Going active - questions (LONG)

[jluv 10+ year member]

I did a search but didn't have a lot of luck with answers to my specific questions. I know how much y'all hate repeat questions, so I apologize if you have already answered them. Feel free to post a link if you'd rather.

I will be installing an Alpine W200 and PXA-H701 into my system. I currently have a set of JL 5x7 XRs, which I will be moving to the rear doors in my Explorer, and replacing them up front with new components, most likely the Boston Pro60s. This is going to be a full-fledged 5.1 setup, with center channel and all. My questions are about the component setup for my doors. The H701 facilitates me going active, as it has two separate sets of stereo outputs for the front speakers. One is for front fullrange and the other is dedicated for tweeters. I definitely want to take advantage of the flexibility and superior crossovers of the H701, so I'm going active. I have a PPI A600 (old art series) that works just fine, with an output of 150x2 @ 4ohm. I have not yet decided on what amp to get/use for the tweeters. How much power should I send them? Also, I believe the Boston Pros are 3 ohm, and they come with the passive crossovers. I will ditch the passive crossovers, completely, right? So, how will that affect the impedence of the mids and tweeters individually? Will the mid still be 3 ohm, and the tweet still be 3 ohm? I know my A600 does 300x2 @ 2ohm stereo, so at 3 ohm, would it be 225x2? If so, would this be appropriate power for the Boston mids? And if the tweets are 3 ohm, I need to be aware of that when choosing an amp. The last thing I want to do is overpower the tweeters and ruin them. Again, this brings up the question of how much power is appropriate for just the tweeters.

Now, I have another idea in my head. In every system I've had, the midbass has not quite been to my liking. I find myself itching to bridge the gap between my subs and mids, I'm guessing it would be in the range from ROUGHLY 80hz-150hz, or something around there. Now, I haven't heard these Bostons, so maybe they will fill in the gap. If not, I'm toying with the idea of putting the components in the kick panels, and putting 8s in the front doors for dedicated midbass. Does this sound reasonable? Any recommendations on what woofers to use in that application? I have plenty of dynamat on my doors already, and can always add more. I haven't "sealed" the doors off, but I would be willing to do the work necessary. I know that some subs, like a JL 8w0, might not like the excess airspace, even if I could somehow get the door completely sealed. I just threw that sub out there, btw. I have no idea what would be best for the midbass I'm looking for.

If I do get 8s, my initial thought was to get 4 ohm 8s, and 4 ohm mids, and run them to my A600 and create a 2 ohm stereo load. If I do that, what would I do for a crossover? How can I send, for example, 150hz and below to the 8s, and 150hz and above to the mids? Would I need to purchase another active crossover? Would I set the H701 to flat for that output and let the external do the work? And what happens if the Boston mids are 3 ohm. When I wire them with 4 ohm 8s, what kind of load would my amp see?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer my questions.

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[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

I did a search but didn't have a lot of luck with answers to my specific questions. I know how much y'all hate repeat questions, so I apologize if you have already answered them. Feel free to post a link if you'd rather.
I will be installing an Alpine W200 and PXA-H701 into my system. I currently have a set of JL 5x7 XRs, which I will be moving to the rear doors in my Explorer, and replacing them up front with new components, most likely the Boston Pro60s. This is going to be a full-fledged 5.1 setup, with center channel and all. My questions are about the component setup for my doors. The H701 facilitates me going active, as it has two separate sets of stereo outputs for the front speakers. One is for front fullrange and the other is dedicated for tweeters. I definitely want to take advantage of the flexibility and superior crossovers of the H701, so I'm going active. I have a PPI A600 (old art series) that works just fine, with an output of 150x2 @ 4ohm. I have not yet decided on what amp to get/use for the tweeters. How much power should I send them? Also, I believe the Boston Pros are 3 ohm, and they come with the passive crossovers. I will ditch the passive crossovers, completely, right? So, how will that affect the impedence of the mids and tweeters individually? Will the mid still be 3 ohm, and the tweet still be 3 ohm? I know my A600 does 300x2 @ 2ohm stereo, so at 3 ohm, would it be 225x2? If so, would this be appropriate power for the Boston mids? And if the tweets are 3 ohm, I need to be aware of that when choosing an amp. The last thing I want to do is overpower the tweeters and ruin them. Again, this brings up the question of how much power is appropriate for just the tweeters.

