Passive Crossover Question

[Doner Designs]

Recognizing that there is probably no universal answer, I'm wondering if bass cabs with tweeters typically include a full passive crossover with both high pass filter for the tweeter and a low pass filter for the main cone driver.

I'm guessing that the norm would be to only filter the tweeter and leave the main speaker as a full range driver but really don't know and can't find a thread that covers this.

I'm particularly interested in Markbass. I just got done putting my combo back together after replacing the tweeter (with a Monacor HT-30 mini horn) and realized after I had it all put back together that I could have bypassed the crossover for the woofer.

I can always take her apart again, but was hoping somebody might know.

 

[CL400Peavey]

Most commercial cabs just use a filter.

 

[Doner Designs]

Most commercial cabs just use a filter.

Thanks. I tried emailing Markbass. Sometimes they answer and sometimes they don't. The seem loathe to respond to any questions involving rewiring to compensate for the hissy tweeters. Must be a sensitive subject since I have never heard of a customer who likes them but they continue to use them on the combos with no switch or attenuator.

 

[Bass_Pounder]

The seem loathe to respond to any questions involving rewiring to compensate for the hissy tweeters. .

It can only put out what it is fed.

Tweeters don't produce hiss - it comes from the amp.

 

[BurningSkies]

It can only put out what it is fed.

Tweeters don't produce hiss - it comes from the amp.

This is true. If the tweeter is producing hiss, it's actually reproducing the signal set to it from upstream of the cabinet.

 

[will33]

Some of the markbass cabs people complain of the tweeter sound use(d) piezo's.

They're quite good at detecting noise issues.

Yes, most cabs just filter the tweeter and let the woofer run wide open, though there are exceptions here and there.

I find a lot of the harshness people find in tweeters comes from the lower end of their range when the volume gets turned up. Moving the filter up in frequency some, and/or using a steeper filter can usually take care of it.

 

[Doner Designs]

It can only put out what it is fed.

Tweeters don't produce hiss - it comes from the amp.

Yes a few folks have made that observation to me, and it's true. I'm not smart enough to know if the tweeter is good quality or not. I think if Markbass would put an attenuator on the combos (similar to what is on the standalone cabs) all complaints would vanish. Even a switch would be nice. Dialing back highs with EQ helps but then it unnecessarily cuts highs from being fed to the main speaker.

Still I love MB. Main rig is the 1x12 combo with an extension cab. I also picked up the Alain Caron biamped rig recently. The horn tweeter in the AC and the great tone is what sent me on a tone quest for my other setup.

 

[Doner Designs]

A response from Markbass confirming the 12" is hooked up full range....

Hi Steve,
Thanks for writing and for your interest in Markbass.
The 12” speaker receives the full range input signal and then a passive crossover filter only for the tweeter.
Best regards.
Riccardo

Riccardo Damiani
Mark World Artist Relations
Online Customer Service
PARSEK SRL
Via Po, 52
66020 San Giovanni Teatino (CH) ITALY