How about taking on a more challenging task? Swap the passive crossover with an active crossover or build a switch to compare the sound. Wouldn't this be a more interesting, exciting and achievement fulfilling project than soldering?
I feel for you
I've always been extremely satisfied that I took the technical route in my career. I studied physics at the University of Chicago, Nuclear Engineering at the University of Illinois, worked as a technican at a national lab while in college, and I'm not afraid to work on anything. I do all my work on my cars because that's the best way to know it is done right.
And here's the point, I do just about all my own work on my audio equipment. I'm not afraid to take a $20,000 DAC apart and modify it. I've done mods for myself and other people. I build most of my own cables. I add bypass switches and extra sets of inputs. And I am very happy with the results.
But I know there are many members here who feel totally incapable of such things. They have never been technical. their educational background is non-technical. They even tried to avoid math and science classes in high school and college. They assume they will never have any technical ability. I emphasize that is their assessment of their own skills, not mine.
So I'm reading Alex Karp's new book (I highly recommend it) and he points out that in the past leaders tended to be scientists or lovers of science instead of lawyers and political science students. Ben Franklin was a scientist first and a politician second. Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, said if first love was science and politics was his duty. As for myself, UofChicago taught me to write as well as do physics which has been very handy in my career and personal life.
So I say not only is it possible to have both scientific and literary skills, but it is natural. I think we've fooled ourselves into thinking we have to choose one or the other. and if you have chosen the non-technical route, there is nothing that says you can't be both.
So read up on your tube amp. Learn what the B+ voltage is. Get a technical friend to help you build some cables. I have my daughter, currently an honors student in business school, soldering when she is home on break.
The internet makes all of this easy to research.
Don't be afraid to change out the connectors on the back of your amp to an upgraded model. it isn't hard to replace a capacitor with either a new in-kind or an upgraded capacitor.
Finally, technical people love to help others. Find someone around you who will help you and have some fun. your system will benefit from it.
I'll freely admit there are people here with much more experience with technical things that I have. I have to go get help sometimes. That's one of the great things about the internet and forums like this.
Jerry
Showing 4 responses by lanx0003
@devinplombier It is a system setup using a DSP processor like this: the digital signal from the source is processed (RC/EQ) in the DSP, converted into multiway (frequency band-specific) analog signals, then fed into amplifiers, amplified and connected to multiway drivers (tweeters, midranges, woofers, and subwoofers). (taken from MiniDSP website)
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Good, we are on the same page, @devinplombier. I thought you were referring to active and passive for the latter and former. Of course, soldering is involved, but my point is that building the whole system is a much more fun and fulfilling project than just the act of soldering itself. BTW, I am thinking about buying a open baffle speakers with the passive xover module / box so I could conveniently swap and plug in the active part of cables. Do you have any suggestion? something like these (the Duet15 but too pricy)
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@devinplombier Yes, simply de-solder the original passive crossover connection and solder new cables from amplifiers directly to each driver of both channels once the active speaker system is built. Spatial Sapphire older / discontinued models are cheaper but most of them are two-way. I prefer three-way. Also thinking about the Vandersteen 2Ce Signature—easier access to each driver compartment, although not as convenient as panel-style open baffle (OB), but relatively more affordable and good-sounding. |
