External crossovers for subs

Whether you filter the speakers low frequency with and internal or external crossover. It is more or less the same results assuming all things are done correctly. But for proper integration you either have to high pass the mains or low pass the subs under the main.

you can add a capacitor in line with the mains inputs. Harrison makes some cheap one you could try ($30, they sound transparent). I have used them and it works fine. It is more messing around than using an active crossover.

I have tried all the methods. Blending with no highpass with a low low pass, using capacitors to roll off the mains, an active digital solution and ended up using an active analogue solution. The integration can be fine without it but it is very doubtful it will be as good as an active system.

A couple worth trying IMO.

Sublime Acoustics K235 is a $1200 analogue solution. It has a 60 day trial period. They also have a $600 model that is about the same.

Minidsp SHD is another one that is super flexible digital option. It requires a bit of computer skills.

@james633 the subs have an adjustable low pass filter/crossover so it seems like all the filters needed are already there and using an external crossover isn’t necessary for proper integration.  Unless I misunderstood your post.

One benefit of an external crossover is that the high pass filtering is done before the signal enters the power amp. Removing low frequencies from the signal sent to the power amp results in less amp distortion, and more power for the speakers.

By the way, the problem with the Harrison filters is that to achieve the crossover frequency you want, the input impedance of the power amp must be figured into the equation that determines the capacitor value required to achieve that crossover frequency.