Is it worth going active?
05-27-2005, 09:37 AM
#1
50 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 125
I know there's another similar topic already started but its since gone off topic so I am starting a new one.
I was thinking of running my system active but I need another amp. Currently this is the chain that my system follows:
- Sony C90 headunit
- Sony XDP-4000x DSP
- 2 Phoenix Gold ZPA 0.5 amps (one for fronts and other for subs)
- MB Quart QSD-216 fronts
...I was thinking of ditching the crossovers (but they are soooo nice though) and then running one ZPA for each side (left and right) and then getting another amp (like a Zapco 9.0 to run my subs). Is it worth it?...will I notice that much of a diffence?
I just think my crossovers are redundant since I have the DSP already cutting off the siganls...I figure the MB Quart crossovers aren't doing much.
I was thinking of running my system active but I need another amp. Currently this is the chain that my system follows:
- Sony C90 headunit
- Sony XDP-4000x DSP
- 2 Phoenix Gold ZPA 0.5 amps (one for fronts and other for subs)
- MB Quart QSD-216 fronts
...I was thinking of ditching the crossovers (but they are soooo nice though) and then running one ZPA for each side (left and right) and then getting another amp (like a Zapco 9.0 to run my subs). Is it worth it?...will I notice that much of a diffence?
I just think my crossovers are redundant since I have the DSP already cutting off the siganls...I figure the MB Quart crossovers aren't doing much.
05-27-2005, 12:59 PM
#4
50 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 125
Originally posted by DWVW:
The Phoenix Gold amps are 2 channel right? Is what I would do is bridge one to each side, and keep the MB Quart passives.
The Phoenix Gold amps are 2 channel right? Is what I would do is bridge one to each side, and keep the MB Quart passives.
Really? keep the passives?
05-27-2005, 08:27 PM
#6
In what way is it currently bi-amped? Reading for the third time I guess the bridged comment regards your sub amp? Bi-amping components usually refers to using seperate channels for mid and tweet... but I guess if you have bi-amp crossovers you could run the amp in 2 ohm to get more power?
Going active would entail running one in stereo for tweets and one in stereo for mids. DSP would do the crossover duties. Monoing one to each channel and keeping the quart crossovers would be cool too, probably excessive power tho...
Also... I'm confused by your comment about the crossovers being redundant... The quart crossovers send highs to tweets and lows to mids, you should still have a high pass functioning either in the amps or with your dsp. If you're using both at the same/similar frequency you'll get some funky slopes going on, not redundancy.
[ May 27, 2005, 09:38 PM: Message edited by: Newb ]
Going active would entail running one in stereo for tweets and one in stereo for mids. DSP would do the crossover duties. Monoing one to each channel and keeping the quart crossovers would be cool too, probably excessive power tho...
Also... I'm confused by your comment about the crossovers being redundant... The quart crossovers send highs to tweets and lows to mids, you should still have a high pass functioning either in the amps or with your dsp. If you're using both at the same/similar frequency you'll get some funky slopes going on, not redundancy.
[ May 27, 2005, 09:38 PM: Message edited by: Newb ]
05-27-2005, 08:40 PM
#7
Originally posted by Grey Z34:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by islandphile:
What's the saturation wattage for those passives?
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by islandphile:
What's the saturation wattage for those passives?
05-28-2005, 03:19 AM
#8
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 870
Try a cheap amp from Cannuck Rubber or somewhere you can return it. Probly won't need to have a lot of power to run tweets.
Make sure to get the passives out of the loop for the test....you can't run passives without both mid and tweet outputs loaded, or the amp will see a dead short.
Also make sure you start with a high cutoff for the tweets....and go easy on em, til you are sure they're ok...they're not likely to give you much warning if you over power em....they'll just quit workin. Good idea to listen to them play by themselves, just to check that they're doin ok.
If you find you can get a lot more outa the system, then you can take back the crap, and spend some cash on a good amp.
You should get an instant 3dB gain by eliminating the passives, and a whole lot more tunabilty from the DSP.
Make sure to get the passives out of the loop for the test....you can't run passives without both mid and tweet outputs loaded, or the amp will see a dead short.
Also make sure you start with a high cutoff for the tweets....and go easy on em, til you are sure they're ok...they're not likely to give you much warning if you over power em....they'll just quit workin. Good idea to listen to them play by themselves, just to check that they're doin ok.
If you find you can get a lot more outa the system, then you can take back the crap, and spend some cash on a good amp.
You should get an instant 3dB gain by eliminating the passives, and a whole lot more tunabilty from the DSP.
05-28-2005, 05:53 AM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
i did some research on that piece and its very cool. with flexibility like that why you wouldnt at least try going active. to just say bridge your amps and keep the passives makes absolutley no sense. give yourself the benefit of the doubt and at least try going active, and decide at that point if active is for you. my instinct says you wont go back to passive. if you arent familiar with fully electronic, make sure that you have help with the inital set with someone who is, wouldnt want to see you break anything
