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External crossover good next move?

Hello Audiogoners, budget-minded post

I have an NAD C320BEE amp with a basic Velodyne subwoofer (CT-80) inserted between pre and amp sections (per Bob Reynolds suggestion--thank you). Source is a Lite DAC-AH, fed by an NAD CD player.

The problem is the cable runs to and from the subwoofer need to be quite long (at least 6 feet). I have a DH Labs cable from the DAC to pre, but cables running to the sub and back, I am ashamed to say, are $29 Monster cable. So I wonder how much I am losing in the Monster cable. Also I wonder about the quality of the crossover in my sub: this is an 80-watt HT-oriented sub I got for $300 new in 2001.

I am considering an external crossover, like Paradigm x-30 or Outlaw ICBM. Could I expect a real improvement through this upgrade? Does anyone have a sense of quality of the crossover in a sub like mine, versus those products?

I like the sub-monitor arrangement, and am not quite ready to buy a new amp, although I would not be surprised to hear that is best route. Any ideas appreciated
abarnett

Showing 6 responses by abarnett

abarnett OP
18 posts
 
Thank you both for your suggestions. What is an OP?

I don't want 12 feet of ICs--that's why I'm considering this. I can connect an external XO with two short ICs of decent quality (which I have) and run less-good cable to the sub. My thinking is, if I can pick up a decent external XO for <$200 used, I can clean up the signal path compared to what I have now and avoid long IC runs. I guess I will try both approaches and see which sounds better.

Bob, if the more expensive SVS sub is a good idea, then why isn't a good external crossover also a good idea? It's the same approach, right?

What about a good-quality, external crossover designed to work at speaker level? That would avoid the objection about distortion in the woofers. Does anyone make that?
abarnett OP
18 posts
 
A follow-up. I went ahead and got an Outlaw ICBM on Ebay. This device was mainly built for DVD audio/SACD players, but can be used as a stereo crossover and got good reviews. So now I have good quality ICs from source to main amp, and a much shorter trip.

I'm happy with the effect. Definite improvement in detail, clarity, e.g., I can hear nuances in vocals I haven;t before; things seem a little better sorted out. Not night and day, but appreciable. I have not yet tried the two sets of speaker wire approach Rob recommends, but will.

Only complaint is I'm noticing the sub more on certain song, a little thuddy. This may be a matter of tuning things. Or I'm just turning on it now that I have started to imagine better! Thank you all for your suggestions
abarnett OP
18 posts
 
Thanks for your response. The Outlaw ICBM is advertised as having a "2nd-order Butterworth" high-pass and low-pass. I don't understand the terms and need to do some reading.

Part of the reason I like the external crossover idea is so I can have short cables between pre and power amp sections. I get the impression this is important if I end up with a passive preamp (e.g., Creek integrateds)

I'm guessing a passive high-pass filter, like this ACI product, leaves something to be desired?

http://audioc.com/accessories1/misc/hipass.htm

Otherwise, couldn't this could be combined with a Y-splitter?
abarnett OP
18 posts
 
I have the AR.com kit speakers (Ed Frias design). It has a 6.5" Peerless woofer. I don't know about the speakers' crossover. I see someone on an audio chat site saying he thinks the crossover for the speaker is at 2300 Hz.

The sub has line in/line out jacks. I have the subwoofer between the pre and power sections of the NAD for the biamping effect. The NAD is 50 wpc, and I notice an overall improvement using the sub (with the NAD not amplifying bass). Also, as I understand it, the monitors do a better job if they aren't receiving bass. I set the crossover on the sub at about 80 Hz.--Thanks
abarnett OP
18 posts
 
Rob, thanks for your comments, this is helpful.

The other day I took the sub out and reconnected the pre and power sections with a decent cable (DH Labs BL-1). Without the sub, it sounded kind of flat and drab compared to what I'm used to. It seems to me the extra power from the sub is a net plus for this kind of budget system.

Are there good active (external) crossovers that can be used at the speaker level?
abarnett OP
18 posts
 
Rob, thanks for your post. I will try it!
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