[jqp]

I am going to finally get some subs and AXO them with my Marble 9.0s. I will integrate with an HT system.

I have balked a little bit at the cost of the Marchand XM9 or the new XM44.

http://www.marchandelec.com

Doing one in kit form, or at least EZKit form costs less of course. I am also considering doing a 3-way do I can Active Biamp the 9.0s and bring in the subs off of one active XO.

Here is another one I ran across - the Behringer ULTRADRIVE PRO DCX2496 - looks like a venture into digital never-never land  

http://www.behringer.com/02_products/prodindex.cfm?id=DCX2496&lang=eng

I am doing lots of research on this but can't put my hans on anything since I don't have subs or XO...

The research is fun but there is so much to read on the net when you really want to get good and complete info.

Any thoughts and advice? Thanks!

[Marbles]

Talk to Curt at IRD................

[jqp]

I have talked to him some - what I really want I think is an Audiophile or Sabai with a 3-way AXO instead of a 2-way. But I don't want to wait to use my new subs!

[Wayne1]

jqp,

I have just built a Marchand XM-44 for a client to use with his RM-40s and a Larger sub.

If you have never spent much time with a soldering iron, I DO NOT suggest the full kit. The EZ kit should be fine, as all you have to do is run wires.

I built it with my own NITRO wires and a couple of Bybees. I also used a silver plated IEC and fuse holder. It was sounding very good over the week end. I am on my way over to install it this moring. I am sure there will be a few comments about it shortly.

I do think the XM-44 is the most versatile XO around. It will let you choose different XO points and slopes by plugging in different boards.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[jqp]

Thanks for the advice - I had figured the EZkit would keep me out of some real trouble and save at least some $$$

[doug s.]

wayne, i'm curious about the xm44 - as it costs more than the xm9, w/less stuff, it's gotta be better, right?     i need to send another email to phil about the differences; w/his moving & all, my last one may have gotten lost in the shuffle...  

anyway, i am wondering if ya have had any experience w/the xm9LL - this is what i'm using, & w/its wolume pots *at* the chosen x-over frequency, as well as for low & high pass, it seems the xm9 would be even *more* flexible.  at some point down the road, i may go to a three-way, so the choice would be to have my present two-way conwerted, or to go w/someting like the xm44 if it's actually better...

thanks,

doug s.

[Wayne1]

Doug,

With the XM-44 you can use different crossover frequencies for low pass and high pass as well as different slopes for high and low pass or the band pass.

There is an "extra" slot in the XM-44 circuitry that you can use to insert a notch filter, baffle step compensation, etc. I carefully looked over the XM-9 and 44 before choosing the 44 for my client.

It comes with the stepped attenuators, not volume pots and it uses the Burr-Brown OPA2134 opamps,

The main layout is on one board. You can add the opamps, caps and resistors down the road to expand it to up to a four way.

http://www.marchandelec.com/xm44.htm

I did get a chance to listen to it in my clients system for a short while this morning. It is virtually transparent. I am VERY impressed with this XO.

[EProvenzano]

I second the recommendation for the XM44.
I've had mine for 4 weeks.  My system has never sounded better.
I enjoy the flexibility of the independent slopes. Immediately I noticed that my SCC300 subs integrated well with 24db low pass at 80hz, and 12db high pass to my 1801's. I prefered this sound to the symetrical 24db slopes.
I could not discern the phase problems inherent to using asymetrical slopes.
I think the 2nd order slope for my monitors smoothed out a mid bass problem in my room. So, in a way the XO functioned as an eq in my room.
Good stuff!
I have not decided yet if my 1801's are playing cleaner, but they certainly have not suffered any ill effects. To my ears the XM44 is transparent. I like the stepped switches and the mute position for each filter. This helps when I want to concentrate on tuning my subs, simply switch the monitors off, and vice/versa.
Over all a very flexible peice. As Wayne mentions, upgradability is excellent. I'm looking forward to adding another set of filters and turning this one into a 3 way, if I choose to experiment with fully active monitors and subs.  Baffle step boards and notch filters etc. all available. After you own one it easily becomes an indespensible addition to your rig IMO. i know it's a bit early for me to claim, but the the possiblitlies are exciting.

BR,
EP

[doug s.]

wayne,

thanks for the info.  my xm-9 also has the burr-brown op-amps; i passed on the stepped attenuators, as phil told me they weren't any more transparent than the standard pots but were yust for those folk who "had to have 'em".  having different low-pass & hi-pass crossover points & slopes certainly does sound nice - likely a better, if a bit more complicated way to effect a perfect blend of monitors to subs, than the damping pot from the xm9.

regards,

doug s.

[jqp]

Wayne -

I found this photo essay on building the XM9-KK

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/1511/xm9home.htm

I was wondering if you might have taken pics as you did your XM44?

Also do you have pics of the complete system it is living in (RM40s with Larger Subs, etc )  

[Wayne1]

jqp,

I did not take any pictures. The main board for the XM-44 is a bit more complex. The plug in boards do contain 10 elements to assemble, rather than just four resistors. The stepped attenuator boards require that you solder the resistors in place and the attenuators.

There is a bit more wiring with the XM 44 in that you do have to run wire to the input and output jacks, the atenuators and the switches as well as the power suppy.

I will bring my camers over to Turk's the next time I am invited and I will post some photos.