NEW Analog ACTIVE crossover !! Made in USA, UNDER $1K !!

[@n.lyndley.9889]

Been ‘active’ for decades. Meridian, Linn, Sanders Use a studio-grade DSP, multiple dacs and expensive amps. This seems a great analogue, active x/over. Only one DAC required or turntable fans can keep the signal analogue throughout. I always laugh when Jay spends millions, only to send the final signal through a debilitating, passive crossover - so the (solitary) amplifier can’t do its job properly. Bravo!

[@danielesbordone1871]

Using an active crossover is the correct way to do hi-fi , a lot of audiophiles think it's something crazy used strictly in the Pro Audio sector. Every enthusiast should have this component. Passive crossovers are an old and inefficient way of doing things.

[@roberthart9886]

Plus passives are tailored to the designers kit/room, etc whereas an active gives the owner full control

[@ccdccd8615]

@@roberthart9886I don’t totally agree. Let’s take the example of a 3-way speaker. Bi-amping the speaker and providing separate power to the woofer is a no-brained. But what is the benefit of separately powering the tweeter and midrange? Sure you could get a little more control, but at the expense of much greater complexity and cost. Let’s make this a 4-way with a super tweeter. The passive crossover between the ST and the T is probably little more than a single cap. Again, added complexity and cost for little benefit in most cases. That is not to say there aren’t cases where going totally active can make sense. I’m building a speaker that is bi-amped. It’s a 3-way design and the case could be made for tri-amping. The reason is that the tweeter is very efficient and the midrange is far less efficient. Because of this, I have to attenuate the tweeter. Tri-amping would open up a range of low power tube and Class A amps that probably could not be used in a passive configuration. If I really wanted a single end tube amp with 4-5 watts per channel for the tweeter, this could be worth doing. I actually spoke with a tube amp maker about this at his suggestion. But during the conversation, he said that I’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between this tube amp and his higher power (20 watt per channel) push pull tube amp. Yes the higher power tube amp is more money, but by the time you factor in the cost of the additional amp, there would be no savings and negligible increase in sound quality. Are there situations where going fully active makes sense? Sure. For OEMs, you have greater control over how your speaker will sound. The flip side of that is that the customer will have less ability to change it. It’s also overall cheaper for the OEMs because the various amps need only perform well over the frequency range of the driver, not the entire speaker. But overall, going past bi-amplification is a special case situation.

[@mark120371]

Outstanding Mikey just what i been looking for, now if they can make it with op-amp sockets to do op-amp rolling. It would be prefect at that point. Many outstanding discrete op-amp out that would take it sonics performance to another level. And do the remove panel for access just like the crossover modules.

[@normloo1590]

How does it compare to your Marchand XO?

[@dylannguyen6229]

Are there significant enhancements over the K231? TRS to XLR adapters may be a less expensive route, but idk if that will work.

[@michaelwright1602]

Thanks Mikey! Mine, the K231, arrived yesterday with the 80hz module installed, and an extra 90hz that I have yet to try. I also ordered a couple more modules to play around with. This Sublime crossover is the BOMB! Very tight, it has a pleasant crispness to the way it does things, I have nothing negative to state about the purchase. Then the bass, I have that running out to a pair of the little REL T-Zero MKIII subs. They are replacing a pair of SVS SB3000 units. These little REL's just do music so much better, and disappear in the room.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Glad you're happy !

[@greglucas5194]

Thanks for great info , great meeting you in Tampa and the Cool teeshirt.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Thanks!

[@jeff3575davison]

I use a highly modded Dahlquist LP-1 for my sub crossover. great design. It only needed modern caps, resistors and Burson discrete op-amps with an large outboard linear power supply. right up there now and a phenomenal bit of kit. Passive "pass through" for the highs and active variable for the lows...

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Thanks for sharing!

