Someone w Experience Active/Passive Biamping


I'm considering either line level active crossover to biamp my Magnepan 1.6QR's, or speaker level passive crossover to do same.
I'm seeing on the MUG website that line level active xo is better, since the signals are "treated" prior to amp getting them. The Behringer 2496 has been suggested for me to use.

Anyone confirm, challenge this? I'm willing to bypass the Maggie caps, inductor etc. in order to do the Behringer thing, but I'd like to hear pro's/con's prior to executing the change.

Some may be fans of speaker level passive crossovers. I was planning on building my own, but those using the line level active crossovers are insisting it's inferior. Comments?
Thanks!
douglas_schroeder

Showing 1 response by twl

Biamping with an active crossover is a better solution.

Low power line level signals in the active crossover are much more easily and elegantly handled, than trying to handle them in a high-power element like in the speaker.

Also, if you run each channel of the amp full range, and then filter the signals at the speakers, some of the advantages of biamping are negated. If you use the active filters, each amp channel is only required to amplify a portion of the signal, and thus has more power and headroom available for each driver. And each driver can be driven directly by the amp(s).

I'd strongly consider using the active biamping arrangement, even though it needs more cables, and does increase the signal path length and complexity, it is a job better done at the line level.

IHMO.