Rainbow Question SLC No Active?

[Blazemore 10+ year member]

I was reading the Rainbow manual as it said "Do not operate this system with an active crossover. The loudspeaker would be damamged, as the tweeter domes are not designed for active operation without passive crossover." This true? If it is then I would have to run passive for the front?

Can you notice a big difference in sq using the passive crossovers or an active setup?

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[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

They are designed to be used with their passive xovers for a reason. There's extensive tweeter protection, and the company i'm sure is protecting their product considering the slightest user mistake running active will blow a driver.

Most people who run active do so because they are mixing drivers, DIY. Really no sense on doing so with a 'set' that is designed around a passive xover. Running active means you understand every drivers specs and respect their frequency response. Taking a passive set apart to 'fart' around with, is a gamble.

How do you plan on running active? A stock HU is not a good place to start BTW

 

[Blazemore 10+ year member]

My frist idea was to build a 5.1 setup for DVD etc., well that fell though so now Im thinking of going active. I was going to use a coustic xm6.

What I was planning of doing is put the Rainbows in kicks, 6.5 midbass in the doors, Infinity Ref comps for rear fill, Infinity 3.5 (dash) to help with the upstage, Infinity 10 in a center console box. Use the SS 5.1 to power the kicks and sub, then use another SS 4 channel amp to power the midbass and rear Infinity comps. Kenwood hu would power the 3.5's

But from what you said, it would be better just to leave the Rainbow and Infinity Comps passive, then use the other ss amp to power the midbass and 3.5's

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

you could always go active with the mids, just keep the passives on the tweets for the added protection and attenuation control

 

[Blazemore 10+ year member]

Would there be a big improvement going active on just the mids rather than just going ahead hooking them up passive? Far as you know?

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

Would there be a big improvement going active on just the mids rather than just going ahead hooking them up passive? Far as you know?

Nope....unless you know something about the drivers that Rainbow doesnt know....going active simply means you run power to each piece and decide for yourself the parameters to xover...it does not change the sound of the drivers.

One thing I do know is their passives can take geneous amounts of power/heat- so thats not as issue if you want higher power to them.