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Digital crossovers

Are crossovers "tone killers" as Zu Audio says?

Are digital crossovers a solution?

Much of our source material is digital already: e.g., CDs, ripped CDs, downloads and internet listening.  I wonder if a digital pre-amplifier separating the music by frequency and sending the result via the analogue amplifier direct to the appropriate driver would/could produce awesome results?

(I wonder what the crossover slope would be? Would it be absolutely discrete, with absolutely no overlap between drivers? Or is a small amount of overlap necessary even in the digital world?)
128x128jimspov
martykl
3,578 posts
 
I'm a fan.  I use an Onkyo pre-pro in my all-digital system to cross my main speakers to subwoofers (the mains are two ways with traditional, passive, analog x-overs at the tweeter cross).

All digital, multi-way x-overs like DEQx can sound great, too.  One manufacturer (can't recall the name right now) offered an active version of his best speaker using that device to actively cross and tri-amp the individual drivers.  I heard it at a show and - tho it's notoriously hard to judge in those environments, I thought he got excellent results,  

Unfortunately,  I prefer omnidirectional mains and haven't found a good option for that mash-up.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
BTW,

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe that DEQx allows you to choose your slope, maxing out at something like 300 DB/octave.  So, yes, without phase concerns, you can go to brick wall type slopes with digital x-overs.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 


If your used to the sound of a dac or cdp that is "hi-end sound" with well implemented d/a converters, I/V stage, and output buffer, the there is the chance a digital xover which will take the place of your "pride and joy" will let you down.

As it will take the place of your well thought out cdp/dac. And from what I’ve seen there is no striving for perfection digital xovers with well implemented d/a converters, I/V stages or output buffers with digital xovers, they all run pretty much text book in this regard with no forward thinking at all. Like feedback free discrete I/V stages, discrete output buffers, clocks that are better than the norm. Sure they do the digital xover thing fine, but the rest of the sound may leave you "cold" like a run of the mill dac/cdp can sound.


Cheers George

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