[zipidachimp]

just finished another ob project using an 'off the shelf' crossover.  If I go the extra mile and build my own using specialized coils and caps, what difference will I hear from my drivers?
will there be 'sparkle', 'presence', clarity?
what exactly can I expect? is it worth the effort?

[Rudolf]

'off the shelf' crossover means: You probably don´t know exactly how it works in combination with your drivers and you did not have control over the parts quality. While you are musing about the latter, the former should really make you think.

[scorpion]

Rudolf,

Strongly agree. It is worth all the time and effort to get oneself a bit educated into these simple things. 

/Erling

[zipidachimp]

asking this question is part of my education!  noobs have to start somewhere.  still looking for an answer.
I found a source where I cam calculate the values. so, what's the difference? 

[nullspace]

If you're serious about this stuff, in the strongest terms possible I recommend you pick up Dickason's "Loudspeaker Cookbook" and D'Appolito's "Testing Loudspeakers". They will disabuse you of any notion that a proper crossover can be either 'off the shelf' or 'textbook'. I believe they are both available from PartsExpress.

I started from scratch, without much knowledge or experience, on my first multi-way project almost a year ago. I'm still working on the crossover...

Regards,
John

[zipidachimp]

points taken! off to library, they have copies! thanks.

[Rudolf]

just finished another ob project using an 'off the shelf' crossover. 

zipidachimp,
nice to see you getting addicted to the dark side too ...
I just wanted to tell you what made me answer your initial post in the first place: You never can "finish" an OB project with an 'off the shelf' crossover.
You only can start it!