Why HiFi manufacturers don't make active crossovers anymore?


Hello to all,

On the recent days, I noticed that a lot of manufacturers of Hifi 2 channel systems, had plenty of options in a not so long past, of active crossovers, like Luxman, Accuphase, higher end Sony stuff, and many more, why do you think HiFi manufacturers abandoned the inclusion of active cross overs, channel dividers, in their lineup?

Accuphase still makes a digital one.

Appears that this devices are only still relevant in the Pro Audio world, why Home HifI abandoned the active cross over route? It's correct to assume that?

I think that can be very interesting tri-amp a three way loudspeakers with active cross overs, would like to know more about it too...

Share your thoughts about the subject, experiences in bi-amp and tri-amp with active crossovers and etc....

Thanks!
cosmicjazz
Kenjit, it does not sound like you like listening to anything. You are never going to come up with a loudspeaker better tuned than a Wilson, Magico ,
YG, Sonus Faber, and many others. If you can't find one that you like build your own. Knock yourself out. Or you could buy a great speaker and get full spectrum room control. Then you can make the speakers sound like anything you want. Simplicity is usually best. The only crossovers that really stand out are the digital ones other than that it is 6 of one 1/2 dozen of the other.
Bryston had an active dsp xover at axpona with a couple of their amps. The showman was claiming their approach was so much better than just slapping a couple 'plate amps' on the back of a typical speaker and calling it active. Their dsp xover list at $13,000, then they're amps, then they're speakers. I have a room that I notice thru measuring shows no room gain from ported speakers meaning most full range passive ported speakers roll off at 60 hz and are 20-40 db down by 40 hz! The dsp8000 reaches deep and I don't know if it's because of dsp or driver configuration or the combination. I prefer an active xover if it means I don't need a rack of amps to drive my speakers as most passive systems leech power.
Audio Research made both active and passive crossovers for bi- and tri-amping Magneplanars back in the day.

If you see one for sale today, it is tons of money since, obviously, some people still want to bi- and/or tri-amp their systems.

While the technically descriptive articles above are interesting, if one wishes to use an active or passive crossover to manage their system, I see little reason why this cannot be done.

We set up many systems with these crossovers in the signal path back in the day, and they had no detrimental audible influence on the music.  Possibly that is why these items remain both elusive and expensive today.

Cheers!
I think Naim still make Active crossover electronics.  They no longer manufacture the speakers to work with these units though.