Adding external crossover to 2.1 setup, am I missing anything?

[SithSolo1]

Looking at this unit.

Current setup:
Xonar STX Analog>Vintage Pioneer Integrated>"A" speaker output to Speakers, "B" speaker output to subwoofer High Level In, and running in A+B mode

After Crossover:
Xonar STX Analog>CX2310 Input>CX2310 Sub out to Subwoofer and High out to Pioneer>"A" speaker output to speakers

Just want to make sure I've got everything I need before I pull the trigger.

If I get that CX2310 I plan to get the following cables:
2x 3ft XLR Male to RCA Male for the inputs
2x 3ft XLR Female to RCA Male for the High outputs
1x 10ft XLR Female to RCA Male for the Sub out

Also open to other crossover suggestions outside of buying an AVR. I prefer the look and feel of vintage integrated amps/tuners/etc. I know the look of the crosser flies in the face of that but what can you do.

 

[Howard]

A lot of subs have line-level stereo inputs. You can just use a splitter after your source and feed all the amps at the same time.

 

[SithSolo1]

A lot of subs have line-level stereo inputs. You can just use a splitter after your source and feed all the amps at the same time.

So you're saying:

After Crossover:
Xonar STX Analog>RCA Splitter to Sub/CX2310 Input>CX2310 High out to Pioneer>"A" speaker output to speakers

Like that?

 

[Howard]

sound card -> splitter -> sub AND stereo receiver

See: http://www.parts-express.com/images/item_large/300-750_l.jpg

Of course, this option doesn't work if the sub's amp doesn't have line level inputs, but most have at least speaker-level inputs. There's really no need for an external crossover unless you need to have variable phase or complicated EQ.

EDIT: Input impedance on both units needs to be high.

 

[SithSolo1]

Ah. Yes it has line level inputs. The main point of using an external crossover was to high pass the speakers. They are ported bookshelfs so I didn't want them running full range.

 

[Howard]

That makes sense. Why don't you try it out this way first, though? Maybe you'll find that in your environment you won't notice the bass distortion?

EDIT: Of course you will have to select the sub crossover wisely so that the frequency response is flat-ish.

 

[SithSolo1]

Thank you for the help.

I just ordered a new sub so the crossover would have to wait anyway.

 

[kornphlake]

If your intention is to high pass the full range speakers the crossover needs to be in front of the amp driving the full range speakers.

I personally would high pass the speakers, low frequency distortion in bookshelf speakers is audible IMO, that doesn't mean you have to spend a ton of money on an external crossover and cables though, an inexpensive cap across the speaker terminals will block bass frequencies at the expense of a little bit of power.

 

[Howard]

What speakers do you have?

 

[SithSolo1]

Just have an older pair of Infinity Entra Ones and an Energy S10.3. So nothing really expensive.

Edit: A thought just occurred to me. If I use an active crossover before the amp I will only have volume control over the speakers because the sub will have to come in before the amp or there will be no low frequncey. So would two of these work, one for each speaker?

 

[Howard]

Just have an older pair of Infinity Entra Ones and an Energy S10.3. So nothing really expensive.

Edit: A thought just occurred to me. If I use an active crossover before the amp I will only have volume control over the speakers because the sub will have to come in before the amp or there will be no low frequncey. So would two of these work, one for each speaker?

Yes, if you want to cross at 80 Hz.

However, the Behringer crossover does have gain control (albeit limited to +/- 12 dB) on the input.

 

[SithSolo1]

Yes, if you want to cross at 80 Hz.

However, the Behringer crossover does have gain control (albeit limited to +/- 12 dB) on the input.

Well now I just feel like an idiot. I was so focused on the crossovers and the cables that I completely missed the gain control.

For now I'm just gonna get the passive ones. Its only $30 and these speakers are down 3db at 60hz anyway so its not a huge loss. Once I save up some more money and replace the amp and speakers I'll look into the active crossover again.

Thank you all for all of your help

 

[kornphlake]

It's probably better to upgrade the receiver to something designed with a subwoofer in mind. There are other ways to accomplish the same thing, but an AVR is the most eloquent.

You can add a volume controlled pre-amp before the crossover if you'd like to keep your vintage amp and still have volume control over the sub, it's one more piece of equipment and typically an expensive piece. Alternatively since you're using your PC as a source you can set the gain on the amps at a high level and use the volume controls in your media player software.

 

[Howard]

Another option is to get an AVR with analog pre-outs so you can use vintage amplification.

Honestly, most vintage is crap though, IMO. YMMV.

 

[SithSolo1]

Ok if I take the analog output from the STX and send it to an AVR, will the AVR still use the sub X-crossover in stereo mode? I know if I use the optical out on the STX then the it uses the AVRs internal DAC but what about if I use Analog?

 

[kornphlake]

Properly configured, an AVR will high pass the mains regardless of the source.

 

[Howard]

Ok if I take the analog output from the STX and send it to an AVR, will the AVR still use the sub X-crossover in stereo mode? I know if I use the optical out on the STX then the it uses the AVRs internal DAC but what about if I use Analog?

Doesn't matter what the source is. The AVR just needs to know if the fronts are large or small.

 

[SithSolo1]

Well I dun done it.

Bought a refurb Denon AVR 590 that I will be using with the HT in the living room. When I do that I'll move the Pioneer vsx-1014tx to the computer. It'll be nice to the DTS/DD-HD decoding and the HDMI input even though Denon is down a bit on power so we'll see. The 1014 might be overkill for the bedroom but what can you do.