How do you high pass your main speakers?


I have been very happy with the distributed bass array I added to my system, but from what I hear, the optimum method of integration is to high pass the main speakers.

Two questions:

1. What are my options for accomplishing this? Does this need to be a feature built into my amplifier or is there another component that needs to be inserted in the chain. 

2. What crossover point would be ideal? What frequency and amount of rolloff would be best if my speakers are ATC SCM19's which have a frequency response of (-6dB) 54Hz-22kHz.

Cheers,

Tony

128x128tony1954

Showing 2 responses by m-db

I'm guessing your speakers were designed to handle their low frequency limits.

If the amplifier driving those speakers has adequate output to drive them, the methode of the high pass filtering may interfere with their designed presentation.

Its something you might try. High pass filtering is far from a panacea simply because subwoofers are being used.

The region where your speakers are rolling off is like a landing pad to lay your SVS subwoofers crossover onto. I'm assuming your feeding your sub-bass speakers the equalized line level signal from the SVS. 

@erik_squires    As someone with hands on experience, and after getting plenty of positive feedback from A’goners who have actually tried it, I believe that most everyone who high passes their main speakers, via a line level crossover of some sort, finds it a wonderful end-result.

A very good point erik.

If most of those folks could hear the comparison between David Hall's Velodyne 2011 Digital Drive Plus high pass vs its basic twenty minute Auto EQ, I'm certain the Auto EQ would be the hands down preferred choice. Since the sale of the company it seems any further updating of the twelve year old software has stalled while prices have more than doubled making it a questionable recommendation. 

 

@mijostyn     1.The only way eric that you can do what I have been talking about is with digital signal processing. 2. Using digital signal processing to "room control" the subwoofers wastes a lot of power and stresses the drivers. It is better to use a cleverly designed room and subwoofer array to keep nodes to a minimum and use dsp sparingly.

mijostyn +1  I found this to be case with 7.1 home theater (same speaker hight and distance) setup from the listening position. This greatly reduced dependency on processing and a far more enjoyable surround. I was taught how to map the rooms low frequency standing waves in the late 60's by the guy who sold me his Octavium, my first subwoofer. 

I can't speak to the prospect of digitizing the entire audio band as a means to control subwoofer room optimization, that's another topic. Despite my main speakers and the two DSP subwoofer systems providing what seems to be the best of both worlds, I'm still interested in hearing your impressions with DEQX.