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High quality high pass filtering for speakers?

Is there a good option for high-passing the speaker connection in a high-end system? 

I want this for a few reasons.
1. NO loudspeakers will come close to a really good standalone sub. Even $20k + speakers end up with really bad distortion at 50hz.
2. My sub has 3 parametric EQs, which helps tremendously in dealing with a 12db spike I have around 60hz. It's no help at all if the speakers are playing that frequency.
3. Even with 2-way speakers, there is still a lot of overlap between sub and speakers without a high pass. Not ideal.
sboje
stfoth
435 posts
 
OP--Don't disagree with anything Erik said.  I don't know what speakers or sub you have or how high-end it all is.  Some folks have had success with using a high-pass out of the sub, usually around 80hz if it has it, at least to the point that the benefit outweighs potential nasties.  I haven't tried them, yet, but was considering FMOD inline high pass--at least one person indicated they worked well and were transparent.  Cheap to try.

Right now, I'm using an old NHT X2, which is working well.  There seems to be a slight bit of tone-suck, but the benefits far outweigh it.  These are difficult to find.
sboje OP
38 posts
 
I would love to try the FMOD, but they are RCA only and I'm using XLR.
stfoth
435 posts
 
OP--too funny.  I was looking for just that, an inline high pass XLR, before moving the X2.  Seems someone should sell them.

Someone around here suggested that they would be easy DIY.  But not for me.  DIY+me=certain disaster.
murphythecat
98 posts
 
ive build a DIY Pass B1 pre amp and integrated at line level a 1st order high pass. by changing a resistor, I can change the cut off setting. for highpass under 100hz, highpass at line level is the only sensible way to do it. with a switch I can bypass the high pass. my test indicate this method is absolutely transparent and only bring benefits to my small P3ESR.


it transformed my p3esr, some sounds were blurried and is now revealed, its like a layer of details emerge. the p3esr w/ highpass + subwoofer competes with my shl5+ in most ways
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
4,908 posts
 

If a 1st order (6dB/octave) high pass crossover is steep enough for you, all that's required is the installation of a capacitor on your power amp's input jacks. The value of the capacitor plus the amp's input impedance determines the "elbow" frequency of the resulting filter. The formula for determining the capacitor value needed to achieve the desired frequency can be found via a Google search.

If you need a steeper slope (2nd, 3rd, or 4th order---12, 18, or 24dB/octave), you'll need to go active. Pass makes a great one, but it's not cheap. Bryston's is somewhat lower priced, but Nelson Pass makes an economical one (retail $1500) in his First Watt B4, a great little unit featuring 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th order filters in 25Hz increments from 25-3200Hz, for both high and low pass, The filters are implemented via discrete components, no IC's or Opamps. RCA jacks only, no XLR/balanced version available.

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