Wilson Audio MAXX resistors

Don't most resistors fail due to pushing to much current across them? As in "high volumes."

Mr_M

Yes they certainly do - however all resistors have a Wattage rating as well which is how much power they can safely handle without heating up and self destruct - a properly integrated resistor should have adequate power handling capabilities to not change its properties when in use.  

Proper practice is at least twice the wattage rating of what the resistor will see in actual use.

In a speaker crossover this is doubly important, depending on where the resistor is inserted in the circuit it will change the frequency response of the speaker system, if inserted anywhere after the first component in a specific crossover rung, its change in value will change both SPL and crossover frequency, this because all preceding components in this rung values are selected based upon seeing a constant load.   In some cases one can place the resistor as the first component but then its even more important that its of proper power handling capabilities as it must be able to dissipate all the effect consumed by the shunt components in the crossover also,  however in this case only a SPL change will happen.

For examples of crossover implementation here are a few examples

http://pbnaudio.com/speakers/speaker-kits/scanspeak-b741
 
http://pbnaudio.com/speakers/speaker-kits/xmax

Good Listening


Peter
 
 

Bose use light bulb in their crossover to protect the driver !

Just use the best resistors out there from Path Audio , 10 watts and by far the best , what is Wilson using Caddock ?