[Danny Richie]

What are you doing to balance the output levels if you are using a passive crossover for them?

[evozero]

Hi Danny,
I have a passive pre and then the AN8's are powered by my SET amp, the Beta's by my Sony integrated adjusting the volume knob to balance the bass output.
It was mentioned the cheap 120Hz,12dB/oct sub woofer crossover would not be optimal, so am looking to replace with passive components best suited?
Since covering the front with cloth, the bass output fell. I turned the output up to match the AN output, i think the bass has now become more integrated into the sound stage, maybe because there is more output firing backward as a result. Dipole bass, nice.
Danny, did you find the same?
My next project might be two 12" bass drivers but have one facing backwards. Servo powered with a dipole AMT on top.
Thanks
Ian

[Danny Richie]

Using passive components will require you to pad down the upper driver, and you wouldn't want to do that.

I designed a similar speaker: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=71532.0

And designed an amp to drive the lower OB woofers: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=78931.0

You might want to try something along those lines. That way you have some flexibility in matching the output levels.

[evozero]

Hi Danny,
I am not sure I understand what you mean, there is already some passive components between the Sony integrated amp and the beta 15's. A cheap sub woofer crossover, that has just one 188uf cap and one unknown value inductor.
As this is an generic crossover, I am looking to replace them with better quality and more optimal value components.
Did you mean I should remove the crossover  to the beta 15's?
Thanks
Ian

[Danny Richie]

What I mean is that your full range driver is much higher sensitivity and you likely have a resistor in line with it to bring its output down to the level of the 15.

Remove any resistor in line with the full range driver

Then power the 15 with it's own sub woofer plate amp.

[evozero]

Hi Danny,
If you have a look back to posts 75&76 in this thread.
This is how I have the AN8's connected with the passive components.
So do you suggest removing the resistor to the AN8's and the sub woofer crossover going to the Beta 15's?
Or am I getting it completely wrong?
Thanks
Ian

[Danny Richie]

Yes, remove the resistor to the AN8's and all of the crossover to the 15's then use a separate sub woofer plate amp to drive the 15's.

It will open up the resolution of the AN8's some, give you some really good sensitivity levels out of it, and give you complete control over the 15 to balance output levels, phase, and even EQ it.