IOW, we only need consider an amp to be ’overworked’ by thinking purely in terms of its "output" (volume level), not its "input". That is, any crossover, passive or active, is perfectly sufficient to reduce the amp’s normal workload (as long as it’s connected to appropriate speakers) to limits well within the design specs of the amp - both operationally and audibly. Any full-range amp seeing duty as a "mid", or "tweeter" amp is indeed loafing along (if power ratings have been taken into account) and is having a far easier time of it than the full-range amp or even the "bass" amp in the same system. And it matters not where the division of the frequency spectrum occurs.
Bi-amp benefits with active crossover
Hello All,
What are the benefits of an active crossover from the amplification point of view? Will a given amplifier sound better if it's input is of a limited frequency spectrum? Is there an assumption that if an amplifier is driving a limited spectrum, and therefore not working as hard as it would in driving full spectrum, it will drive the limited spectrum "better" than it would if it was driving the full spectrum?
What I am considering is bi-amping, with speakers that have separate terminals for lows and mid/highs, and whether or not there would be a benefit in actively crossing over the frequencies before they get to the respective amplifiers. This scenario would NOT include bypassing the passive crossovers in the speakers in any way. I want to retain the speaker designers intent regarding the speaker as a whole. My focus is whether or not there is an advantage to actively crossing over as opposed to simply using separate amplifiers for the lows and mid/highs, with all the amplifiers driving the same full spectrum signal. My initial thoughts were that it seems a shame to make the amps work that hard, only to have the spectrum limited by the passive crossover. But then, in crossing over actively there's all those extra cables and connections and circuits that the signal needs to go through to consider.
The equipment I'm using:
Triangle Volante 260 speakers
Parasound JC 1 mono block amps (would need to add two more channels of amplification, obviously, but the particulars on that are in the next questions: tube? Solid state? Matching levels? Input sensitivities? etc.)
Sonic Frontiers Line 1 preamp
Arcam UDP 411 universal disc player
Pro-Ject Carbon Debut w/Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, soon to be 2M Blue.
Thanks All!
What are the benefits of an active crossover from the amplification point of view? Will a given amplifier sound better if it's input is of a limited frequency spectrum? Is there an assumption that if an amplifier is driving a limited spectrum, and therefore not working as hard as it would in driving full spectrum, it will drive the limited spectrum "better" than it would if it was driving the full spectrum?
What I am considering is bi-amping, with speakers that have separate terminals for lows and mid/highs, and whether or not there would be a benefit in actively crossing over the frequencies before they get to the respective amplifiers. This scenario would NOT include bypassing the passive crossovers in the speakers in any way. I want to retain the speaker designers intent regarding the speaker as a whole. My focus is whether or not there is an advantage to actively crossing over as opposed to simply using separate amplifiers for the lows and mid/highs, with all the amplifiers driving the same full spectrum signal. My initial thoughts were that it seems a shame to make the amps work that hard, only to have the spectrum limited by the passive crossover. But then, in crossing over actively there's all those extra cables and connections and circuits that the signal needs to go through to consider.
The equipment I'm using:
Triangle Volante 260 speakers
Parasound JC 1 mono block amps (would need to add two more channels of amplification, obviously, but the particulars on that are in the next questions: tube? Solid state? Matching levels? Input sensitivities? etc.)
Sonic Frontiers Line 1 preamp
Arcam UDP 411 universal disc player
Pro-Ject Carbon Debut w/Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, soon to be 2M Blue.
Thanks All!
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- 10 posts total
- 10 posts total