Choosing crossover point from response curve

[max_headroom]

I'm building a Linkwitz-Riley Crossover (ESP Project 09) to integrate a subwoofer with my SB Acoustics Aras.
The crossover is fixed so I want to choose the crossover point carefully. I was going to use the standard 80Hz, but can a better one can be found by looking at the speaker's response curve?

Thanks in advance, and I hope this will be helpful for people in this (I imagine quite common) situation.

 

[digitalfrost]

I think the impedance tells you more than the FR.

You can see the bass reflex is tuned to ~35hz, so I would put the XO at least at 70hz to have an octave buffer. But you can go higher. Looking at distortion, I think it makes sense.

Will you only use 1 subwoofer? If yes higher XO can be an issue because the sub will be mono.

 

[Soniclife]

Frequency response at a single volume won't tell you how much low frequency capacity your speakers have, you need to look at what happens when you turn them up. But small speakers don't do low bass, and are best not being asked to.

 

[staticV3]

subwoofer integration is not an exact science with a single, correct crossover frequency.

Consider buying a miniDSP or WiiM Amp/Ultra, then you can try different crossover frequencies while listening to music, from the comfort of your MLP.

Then choose what results in the best in-room response, or choose simply what gives you the best experience.

 

[max_headroom]

Will you only use 1 subwoofer? If yes higher XO can be an issue because the sub will be mono.

I see, so going off your distortion graph, with two subs the crossover can be set high (even around 200Hz?). Unfortunately I only have one sub.

 

[max_headroom]

subwoofer integration is not an exact science with a single, correct crossover frequency.

Consider buying a miniDSP or WiiM Amp/Ultra, then you can try different crossover frequencies while listening to music, from the comfort of your MLP.

Then choose what results in the best in-room response, or choose simply what gives you the best experience.

A miniDSP flex isn't an option atm, but I could potentially play around with a cheaper DSP crossover. I wonder, Is it possible to make DSP corrections upstream of the fixed crossover?

 

[digitalfrost]

I see, so going off your distortion graph, with two subs the crossover can be set high (even around 200Hz?). Unfortunately I only have one sub.

Depends on the distance of the subs to the sats. If they are close then I would think you would benefit from an XO in the 100-140hz range.

A miniDSP flex isn't an option atm, but I could potentially play around with a cheaper DSP crossover. I wonder, Is it possible to make DSP corrections upstream of the fixed crossover?

The way I setup my system is, I do the sub XO first, and also some bass boost for the subs as the chassis cannot reach very low on their own. Then I measure and do correction on the whole thing. So yes, you can stack corrections.

 

[Keith_W]

Is it possible to make DSP corrections upstream of the fixed crossover?

The answer is yes. But it isn't as good as having individual control of each driver. The number of corrections available to you are more limited, not to mention it is more difficult to take the measurement.

 

[staticV3]

A miniDSP flex isn't an option atm, but I could potentially play around with a cheaper DSP crossover. I wonder, Is it possible to make DSP corrections upstream of the fixed crossover?

You can use the fixed crossover for Mid->Tweeter, then DSP for Sub->Mid.