is it worth it to run an active setup?

[zachzchw 5,000+ posts]

Heres the dilemma- I have a new set of Phoenix Gold Xenon 6.5"s.......I also have a pair of XXX mids, and was planning on adding a set of tweeters and running a two way active setup with the Pioneer 880prs.

Is the extra work involved in an active setup worth it? By worth it, I mean will I hear a dramatic difference in sound over just going with the PG's?

Another thing- if I put the 880 in network mode, its three way, which my understanding is that the three preouts become for high, mid, and low frequencies.....

I was planning on going with a four channel amp for the xxx mids and whatever tweeters- how would this work, since each preout is supposed to connect to its own amp?

If I have the mids crossedover to play between 100-1200hz, how will the deck "know" those are the frequencies for the mids, and not the tweets?

I think theres a simple solution, but its been a very long day, and Im just not seeing it.

Click to read more...

 

[Moe Lester 10+ year member]

you need a 4 channel amp. the front channels will go to the tweeters and you will use the head unit crossover to set a HPF on them from say, 3200hz and up or whatever works best for the tweeters. the midbass speakers will go on the rear channels and will be bandpassed between maybe 80hz and 2500hz. on the sub side you will set the LPF to limit how high the subs play.

you need to run 2 wires per side to the front.

IMO it is definately worth it going active. The tuning ability is MUCH greater.

 

[Colin+M 10+ year member]

what he said ^

 

[dleccord 5,000+ posts]

what headunit will give you a high pass at 3k ? i only can get them at 80 100 160hz.

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

what headunit will give you a high pass at 3k ? i only can get them at 80 100 160hz.

B/c your HeadUnit is NOT 3-way active capable. The 9833 and 9835 in the same line up you have will do it.

Yes it's worth it.

I'd go with the subs up to 63hz @24dB/oct, the XXX6.5's bandpassed from 80hz@18dB/oct to 1.2kHz @24dB/oct, then the Tweeters from 1.6kHz @24dB/oct //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

nG

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

I'd go with the subs up to 63hz @24dB/oct, the XXX6.5's bandpassed from 80hz@18dB/oct to 1.2kHz @24dB/oct, then the Tweeters from 1.6kHz @24dB/oct //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

thats insanely similar to where my speakers are crossed. sub 63kz @ 18db/oct, mids at 80hz @ 12db/oct and 1.25@ 12db/oct and tweeters at 1.6khz @ 24db/oct for me //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif.

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

thats insanely similar to where my speakers are crossed. sub 63kz @ 18db/oct, mids at 80hz @ 12db/oct and 1.25@ 12db/oct and tweeters at 1.6khz @ 24db/oct for me //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif.

Solid my man, solid //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif...

I enjoy it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

nG

 

[headless 10+ year member]

One of these days ima get a 4x150w amp so i can go active too... you guys make me so jealous //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

One of these days ima get a 4x150w amp so i can go active too... you guys make me so jealous //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

150w is a bit much for tweets even if you do set gains with a multimeter.

 

[headless 10+ year member]

150w is a bit much for tweets even if you do set gains with a multimeter.

Well, i said 150x4 because i want a single 4ch amp to power my fronts and want 150w for the woofers. Not knowing of any amps that do, say, 150x2 and 80x2 or so, i assumed i'd need to go for a 4ch amp doing ~ 150x4 and adjust the tweets' volume down on my deck (which i'd need to do anyway; currently they are attenuated via the passive x-over's so i'd be doing that on my deck instead anyway). or by adjusting the gain on the amp down for the tweet channels.... good idea? bad idea? input welcome! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

Get TWO 2channel amplifiers, and match your needs perfectly //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif...

That's what I ended up doing, and couldn't be happier... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

nG

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

You don't have to set the gains for max power with a DMM. You cna use that as a starting point and then turn it down, using the gain to limit the power produced by the amp. That's all part of knowing how to tune a system. Going with an active setup requires knowing how to tune it to see the benefit. If you don't have the time, patience or know how, you are probably better off going with a passive setup with the crossovers made for the drivers.

 

[headless 10+ year member]

Get TWO 2channel amplifiers, and match your needs perfectly //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif...
That's what I ended up doing, and couldn't be happier... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

nG

I really want to avoid the space and hassle of mounting and wiring 3 amps in my car for a single sub and a pair of components...but that is of course an option i have kept in mind.

 

[headless 10+ year member]

You don't have to set the gains for max power with a DMM. You cna use that as a starting point and then turn it down, using the gain to limit the power produced by the amp. That's all part of knowing how to tune a system. Going with an active setup requires knowing how to tune it to see the benefit. If you don't have the time, patience or know how, you are probably better off going with a passive setup with the crossovers made for the drivers.

I was planning on using the gains or deck's abilities to attenuate the output. Wasn't sure if there'd be any issue with using the gain for that purpose but i didn't think so. I've got plenty of time, patience, and i'm working on the knowhow.

thanks for the input.

 

[zachzchw 5,000+ posts]

you need a 4 channel amp. the front channels will go to the tweeters and you will use the head unit crossover to set a HPF on them from say, 3200hz and up or whatever works best for the tweeters. the midbass speakers will go on the rear channels and will be bandpassed between maybe 80hz and 2500hz. on the sub side you will set the LPF to limit how high the subs play.
you need to run 2 wires per side to the front.

IMO it is definately worth it going active. The tuning ability is MUCH greater.

Im just missing how the deck will "know" what frequencies are for the tweets, and which are for the mids......

Will I run rca's for both front and mid? Ive never noticed if 4 channels have two sets of rca inputs.....Never had a need to use them, so havent paid attention I guess. Seeing as how the preouts on the deck will be front, mid, sub when in three way mode?