes to do the same thing with the 3015LF in a 115 l enclosure...
And the difference in sensitivity is not such that one can just roll back the gain 10 dB to get them "maxing out" at the same point.

/Alexander

 

[KJung]

I tend to agree, but he seems to want a dedicated low end cab. Personally, I'd install a 3015 (non LF), or bi-amp if using the LF version.

+1 Keep it simple and go with the non LF. That should work great, and no need for messing with a crossover or hi pass or whatever.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Are you running a separate preamp and power amp in your rig?

I run my preamp -> crossover (140Hz)-> stereo power amp -> 1x18 and 4x10. It requires no cab modification and sits nicely in my rack.

 

[rptrsn2]

my amp is a gk700rbii, the 210 is an avatar,the 115 is a peavey tvx. @lbwdog- yes that is what im trying to do, have most the lows to the 3015lf. @ kjung- the peavey box is about 6 cubic feet which is to big for the 3015 non lf or i would. @ billfitzmaurice - i thought the lf needed to be low passed because its not good at high mids up. the set up as is sounds great now but at higher volume the lows start breaking up, i want the LF to compensate for this and wanted to not send alot of the real low freq to the 210. i would think overlapping would be ok, maybe all under 100hz to the lf and all above 500-800 to the 210. my goal is just more in the low end

 

[rptrsn2]

am i wrong that this cab is too big for the non lf 3015?

 

[bongomania]

I would experiment by sweeping the amp's internal active crossover till I got a pleasing sound. Usually it would land at about 200Hz.

Same here. I use an x-over in my effects chain, and while there are useful/interesting results at a range of settings, I always come back to somewhere around 200 Hz as the most "natural-sounding" dividing point.

In your case though what I'd suggest is not a crossover per se. I'd run the 15 full-range (it will naturally lose some high end, and there is no penalty otherwise), and I'd put a low-cut filter at the input of the 2x10. That way you reduce potentially-obnoxious lows that would ask too much from the 2x10, and you get "the most" out of both cabs.

 

[rptrsn2]

Same here. I use an x-over in my effects chain, and while there are useful/interesting results at a range of settings, I always come back to somewhere around 200 Hz as the most "natural-sounding" dividing point.

In your case though what I'd suggest is not a crossover per se. I'd run the 15 full-range (it will naturally lose some high end, and there is no penalty otherwise), and I'd put a low-cut filter at the input of the 2x10. That way you reduce potentially-obnoxious lows that would ask too much from the 2x10, and you get "the most" out of both cabs.

that would be great if i could use the 3015 in this cab, every thing i have searched on here says the 3015lf should be lowpassed at 800hz or lower due to its nasty midrange

 

[bongomania]

I'm not at all a speaker expert, but it seems to me that if the cab box was "too large" for one 3015, then you could fix that with bracing, shelves, or insulation.

 

[rptrsn2]

I'm not at all a speaker expert, but it seems to me that if the cab box was "too large" for one 3015, then you could fix that with bracing, shelves, or insulation.

I had considered that option and still may if i can,t come to a conclusion on my first option. i just thought the dedicated lows and highs with some overlap would give a much better low range result if i can figure it out

 

[rptrsn2]

would this do what i want mounted in the 115 lf cab? and run the hi out to the 210?

 

[will33]

Your 210 bass cab isn't engineered to be a top box. Doesn't mean it wouldn't work but there are far better options. A single 6 or 8 inch speaker or even a PA cab would be better options.

What is the Peavey thing? If that doesn't cut the highs out of the woofer, I wouldn't use it. I'd start by just putting the new speaker in the 15 box and hooking it all up full range like a typical 15+210 stack and see what you like and what you don't like. Try standing the 210 on end so all 3 speakers are lined up, up and down and do the same thing.

If that's not to your liking, borrow some stuff from the PA rack or a stereo bass head and experiment with biamping. Roll through crossover points until it sounds the best. Do the same thing with a PA speaker as the top box. That should give you some idea of what your ear likes and translate that into buying parts.