crossovers and speaker management systems

[cj_65 0]

Just to build on the other thread - does anyone have any experience

with speaker management systems combining crossovers, eqs etc.

 

Also, any recommendations for crossover manufacturers?

 

Does everyone use Behringer?

 

Cheers,

Chris.

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

speaker management systems are normaly a crossover thats been tuned to work with just one make of speaker,,, BOSE , EV and others all have them to work with there kit...

 

its basicly a cross over with out the adjustments.....

 

 

I have a Behringer cross over and also a RANE cross over , both or of them are great but the Behringer wins on price at well under £100 and i cant tell the diference.....

 

the next step from here is a full on Digital Cross over and EQ from the likes of ALTO, here you have enough computer power to fly to the moon and back but im not sure speakers work in the vacume of space , and im not sure you would like the vacume effect on your bank balance....

 

If you have 2 amps then invest in the Behringer is my advice...

 

[norty303 0]

QUOTE

speaker management systems are normaly a crossover thats been tuned to work with just one make of speaker,,, BOSE , EV and others all have them to work with there kit... its basicly a cross over with out the adjustments.....

 

Personally i'd dispute those comments as being 'all' they are.... Often there are very complicated and extreme filter and EQ curves to even out poor design and frequency response (Bose and EV being guilty of this in the past)

 

Digital crossover units (LMS - Loudspeaker Management Systems) are the dogs danglies if you ask me. They allow you to split the signal perfectly using the ideal crossover slope for your speakers (anything form 6db/octave up to brick wall 48db/octave filters)

 

They have enough frequency bands for most situations you'll encounter and have a variety of ins and outs (e.g. 3 in 6 out, 4 in 8 out are the most common.)

 

You'll generally get multiband parametric EQ on each of the inputs and outputs plus compression/maximisers and limiters on the outs.

 

Delays are common too, they allow you time align your speakers depending on where they're placed and box type. Did you know that a bass reflex sub has a sluggishness inherent in its design (known as group delay) that in an ideal world will require any top boxes to be delayed in order to keep everything hitting the audience at the same time?

 

The Behringer Ultradrive DCX2496 is an astounding piece of kit for the money (around £240 now) when you consider the 1U box will replace an EQ, limiter/compressor, x-over, delay unit and also has real-time analysis functions.

 

If you want to go up from there, the dbx driveracks are a very good choice as are the Void units

[Gary 0]

I've had speaker management systems or a dedicated "black box" on my last speaker system (Bose) and on my current system (RAMSA).

 

The BOSE "little black box" had no adjustments at all, inside or out - although apparently there was supposedly one that Bose released afterwards with an internal adjuster.

 

The Ramsa system controller on the other hand, was designed to be opened up and the manual told you which dip switches to set which way for different comibnations of Ramsa top-end, full range, and bass units. Externally, however, theres only a power button, and thats your lot. This is, therefore a relatively safe, tamper-proof unit, with no chance of a stand-in operator/user/DJ accidently sending midrange freqs to the tweeters, or boosting the output to the bass drivers by +6db by "accident" http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/whistling.gif .

 

If I were going for a new system now, I'd look at the Behringer range of crossovers, and combined units.

[Kingy 0]

We put a scope on a behringer crossover and was surpised how acuarate the frequecy cut offs were for the money!

 

Well done Behringer.

[norty303 0]

The Ultradrives have a history of producing 'frying eggs' type noises on the outputs occassionally. This seems to be down to poor finishing on the boards where component legs have not been trimmed right and short on the bottom of the case. This can be easily fixed with strips of gaffa tape (see, it DOES do everything) on the bottom of the case internally and light trimming of the legs.

 

Not all suffer this and mines been fine but i might do the mod just for safety's sake (don't want it going off in the middle of a gig)