running active

[mazzasec 5,000+ posts]

I am kinda confused on the whole running active thing. Do you need a HU with active running capability to run active? I thought running active was simply using a 4 channel wiring your mids to channels 1 and 2 and wiring your tweeters to 3 and 4 so why do you need a active running HU

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[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

You need crossovers to divide the freqs between the mids and tweets and ideally the ability to bandpass the mids. Most amp crossovers are not capable of diong this. HUs with a 3-way crossover built in (HP for the tweets, bandpass for the mids and LP for the subs) make the amp crossover irrelevent. The same can be done with an outboard processor.

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

I am kinda confused on the whole running active thing. Do you need a HU with active running capability to run active? I thought running active was simply using a 4 channel wiring your mids to channels 1 and 2 and wiring your tweeters to 3 and 4 so why do you need a active running HU

a headunit/external crossover is needed to pick your crossover points for your speakers. The most basic active setup would be a 2way front stage+sub. Here, you need to highpass for your tweets, bandpass for the mids, and lowpass for the subs. All of which can be done from the headunit or through an external crossover.

Edit: i got beat //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[mazzasec 5,000+ posts]

I had a jl 6 channel amp it had hp/lp/ off settings with that had been an external crossover?

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

I had a jl 6 channel amp it had hp/lp/ off settings with that had been an external crossover?

that qualifies as an external xover. However, only if the crossover allows for bandpass of the mids can you use it for an active setup.

Bandpass= highpassing at around 65hz and lowpassing at around 3khz (arbitrary numbers //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif)

 

[James Bang 5,000+ posts]

i got beat //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

That's what she said.

 

[mazzasec 5,000+ posts]

Are there any amps with active running capablities? If i get an amp with active capabilities then i dont have to get a HU with one?

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

That's what she said.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

Are there any amps with active running capablities? If i get an amp with active capabilities then i dont have to get a HU with one?

you'd be better of getting a headunit with active capabilities. To find an amp that does all that can get quite pricey.

But if you want, you can try the 4ch. from Zed audio, should be able to highpass the tweets and bandpass the mids and you can lowpass the sub using your sub amp.

 

[mazzasec 5,000+ posts]

what exactly is bandpass? and how would i wire actively to the head unit

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

what exactly is bandpass? and how would i wire actively to the head unit

As i stated in my previous post, bandpassing is basically allowing your mids to play within the frequencies that neither your sub or your tweets will.

So basically you have a sub lowpassed at 80hz and tweets highpassed at 3khz, you need your mids to fill in this gap. So then you highpass your mids at 80hz and lowpass at 3khz, to help fill in this gap.

And you just hook up a headunit like you normally would, no special wiring just because it's built for active.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

The Sundown SAX-100.4 has a crossover that can be configured for an active setup inclding the ability to bandpass the mids.

 

[Macklessdaddy 10+ year member]

This is active capable for a decent price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Kenwood-Excelon-KAC-X4R-Digital-4-Channel-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ180240942655QQihZ008QQcategoryZ39739QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

If you want to run active you're better off with a processor (HU built-in or external). You won't gain the true benefits of active unless you have a DSP with time alignment/EQ.