[@MajorTendonitis]

I’d love to build my own tower speakers someday . In order to get past the passive crossover trial and error building , I’d love to go active . Been doing active crossovers for decades in car audio, not sure why there’s so few options in home audio

[@j.m.harris4202]

Fluff and Fluffers belong only in One Industry Mikey, but I do like when the "Tweeks Come Out at Night"! Great Product! ✌

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

For sure, but look at all the strokage you get on YT...lol. I boycott the whole BS thing. Look. No more tag words, or description or begging your ass to subscribe.

[@dragocelander6671]

Great share, Mikey!

[@iokuse8498]

Makes connecting cables easier ...thx

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

For sure

[@JRadian]

Sublime K235 is now $1200, so people would want to know how the transparency of sound compares to other active crossover options, especially the higher-end Minidsp units!

[@tadzius5829]

Now it's $1,727... at this rate in another 3 mos it will be $3K

[@jeffreythurston1822]

Really awesome product. Do they have designers at the company that can help set up the modules for crossover frequencies and gain? Is there a cost to the modules?

[@tadzius5829]

It's not under US$1000, though... their website says $1,727

[@drdyna]

This is cool, but between my stack of minidsp units, and the one I just built from a 30 dollar diyaudio store kit that doesn't use opamps at all, I guess this is somewhere in the middle? With a not-so-middle price tag.

[@piotrwiaz5895]

what about the delay of one channel? can it be set?

[@JamesWilliams-gf8gm]

I ordered one. I will see how it goes. My speakers are JBL 4367s and my subs are JTR RS1s.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Sweet !

[@rvaillant]

Very nice.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Yes !

[@roberthart9886]

Awesome. If it was available when I blew up 3 POS Behringers and 2 DBX active XOs I MIGHT still have Maggie 3.5Rs . Nah, only because they are big as doors and block my rooms Feng Shui

[@dajikbatarang1]

Is the only difference between this and the older one XLR connections? I have the k231 is it worth upgrading?

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

They updated the circuit for lower noise. It's up to you.

[@briand66]

@@OCDHIFiGuy The specs are identical on their website. I understand the market for an XLR version, but I personally would have preferred an upgrade to a 4-way (using two K231 boxes now).

[@Darkmatterme]

Thanks a lot, interesting product

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

U bet !

[@Darkmatterme]

Mr Mikey I have an other question and it is about the amps. For my new system with passive x-overs I would gone for the AGD amps but if I go active agd is too expensive. I know you have experience with AGD but have you compared them to ncore and would that make a good system in your opinion??

[@nekky_7r]

Hey Mikey, I am ready to order this on Friday. What modules would you recommend for Magnepan LRS+ and a future sub? Thanks in advance! I felt like this product was coming :)

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Depends on your sub, but safe is 50 and 60Hz at both 12 and 24db slope. (4 cards) Try all. Use what you like best.

[@nekky_7r]

@@OCDHIFiGuy thank you so much man!! Do you sell those Magnepan sub add-ons separately? I’m up in Canada so not sure shipping from you in ATL would make sense??

[@jeff3575davison]

Link to manufacturer?

[@justbrowsing5279]

From what I've read in forums, it's impossible to get in touch with support for these guys. Some people say months before they heard back. Really want a product like this but that's a deal breaker.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

There is nothing to SUPPORT ... LOL. It's an analog crossover..

[@WelkySchullin]

Very nice!

[@rpiescic]

I apologize for any dumb questions or assumptions, but, pre-amplifier active crossovers were a pipe dream in the hifi shops I haunted in high school in 1990! So If my speakers have separate jacks for hi and low or even hi-mid-low frequencies and I want to use 2 or 3 amps for amplification.., I should buy this device? Would I need to eliminate the factory crossovers in the speakers since I control what frequencies go to each of the respective H/L or H/M/L frequency jacks? Thanks in advance for any help.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Stack filters. No prob. It saves the amplifiers job..

