Most important HU features for active setup?

[PollyCranopolis 10+ year member]

Wondering what would be the most important feature to look for when purchasing a HU for a active setup? Was thinking of starting out with a set of Dayton 8' mids and matching tweeters. I have a RF851x 4 channel amp to run these speakers in a front stage setup. Should I be most concerned on the type of crossover control from the HU? What about parmetric eq's, number of bands etc. Time correction? I'm assuming the type of crossover control would be the most important. What type of crossovers should I be looking for to get a setup like this going? 2-3 way, 6 way digital, etc. I think the terminology is whats getting me confused more than anything. Any suggestions? Thanks!

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[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

basically an hu that has 3 way xovers. meaning LP on subs, bandpass on mids and hp on tweets. just to name a few: pioneers 880, 860,960. eclipse 8053,8454,8455,cd7000, 8443. alpine 9813,9815,9835,9855, 9853.

thats the most important one. then possibly look into eq features of each HU. i personally like PEQ. but that 880 has 16 band graphic eq per side, which is nice as well.

 

[Istari1 10+ year member]

Ok so this has been confusing me and I figure this looks like a good thread to ask it. Whats all the concern with a HU having x-overs when any good amp is going to offer its own x-overs? Do the x-overs on a HU just work alot better? Or am I missing something obvious?

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

when any good amp is going to offer its own x-overs?

That's false...

But even if it were true, it's a whole lot easier to configure your setup from the listening point then running back and forth trying to set everything up. And the amplifier-mounted crossovers are going to be nowhere near as easy to set up and change as the head unit one will be.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

I can't live without my time allignment //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

And yes having some nice x-over is nice if you run Kicker SX or Zapco DC, but most of them are not entirely accurate. If you miss a point by just a little, it can make a huge difference. Also as Jim said, it's REALLY nice to be able to make adjustments on the fly.

 

[Istari1 10+ year member]

That's false...
But even if it were true, it's a whole lot easier to configure your setup from the listening point then running back and forth trying to set everything up. And the amplifier-mounted crossovers are going to be nowhere near as easy to set up and change as the head unit one will be.

Ok, so are HPF/LPF different from a x-over then? Cause every amp I have owned has had a HPF, LPF, or both. So some of it it for a much improved ease of setup too, that is understandable. But just because you dont have a HU with 3-way active x-over doesnt mean you could not go full active, just makes tuning a bit harder then. Thanks.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Ok, so are HPF/LPF different from a x-over then?

Consider the PG MS1000 for instance - no onboard controls, and yet I'd still call that a "good amp" //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Regardless of whether it has them or not, you're liable to pull your hair out depending on the onboard controls. And the Xover slopes may not be what you like either.

 

[PollyCranopolis 10+ year member]

Thinking of going with the Pioneer 880. I was considering a Alpine 9855, but they are a little pricey, even on ebay. I'd want a new unit anyway. My alpine 9805 is great, but just recently, the volume knob has begun to skip voulume numbers when turning. The P880 can be had on ebay, brand new for around $300. The alpine 9855 runs about $360+.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Unless you're absolutely in love with Glide Touch, that's a good choice. The last Alpine I'd buy is the 9835 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

The alpine 9855 runs about $360+.

If you have and Ultimate Electronics in your area they were going for

For $350 you'd be better of with a 7998!

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

Ok so this has been confusing me and I figure this looks like a good thread to ask it. Whats all the concern with a HU having x-overs when any good amp is going to offer its own x-overs? Do the x-overs on a HU just work alot better? Or am I missing something obvious?

its all matter of convenience. as jimj stated, its a PITA if you are messing with xover pts and slopes if your amps are in the trunk. going back and forth probably wouldn't be best for tuning purposes. with an hu that can cross everything, you can change xover pts in the listening position as well. not only that an hu will provide more flexbility in terms of crossover pts and slopes. in most amps the xover slope is already set. in an hu it mostly goes from 6,12,18,24 db/oct. in my setup i just set the xovers on the amps to "pass."

 

[99StangGt 10+ year member]

Ok so this has been confusing me and I figure this looks like a good thread to ask it. Whats all the concern with a HU having x-overs when any good amp is going to offer its own x-overs? Do the x-overs on a HU just work alot better? Or am I missing something obvious?

Most amps dont have bandpass and the amp crossovers only work either HP or LP. with the deck crossovers the mids have a bandpass , that means the mids have a HP and LP crossover points. also most amps dont have adjustable slopes. with the deck you have all that plus gain adjustments from the deck. I have heard( I am sure someone will say I am wrong) but amp crossovers are not as good quality.