how do i setup 3 way active setup using the HU?

[jaygeorge1979 10+ year member]

i have read a few posts here and there about using a head unit that has a built in 3 way crossover to make a custom built active component system...

i cant seem to figure out how exactly this is done? since the tweeters need to be crossed over independly of the midwoofers, and independently of the subs, how is this accomplished? the only way i can think of is if the HU has three sets of outputs: Front, rear, and subs...this way, the tweeters will be the only drivers on the front channel, the midwoofers will be the only drivers on the rear channel, etc...

this would only work if the head unit allows different crossover settings for different sets of outputs...i havent ever had a HU that was that good, so im just trying to figure out how it all works....

EDIT: just realized i am still in the speaker section, not the general discussion...my mistake guys

Click to read more...

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

In essence, you are correct.

Most HU's don't come stock out of the box configured to do this, as most people are happy with the front/rear/sub.

On my alpine 9835, you must look on the bottm of the unit and flip a tiny switch from f/r/sub to 3-way, it's a small switch that you'll need a tiny flat-head screwdriver to move.

Then, it will function like you thought. The fronts will be the outputs for the tweeters, rears the output for the mids, and sub is obviously the output for the subwoofer. Then, since you have switched the unit to 3-way mode (some call this PRO mode)... you can set crossover points and slopes on the unit itself.

w00t.

nG

 

[joetama 5,000+ posts]

The same is true for my 9855, little switch on the bottom, which is going to **** to take out and switch..... But once you do that you have the "three" way system, or more of a "two" way with supplimented low end. At least that's the way I look at it.

 

[jaygeorge1979 10+ year member]

thanks guys...exactly what i needed to know...

been racking my brain all morning trying to figure out if i was looking at it the right way //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

just to make sure i am getting it perfectly, the unit itself will allow you to adjust the crossover freq AND slope for JUST the front outs, and then do the exact same for the rear outs?

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

thanks guys...exactly what i needed to know...
been racking my brain all morning trying to figure out if i was looking at it the right way //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

just to make sure i am getting it perfectly, the unit itself will allow you to adjust the crossover freq AND slope for JUST the front outs, and then do the exact same for the rear outs?

Indeed.

I recommend an Alpine or Eclipse //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif...

nG

 

[jaygeorge1979 10+ year member]

muchos gracias //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[JCivicHb 10+ year member]

so then would you need 3 amps- sub- mid- tweet? or how does that work? and there isnt a way to disable the crossovers on the amps, so would you just turn them all the way up or what?? sorry im trying to learn how to do this as well it sounds interesting...

 

[joetama 5,000+ posts]

You would need an amp channel for the L-High R-High, L-Mid, R-Mid, and then Sub....

 

[JCivicHb 10+ year member]

ok so a 4 channel amp makes sense, but what about the signal processing on the amp

 

[joetama 5,000+ posts]

Depends on the amp really, most have switches that will disable the cross-over and some you just have to range it away from where you will be operating at....

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

Indeed. Some you can set to full-range on the amp (b/c the HU will be doing the xover duty)...if not...set it out of the range... b/c the HU will take care of it anyways.

nG

 

[JCivicHb 10+ year member]

what would be a good decently priced active crossover to consider? what about the audiocontrol 6xs??

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

what would be a good decently priced active crossover to consider? what about the audiocontrol 6xs??

Get a HU with one, a lot easier //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

nG

 

[billybrown66 10+ year member]

Most HU's don't come stock out of the box configured to do this, as most people are happy with the front/rear/sub.

On my alpine 9835, you must look on the bottm of the unit and flip a tiny switch from f/r/sub to 3-way, it's a small switch that you'll need a tiny flat-head screwdriver to move.

Then, it will function like you thought. The fronts will be the outputs for the tweeters, rears the output for the mids, and sub is obviously the output for the subwoofer.

nG

going to hijack the thread, but wouldn't a tweeters/mids and sub not be a 3-way setup, but a 2-way w/ a sub. i was under the impression that a 3-way is tweeter/midrange/midbass, not tweeter/midrange/subwoofer. i'm looking to go

2-way active w/ a sub but i've haven't heard about too many people running this type of setup before for some reason.

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

^^ Wrong. well, you are right and wrong. you can say its a 2 way setup with sub but technically tweets, mids and sub is a 3 way setup. sub (low), mids (mid), tweets (high). 3 ways right? i'm running the setup that you want to run. what you are talking about as well is 3 way frontstage which is tweets, midrange and midbass.