*~Gone Active~*

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Comments

  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited July 2010
    Face wrote: »
    Gold is NOT for pots, it leaves a residue behind.

    FaderLube is for pots and switches.

    So now I have to go behind myself & clean them again?? :( :mad:
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2010
    Yep!
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited July 2010
    Balls.

    I'm just gonna wait & see what happens~
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2010
    Don't be lazy... :)
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited July 2010
    Face wrote: »
    Gold is NOT for pots, it leaves a residue behind.

    FaderLube is for pots and switches.

    I hate to troll, but I read 'Vader lube' and had a mental image of Vader with his light saber.

    Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2010
    This Vader is going to need it if he's caught: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/07/22/2010-07-22_darth_vader_robber_and_thats_no_lightsaber_hes_wielding_at_li_bank.html
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited July 2010
    I'm diggin' this sound~

    :D
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited July 2010
    Congrats
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited July 2010
    I've determined the original caps went bad & the PO(s) did a hack job replacement. Looks like hell, but no issues with it working properly~

    DSC02894.jpg?t=1280117448
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited August 2010
    Some sneak peeks; the first two are Dianna Krall (1st video died--camera battery!), and third is the climax of the 1812 Overture-- I kept them all short for size. Sorry they're so dark; don't know WTF is up with that:


    http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/TNRabbit/Audio/?action=view&current=MOV02911.mp4

    http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/TNRabbit/Audio/?action=view&current=MOV02912.mp4

    http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/TNRabbit/Audio/?action=view&current=MOV02915.mp4

    The 1812 Overture overmodulated BAD; guess I need to turn it down a little next time...
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited January 2011
    TNRabbit wrote: »
    LOVE them~ & the price was right, too ($19/pair at monoprice).


    Wanted to correct this; bought them from Parts Express, not Monoprice~
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • Habanero Monk
    Habanero Monk Posts: 715
    edited January 2011
    Holy crap...:eek: That seems like a ton of work. Sounds like it was worth the effort.
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited January 2011
    Every bit~
    :smile:
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited January 2011
    I found symmetrical leading aircraft wing edges available in balsa wood for SUPER cheap ($2 each) & ordered several in both 1/2" & 3/4" sizes to build my waveform guides. \:D/ I'll shape to fit & paint them black to match the ribbons:

    symmetrical_leading_edge.jpg

    I'll post pics when I get them done!
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited February 2011
    I'm having a get together in March if anyone is interested in hearing the fruits of my labor:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114739
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited February 2011
    Awesome work!!! and thanks for sharing.

    Will there be a before/after review forthcoming? please?
    :biggrin:
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited February 2011
    Thanks~

    I hadn't thought about doing a before/after review, but I'll give it some thought.
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited February 2011
    Before/After Review:

    I guess I'd have to say the main difference is CLARITY. Cymbals are crystal-clear; the "edge" of instruments shows through--saxaphone, trumpet, etc. Stringed instruments sound so good on great recordings it could just make your cry. The closest I can call it is a "graininess" that was there before & now isn't. Before, if I played at moderately loud levels, it would sound better after about 30 minutes, but never as good as now. My guess is the caps & in-line passive crossover components were aged & in need of replacement. If I had all new passive crossovers, PERHAPS the difference between passive & active wouldn't be as great. Too late to tell for certain now~

    On top of that, a lot more headroom is available from the amplifiers; I give a conservative estimate that roughly 40% of available power was wasted on the passive crossover components.

    I can't think of a single thing that's suffered (other than simplicity) from the upgrade. I highly recommend it! Just don't skimp on active crossover components, & get the most for your dollar there.
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited February 2011
    Thanks so much!

    I love seeing people dong active crossovers and hearing about the great results. I'm sure it makes purists cringe but I think it's fantastic, especically when it garners such great results as it did with yours.

    Additionally I really like your waveguide mod idea. Can't wait to see it finished.
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • geoff727
    geoff727 Posts: 546
    edited February 2011
    TNRabbit wrote: »
    I guess I'd have to say the main difference is CLARITY. Cymbals are crystal-clear; the "edge" of instruments shows through--saxaphone, trumpet, etc. Stringed instruments sound so good on great recordings it could just make your cry. The closest I can call it is a "graininess" that was there before & now isn't. Before, if I played at moderately loud levels, it would sound better after about 30 minutes, but never as good as now. My guess is the caps & in-line passive crossover components were aged & in need of replacement. If I had all new passive crossovers, PERHAPS the difference between passive & active wouldn't be as great. Too late to tell for certain now~

    On top of that, a lot more headroom is available from the amplifiers; I give a conservative estimate that roughly 40% of available power was wasted on the passive crossover components.

    I can't think of a single thing that's suffered (other than simplicity) from the upgrade. I highly recommend it! Just don't skimp on active crossover components, & get the most for your dollar there.