Now, I have another idea in my head. In every system I've had, the midbass has not quite been to my liking. I find myself itching to bridge the gap between my subs and mids, I'm guessing it would be in the range from ROUGHLY 80hz-150hz, or something around there. Now, I haven't heard these Bostons, so maybe they will fill in the gap. If not, I'm toying with the idea of putting the components in the kick panels, and putting 8s in the front doors for dedicated midbass. Does this sound reasonable? Any recommendations on what woofers to use in that application? I have plenty of dynamat on my doors already, and can always add more. I haven't "sealed" the doors off, but I would be willing to do the work necessary. I know that some subs, like a JL 8w0, might not like the excess airspace, even if I could somehow get the door completely sealed. I just threw that sub out there, btw. I have no idea what would be best for the midbass I'm looking for.

If I do get 8s, my initial thought was to get 4 ohm 8s, and 4 ohm mids, and run them to my A600 and create a 2 ohm stereo load. If I do that, what would I do for a crossover? How can I send, for example, 150hz and below to the 8s, and 150hz and above to the mids? Would I need to purchase another active crossover? Would I set the H701 to flat for that output and let the external do the work? And what happens if the Boston mids are 3 ohm. When I wire them with 4 ohm 8s, what kind of load would my amp see?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer my questions.

Wow. Immediately I'd just ditch the italicized part, doesn't need to be that complicated. You'll find that by going active, and separately amping each component... your midbass will already improve. I recommend:

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95925

For your doors when you install the midbass. Or, if you feel like it... sealed kicks or door pods.

So you have the Bostons on order? Simplest thing to do is to get out your handy dandy DMM and check the ohmage on each component //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif. I'd run the art series amp to the mids, setting your gains properly.. start with 100-150rms per side... then go up from there... (http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63933). Then look into a smaller amp for the tweeters, possibly try to pick up an A200 (I believe that's the model...)... try about 30-40watts per side for the tweeters at first.

Yes, you'll ditch the passive xovers. You'll use the H701 to fully adjust the xover points and slopes. Make sure you don't take the tweeters too low.

Anything else?

nG

 

[jluv 10+ year member]

Wow. Immediately I'd just ditch the italicized part, doesn't need to be that complicated. You'll find that by going active, and separately amping each component... your midbass will already improve. I recommend:http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95925

For your doors when you install the midbass. Or, if you feel like it... sealed kicks or door pods.

So you have the Bostons on order? Simplest thing to do is to get out your handy dandy DMM and check the ohmage on each component //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif. I'd run the art series amp to the mids, setting your gains properly.. start with 100-150rms per side... then go up from there... (http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63933). Then look into a smaller amp for the tweeters, possibly try to pick up an A200 (I believe that's the model...)... try about 30-40watts per side for the tweeters at first.

Yes, you'll ditch the passive xovers. You'll use the H701 to fully adjust the xover points and slopes. Make sure you don't take the tweeters too low.

Anything else?

nG

So 30-40 watts should be about right for the tweeters? Where would you recommend setting the crossover point for them? No lower than ____?

I'll try the components out first, but what if I do add 8s? Could I successfully wire them up with the mids to the A600? If so, and if the 8s are 4 ohm, and the mids are 3 ohm, what kind of load would that put on my amp? How would I go about setting a crossover point between the two? How do others accomplish this when they run an active 3-way setup up front, spcifically with 8s, mids, and tweeters?

Thanks again for the reply.

 

[netherland24 5,000+ posts]

mmm u gona HATe the **** outa that H701 too many things to play with. i wanna see that W200 where in teh dfw area u located?

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

So 30-40 watts should be about right for the tweeters? Where would you recommend setting the crossover point for them? No lower than ____?
I'll try the components out first, but what if I do add 8s? Could I successfully wire them up with the mids to the A600? If so, and if the 8s are 4 ohm, and the mids are 3 ohm, what kind of load would that put on my amp? How would I go about setting a crossover point between the two? How do others accomplish this when they run an active 3-way setup up front, spcifically with 8s, mids, and tweeters?

Thanks again for the reply.

No lower than 2.5kHz more than likely.

Your idea with the 8's... wouldn't work, at least the way you're proposing.

nG

 

[jluv 10+ year member]

No lower than 2.5kHz more than likely.
Your idea with the 8's... wouldn't work, at least the way you're proposing.

nG

Thanks for the info.

 

[jluv 10+ year member]

mmm u gona HATe the **** outa that H701 too many things to play with. i wanna see that W200 where in teh dfw area u located?

I'm in the HEB area. I've put my deposit down on the W200 and now I'm just waiting for it to come in. I hope to have this stuff in my truck by the end of the month.

Ya, since I discovered the H701, it has motivated me to plan out so much more than I ever expected from my setup. Going active, adding a center channel, buying more amps, etc etc. I've had several different front/rear/sub systems, that I figure I'd change it up. I can't wait to listen to concert DVDs and other DVD-audio tracks in 5.1.

 

[02TurboA4 10+ year member]

jluv - have you had the W200 installed with the H701 yet? If you have how do you like it? I'm considering the same.