[@rpiescic]

@@OCDHIFiGuy I’m so audio illiterate that I don’t understand your response! 🤦🏻‍♂️ Thanks for taking the time to respond and I’ll research stack filters.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

@@rpiescic it means to use 2 crossovers. One Active like in the video, then the passive filter (crossover) that's in the speaker. ;-)

[@rpiescic]

@@OCDHIFiGuy Thanks for your insights! Now I understand🤦🏻‍♂️ I still remember sales dudes telling me in the early 90’s to get rid of my speakers’ factory crossovers😂🍷

[@mkashiff1]

I have been using Behringer CX3400 v2 for my 3-way setup. No complains and relatively cheap.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Sweet !

[@j-rod6420]

Have you tried any dsp type crossovers like the Minidsp flex HT?

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

I do not do DSP. It's how you make poorly matched shit work in any room IMHO. I prefer passive tuning even though it's much harder, more expensive and time consuming. I feel the sound is more effortless compared to forcing things to work in the digital domain..

[@j-rod6420]

@OCDHIFiGuy Understandable.Any time I've done any type sound alterations either digital volume control in a dac or streamer eq. I've noticed things like added edginess in the highs and negative effects on the sounstage.

[@artyfhartie2269]

My amp is Made in PRC. The People Republic of Colorado

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

I almost had to de monetize you...lol

[@mikehermesmeglio]

I have a DAC made in the People's Republic of California!

[@artyfhartie2269]

@@mikehermesmeglio Not Republic of Congo?

[@mikehermesmeglio]

@@artyfhartie2269 Well.... I guess it's true that parts are looking like third world countries.

[@iokuse8498]

Hey my conversation with carlvandoran got deleted he was helping me with xlr to lfe rel subwoofer ...he said other connections was to aggressive and something else .....

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Yeah, don't use the amp connection for REL, it's a bad idea. Use XLR direct from preamp.

[@chebrubin]

You are the artisan of the 21st century. How do you program the modules. Although I think Marantz has digital directional bass for High and Mids and Subwoofer main bass plus LFE. Stereo bass can be cool.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Simply ask for the modules you need. Easy. Digital stuff gets "programmed". This is Analog

[@danielmiller469]

hell yeah

[@AudioheavenDenmark]

That's a bargain

[@marknelson4699]

Hi Mikey, I wondered what your opinion was on integrated amplifiers that have a Sub Out connection? Many thanks, Mark🙏

[@michaelperry3578]

Come on, few are going to rack mount the damn thing, get a damn case with removable ears. Just about have this market to yourself for hi-fi and this is twice you have a feature that will turn users off.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Lol. Do your homework. It's available both "damn" ways... lol 👏 way to go Einstein

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Lol. Do your homework. It's available both "damn" ways... lol 👏 way to go Einstein

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Lol. Do your homework. It's available both "damn" ways... lol 👏 way to go Einstein

[@michaelperry3578]

Sorry, missed that. Got a little pissed to think such a good product would be undone unnecessarily. People chasing barely audible gains upgrading DAC’s and cables while missing out on HUGE benefits of properly integrating their sub(s). Hope you stay hot on this topic. This going up against 3.5K from JL is a big win for the community.

[@CarlVanDoren61]

​@@michaelperry3578 Paid $2.1k used JLA cr-1 😊

[@nickolaymiltenov]

Good speakers need neither subwoofers nor external crossovers. The more components in the chain the worse the sound.

[@hurkamur1]

Saywhat? 😂

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Lol. No doubt. Who gives a shit about NEED ? Nobody NEEDS high end audio.. this is about what we want to PLAY with... they are playthings. Toys. Stuff.. not need items.

[@michaelperry3578]

Silly comment, hope you are joking.

[@nickolaymiltenov]

@@michaelperry3578 More silly reply. Are you joking.

[@nickolaymiltenov]

​@@OCDHIFiGuyOooo yeee, this high end product will reduce the overall S/N ratio of your system with 5db, but still it is very highendish. 😂😂😂