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Anybody have an actively multi-amplified system?

Hello,

I am one of the very rare breeds that has a fully active system, 6 Jeff Rowland monoblocks running Klipschorns with an Accuphase F-25V electronic crossover in front of the amplifiers, and the passive crossovers taken out of the speakers. It sounds absolutely phenomenal, like nothing else out there. I've been in the business 35 years and have yet to meet anyone (in home audio at least) who has done something similar. It's done all the time in pro audio, yet nobody talks about it for home use. It's widely known that an actively amplified setup simply IS better than any passively crossed over speaker, since the dividing is done before the amplifier, each amplifier only amplifies a certain frequency range, and then the output of the amplifier is connected directly to an individual driver with nothing in between. If anyone has such a setup, is interested in learning more about one, or wants to throw in their 2 cents, please do! It's about time we did talk about this, and I can't believe in all these years more companies haven't actively (pun intended) embraced this type of setup. Also, if anyone has crossover cards for an F-25V crossover, please let me know!!!
crispy98006
rodman99999
6,206 posts
 
Never have used the TNT amps. I started with modded DH-500's, and gave my last one(used to drive the 10's) to my son, a number of years back, when I bought the TransNova. I stopped using SS to drive my mains, decades ago, so- I can't really give an opinion of what the 9505 would sound like in that app. If you like the TNT's; I hardly believe you could go wrong with a 9505. Jim Strickland(another Acoustat alumnus)supposedly had much to do with it's design. Did the mods to your TNT's include replacing the rectifiers with HEXFREDs(or Schottkys)? Really cleans and opens the upper registers. Just something easy/basic/inexpensive and well worth the effort. Behringer X-overs work in cheap pro apps, but- I wouldn't use one for home audio(except for expermentation). I guess there are some out there, that mod them though.
csontos
1,311 posts
 
I think Mr. Strickland was the main player. I had these amps shipped to Roy sight unseen so I can't speak to that question. I have a similar impression about the Behringers so I guess that's a given.
crispy98006's avatar
crispy98006 OP
14 posts
 
Csontos, I'd go with the DCX2496es personally, but it's your call. I've heard them, and they're not terrible, the soundstage is just somewhat flat and boring, and somewhat trebly. It's just the nature of the beast, being built in China with small power supplies, inexpensive op-amps, etc., but you can start replacing parts if you want. The Marchand looks a little too "garage made" for me, although it probably sounds okay. You do want accurate gain control and crossover points, left to right and woofer to tweeter, and the pots seem like they don't have very tight tolerances, so you'll do a lot of tweaking by ear. By the way all, as of the fiscal end of this year in Japan, which happens to be 9/20, Accuphase is dumping all parts for my analog crossover, so if I want any x-over modules I gotta get them now. Found out in just the nick of time. They've built it since 2001, but since then all their new models operate in the digital domain. Yes they're infinitely adjustable with no extra modules, but the down side is you go D/A out from the CD player, through a preamp to the crossover, which then re-converts A/D, does it's processing, then converts D/A once again. Supposedly the converters are pretty high end, but I still have a problem with 3 stages of numbers to sound, sound to numbers, and sound to numbers conversion. The battle continues...
rodman99999
6,206 posts
 
Accuphase has built some excellent gear, over the years. I wouldn't hesitate to try their new X-over for a moment. Room Correction/Time Alignment and high/low-pass filtering in the digital domain can be VERY rewarding, IF done right. I eschewed digital anything(in home), for many years. Then I got stuck with an acoustic nightmare of a listening room, that demanded correction. I tried the Tact and found VERY little downside(especially after extensive power supply mods). The benefits over the modded DQ-LP1(as transparent as it's passive high-pass filter was), far outweighed any slight downside. But then; I'm only using one crossover point(250Hz/10th order).
avantgarde
57 posts
 
Dealer post disclaimer.....not trying to sell here but I have been selling completely active systems with time and phase alignment software which is integrated into the xover matrix for 12 individual drivers and separate amplifiers for each driver, for the last 10 years. Our latest incarnation is also completely wireless, have a peek.
http://www.my-hiend.com/vbb/showthread.php?6971-Goldmund-Apologue-Anniversary
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