    TNRabbit,

    I have followed your thread from the beginning with interest. You may have read this before, but here are two articles explaining the theory and practice behind optimum bi-amping:

    http://sound.westhost.com/bi-amp.htm
    http://sound.westhost.com/bi-amp2.htm

    On my own system (http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vevol&1290711373), I can attest to the same sonic results as you. My bi-amp job was a really easy one....driver panels with the same resistance and sensitivities, and identical high/low-range amps (no concerns about differing input sensitivities, gains, rise times, etc.), and powered subs with a large range of adjustments.

    It's been really interesting to watch your progress on this; I'm anxious to see what's next!

    G~
    Polk SDA SRS 2
    Polk RTA 15tl
    Polk Monitor 7C
    Polk Lsi9
    Infinity RS-II (modded)
    Infinity RS-IIIa (modded)
    Infinity RS 2.5 x 2
    Magnepan 1.6QR (modded)

    System: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vevol&1290711373
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  • geoff727
    geoff727 Posts: 546
    edited February 2011
    TNRabbit wrote: »
    ......My guess is the caps & in-line passive crossover components were aged & in need of replacement. If I had all new passive crossovers, PERHAPS the difference between passive & active wouldn't be as great.....

    Section 2.1 in this article might help to shed some light on this.

    http://sound.westhost.com/biamp-vs-passive.htm

    G~
    Polk SDA SRS 2
    Polk RTA 15tl
    Polk Monitor 7C
    Polk Lsi9
    Infinity RS-II (modded)
    Infinity RS-IIIa (modded)
    Infinity RS 2.5 x 2
    Magnepan 1.6QR (modded)

    System: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vevol&1290711373
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited February 2011
    Thanks, Geoff~

    Read all those links before I started. I actually spent almost a year researching before I started the project.

    I guess my point was that I'll never know now how much difference would have been made simply by rebuilding/upgrading the passive crossovers, because I'm not going back that way~
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • geoff727
    geoff727 Posts: 546
    edited February 2011
    TNRabbit wrote: »
    Read all those links before I started. I actually spent almost a year researching before I started the project.

    Cool. Definitely some good stuff he's got on his website.

    TNRabbit wrote: »
    I guess my point was that I'll never know now how much difference would have been made simply by rebuilding/upgrading the passive crossovers, because I'm not going back that way~

    Ya, I'm not going back to passive networks either (with these speakers, at least). Like with yours, the difference is just too big and too positive to reverse it now.

    When the Magnepan's were stock, I always felt that my system was failing to put a fine edge on the dynamics of the music. The canvas was just a little too flat. Even though it sounded good, it wasn't very exciting or particularly involving. After going fully active, that all changed for the better.

    Just out of curiosity, the Genesis speakers that originally used the Carver ribbons have been modified (and many retrofitted) with the Bohlender-Graebener RD-series of planar line sources. Is this something your AL-IIIs would be amenable to, if the need ever arises?

    G~
    Polk SDA SRS 2
    Polk RTA 15tl
    Polk Monitor 7C
    Polk Lsi9
    Infinity RS-II (modded)
    Infinity RS-IIIa (modded)
    Infinity RS 2.5 x 2
    Magnepan 1.6QR (modded)

    System: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vevol&1290711373
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited February 2011
    I'm a complete novice to hi-fi (still wading through mid-fi) but it seems logical to me that placing an active xover and preamp before the amplifier section would garner more favorable results than the standard preamp>amp>crossover designs.
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited February 2011
    I've HEARD the B&G speakers aren't up to the caliber of the Carver ribbons (actually, they are PLANAR MAGNETIC to be specific, not true ribbons), but I can't support that with any evidence or facts. The B&Gs are a bit more expensive, and since I have a direct link to NOS Carver planars or rebuilds of mine, I wouldn't be inclined to go down that road.

    I'd like hear a pair of the Genesis speakers at some point before I die~
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • PolkMaster1
    PolkMaster1 Posts: 847
    edited March 2011
    This may sound like a dumb question, but I am getting curious about bi-amping. I am sure someone has researched this, but I need to ask the obvious - would it be ideal to remove the passive crossover, take its parts to make it an active crossover? Or is it more to it than that? It would seem that the manufacturer went through great pains to make a crossover as best as possible to match the drivers and tweeters.
    Statistics show that 98% of us will die at some point in our lifetime.

    The other 2% will work for WalMart.
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited March 2011
    I'm not sure how to answer that from an electronics standpoint, but I don't think it will work. If you get a massive power draw from the passive components on the HIGH power side, I don't see how they would work on the low (preamp) side.

    Active components are electrically powered & don't take anything from the input signal except the frequencies you're reducing.

    Regarding the "best as possible" from the manufacturer, they go with cheapest option in most cases. Unless we're talking multiples of $1000 speakers, it's usually a compromise on passive components, and cheaper wins most times. Also, 99% of folks out there want "plug it in and forget it", which active is NOT.

    Passive crossovers add some unwanted things (resistance, phase changes, power draw, lowered damping) in exchange for a flattened response & safe average impedance.
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited April 2011
    So, here's what the entire mess looks like now; sorry about the crappy pictures:

    Would you quit spending all your money on parts and buy a gear cabinet already??? Sheesh...
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