[Ric Schultz]

I think he is using a 60db per octave passive xover between the mid and tweet (the stock EP speaker uses a passive xover on the coax).  All parts and circuits veil the sound to some degree.  When you have a steep slope passive xover then you must have tons of parts to do so.  Coils are sometimes called chokes.....that's because they choke the sound....he he.  Resistors resist the sound.  Capacitors store the sound and release it when they feel like it.  Purity is the goal.  So, use the fewest parts to get the job done...no more.  If you can run a driver without a xover then great.  However, as you stated you don't want too much overlap between drivers and some drivers have to be protected from too much excursion on the bottom.  It is always a balancing act.  I love digital xovers (as long as they are super highly modified and tweaked to the max) because you can use any type xover slope you feel sounds best and equalize the whole speaker, time align it and run all drivers directly from an appropriate amp with no veiling passive parts at all....and if you are smart...no binding posts or speaker wire connectors.  This can give tremendously great sound.  However, even when using a digital xover (from what I have read) it is best to use the shallowest slopes possible.  According to several posts I have read, they have experimented and the steeper slopes sound less musical.  I will be doing research in this department very soon so I will have some direct experience soon that I will share here.  There is no truth but what you hear!  Theories are theories.  Truth is what you perceive.

[D OB G]

Agreed.
I don't think Gothover is planning to use a passive crossover anyway.
It turns out that a number of pro speakers (JBL for example) are using 6th order, but active, set-ups.
BTW, DEQX set-up defaulted to 96 dB per octave!, but they have come to recommend 48-60 now, along the lines of what you are saying  .

[Gothover]

In my experience higher order slopes tend to offer better clarity, however I don't always prefer the sound.

BTW, I have decent measurement equipment just fishing for suggestions.

[Gothover]

Digital crossovers definately have their place in the world, I agree. I also enjoy the simplicity of using a passive, 1 amp, no ground loops, hums and hissing.

Here is a link to my tube output behringer.           

"http://mysite.verizon.net/res12il11/id91.html"   



 

[Ric Schultz]

You don't need two xovers in series with a speaker.  If you are already using the Behringer to cross over the woofer to the coax then you already have the behringer in series with the coax and tweeter.  Please lose that complicated veiled xover and just use the Behringer in tri-amp mode.  You will like the results. 

I am sure your tube output stage is better than the stock opamp based output stage but the rest of the Behringer needs upgrading or you are not hearing much transparency.  The analog input stage is just as bad as the output stage and both the A to D converter and the D to A converter need upgrading to the latest chips.  Every single thing in the signal path needs to be top notch or you will not hear what is possible.

[Gothover]

You don't need two xovers in series with a speaker.  If you are already using the Behringer to cross over the woofer to the coax then you already have the behringer in series with the coax and tweeter.  Please lose that complicated veiled xover and just use the Behringer in tri-amp mode.  You will like the results. 

I am sure your tube output stage is better than the stock opamp based output stage but the rest of the Behringer needs upgrading or you are not hearing much transparency.  The analog input stage is just as bad as the output stage and both the A to D converter and the D to A converter need upgrading to the latest chips.  Every single thing in the signal path needs to be top notch or you will not hear what is possible.

Ric, I have been using the Behringer in Tri-Amp configuration for several years. I understand the benefits.

My goal here is to mimic what Emerald physics has done. The passive crossovers I currently have in place are only temporary.

[Gothover]

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[Gothover]

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[Tyson]

I've been running a fully active coaxial setup for a while now.  I found that steep filters measure better, but I always ended up using a shallower filter for better sound.  All measurements done with HOLM Impulse and an Earthworks M23 calibrated mic. 

[Gothover]

I also tend to prefer the sound of gentle slope filters.

[Gothover]

 I went back to the drawing board and scratch designed an open baffle speaker taking advandage of sugestions from forum members.

Thicker more rigid baffle.
Floor spikes.
No passive crossover true 2-way open baffle.

[Gothover]

Another pic, side view.

[Gothover]

Back

[Gothover]

Here is an in room graph with no eq.