MEN220 Active Crossover

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBill

Surprised that you apparently find that the low bass from the EB1i's is not adequate.

BuffaloBill.......I did not say anything about an inadequacy of the PMC EB1i's bass performance. Their transmission line loaded woofers produce an excellent, low distortion bottom end. My comment was that operating the Fathom f113 in my system simultaneously through the same frequency range as the EB1i's, in an overlapping manner, seems to have been impacting the superior bass I am now hearing using only the Fathom f113 to reproduce the bottom octave below 75Hz. I have nothing bad to say about the PMC EB1i's low frequency response on its own.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Face

When removing deep bass from a woofer that plays into the midrange, you will have a cleaner presentation. Some claim it's due to the Doppler effect. This probably explains why I prefer 3 way speakers, they're always more coherent to me. The only two ways I've liked were with woofers with a small x-max, which usually lack deep bass.

Mike.......I agree with you about removing low frequencies from drivers that also play midrange. I benefited tremendously by doing just that with the SF Guarneri Memento's using the Bryston 10B Sub to route the lowest octave away from them to subwoofers.

As for the Doppler effect, I am not sure about that. The Doppler effect happens when frequencies seem to become higher as a sound source nears you, and seems to become a lower frequency as the sound source gains distance from you, similar to the sound of a speeding motorcycle coming up on you, then passing you and continuing to distance itself from your location. The sound of the engine has a lower frequency that progressively seems to go up in frequency until it pass you , then gradually seems to go down in frequency again as the distance grows. This is due to the reduced or increased distance a sound source is to you while it is in motion, while you are in motion relative to the sound source, or both. I don't see how the Doppler effect as I understand it would apply to the sound of a two way speaker versus a three way speaker, making one sound better than the other from this effect.

[Jerome W]

Dan,
Thanks for sharing !
Did you run again the room perfect set up again after using the active filter ?
The RP1 manual says it must be run AFTER setting up the filter.

[lwschwartz]

Hi Dan, I have hesitated getting the MEN220 because I tri-amp my three way speakers. I am using IRS V's. Each has 36 tweeters that should be sent about 4500 Hz and up to their rated 45,000 Hz. Each panel has 12 Mids that can be sent from 80 Hz to 4500 Hz and the woofer columns have 6 woofers each that they goes down to 16 Hz. Since the MEN only has two way output, how do you think it would work to use a sub crossover like the Bryston for the woofers and could the MEN be set to limit the desired outputs to the mids and highs? Would that negate the ability to do room equalization because the MEN can't control the lows? Thanks for the help and advice.

[jdandy]

Jérôme.......I have not taken new Room Perfect measurements since I added the Fathom to the MEN220 and set up the low pass crossover. It is sounding so good right now I am hesitant to do anything that might alter what I am hearing. Still, you make a good point, and I may just do it to see what happens. maybe it will get even better.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by lwschwartz

Hi Dan, I have hesitated getting the MEN220 because I tri-amp my three way speakers. I am using IRS V's. Each has 36 tweeters that should be sent about 4500 Hz and up to their rated 45,000 Hz. Each panel has 12 Mids that can be sent from 80 Hz to 4500 Hz and the woofer columns have 6 woofers each that they goes down to 16 Hz. Since the MEN only has two way output, how do you think it would work to use a sub crossover like the Bryston for the woofers and could the MEN be set to limit the desired outputs to the mids and highs? Would that negate the ability to do room equalization because the MEN can't control the lows? Thanks for the help and advice.

Larry.......Your IRS V speakers sound like they are amazing just as they are. You didn't mention whether you are passively tri-amping the IRS V's, or using an active crossover.

Since the MEN220 will only accomadate a 2-way stereo crossover setup, it may not be the best candidate as an active crossover if you want to continue using the tri-amp configuration. On the other hand, the MEN220 can still be used effectively for it's Room Perfect functions and Voicing options by placing it in your processor or tape loop.

The Bryston 10B can be set up as a 3-way crossover, but to do this you would need two 10B active crossovers to handle your tri-amp setup. The Bryston 10B Sub will not provide the crossover points above 500Hz, so you would want to use the Bryston 10B Standard which has crossover points from 70Hz through 4500Hz.

[Masterlu]

Good stuff Dan!

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Good stuff Dan!

Ivan.......As you well know, this is a great hobby. There is always something fun to play with.

[Jerome W]

Dan,
As good as your system can sound now, I'm pretty sure that it will sound better with a recalibration of the room perfect.
Your review gives me the will to go active with the EB1i.
Only negative is to add a pair of 2301 and take care of 32 tubes !

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by C220MC275

Your review gives me the will to go active with the EB1i.
Only negative is to add a pair of 2301 and take care of 32 tubes!

Jérôme.......32 KT88's.