Product Test --- Xkitz 2-way Active Crossover

Full review and test of the Xkitz 2-way Active Crossover board. I purchased these boards a while ago and I decided to do a review on them. Spoiler alert...they are really good!
Product Link...
www.xkitz.com/...

[@phoenix11994466]

*_I too purchased the same Xkit 2-way Crossover some time ago, and, like you did nothing with it... But after stumbling on your video, I took a closer look at the specs of the FETS at the heart of the modules - They have super low noise and vanishing distortion... So I'm in the process of putting a project together using a W8-2145 full-range driver from Tang Band which uses a bamboo fiber reinforced paper cone, and a HiVi RT2H-A Planar Isodynamic Tweeter crossed over at around 2000khz. So thanks Joseph, your video has just breathed new life into shelved project._* 👀

[@sc0or]

I would like to find a DIP-8 socket there, so I could use ADA4898 or LT1364, OP275 at a low end, and MUSES02/03 at a high end (or may be some Burson os Stacato). And few other filter types like Bessel or Chebyshev for a better phase. Linkwitz does not care of a phase but sells an ideal stitching which is not required when we talk about a crossover (and plays some role when we talk about a tone control board). One slope can be 12dB/oct, and immediatelly 24dB/oct next to it. Everything depends on a driver and a cabinet. So, Linkwitz has no job there.

[@rayclark6596]

7:55 Why don't more people point this out? Such a dramatic difference that anyone can hear and beautifully demonstrated in your graph.

[@wesselingaudiodesign5031]

I recently received my Xkitz 2way crossover boards. I'm using them in a 3way for crossing woofers to midrange.. Dedicated amps connected to woofers is very nice with amazing controll and dynamics.. The one issue I have with Xkitz is the circuit with the voltage regulator and trim pot. I would prefer to bypass this circuit and direct connect a quality power supply directly to VCC on the opamps..

[@emileburnabylautier9426]

Agree with you Joseph, I use the three way variant in my open baffle speakers, and on many ocasion, other audiophiles where simply overwhelmed by what it can do. I am currently building an integrated amp with the three way balanced x-kitz boards. using 4 x modulus_ 86 amplifier boards from Neurochrome. I was alway's disapointed with any DSP on sensitive speakers, this opens up new posibilities.

[@JosephCrowesDIYSpeakerBuilding]

That sounds like an interesting project! Are you sharing your work on any site?

[@emileburnabylautier9426]

@@JosephCrowesDIYSpeakerBuilding No I do not, but that is not because it is a secret. I can send you some pictures if you like

[@mikeandkidsgoodfoodandgood3467]

I’m playing around with the balanced versions right now. Combined with the Xkitz linear power supply. Impressed at the price point, and you won’t get better sound from DSP unless you spend substantially more money. Even the new MiniDSP Flex sounds much worse. I’m using them with a 2 way with Purifi 6.5” woofer and Bliesma B34 tweeter. So very revealing speakers. Before connecting them to my speakers, I calibrated them with my audio analyzer. And I discovered the THD+N was only around -67dB. Then I hooked them up to my speakers, and they sounded quite good, but there was some dullness to the sound compared to my very high end DSP solution. Then I started messing around with the BSC. Tried several settings, and then decided to pull the jumpers to bypass completely. Massive improvement in resolution and clarity immediately. However the bass became thin of course. Next I hooked it back up to my analyzer and measured without the BSC enabled. And THD+N improved to -80dB. So 13dB of distortion is added by the BSC circuit. So what I decided to do is implement the BSC 100% transparently in the Roon 64 bit floating point PEQ instead, and the sound is pretty awesome. I’m feeding them with a cheap $270 Topping E50 DAC. And the sound quality is light years better than I was able to achieve from the balanced MiniDSP Flex. Even though on paper the THD+N of the flex was -111dB from my measurements of it. 31dB better, but much worse sound. Stop listening to ASR folks! However I should mention that the -80 THD+N is distortion dominated. The noise floor is very low at -108 dB. So they’re very quiet. I’m guessing that the major source of distortion is coming from the pots. And perhaps the mediocre LDO’s used to filter the incoming power. But super impressive at the price point, and they have inspired me to build my own all out assault analog crossover boards that will have -115 THD+N based on simulation. But they won’t be adjustable. Fixed for each design. That’s the only way to do analog active crossovers with absolutely no compromise.

[@JosephCrowesDIYSpeakerBuilding]

Wow, great work! It’s quite fascinating that the Topping DAC sounds as good as it does. I’ve found that you need to spend x20 more to get better performance, and it’s only discernible on high rez content.

[@JosephCrowesDIYSpeakerBuilding]

Wow, great work! It’s quite fascinating that the Topping DAC sounds as good as it does. I’ve found that you need to spend x20 more to get better performance, and it’s only discernible on high rez content.

[@JosephCrowesDIYSpeakerBuilding]

Wow, great work! It’s quite fascinating that the Topping DAC sounds as good as it does. I’ve found that you need to spend x20 more to get better performance, and it’s only discernible on high rez content.

[@timthetoolman5522]

Thanks for the excellent review! Well done! Answered all of my questions.

[@rickg8015]

Thanks for the review.. DSP has it’s place but I like it only from the midbass down, not molesting ~>80Hz up.. Really nice clasic TAD drivers there.

[@JosephCrowesDIYSpeakerBuilding]

Yes DSP can do wonders in correcting the room's bass response.

[@zawszeedek]

Joseph, awesome video, so far only real information about xkitz except marketing materials from producer!!! Can you explain your setup? What amplifiers used for wofer and what for horns? What configuration? Turntable-preamp-xover-2amps? Assume vol regulation was in preamp? I am considering build full active speakers with intrgrated amps (good Dclass or mix of Dclass and AB for tweeters) and xkit, all in a spkr cabinet, balanced version, supplied by xlr connection from mighty source eg mytek DAC or similar, only need to find the one with exit level regulation...

[@roberts3889]

Two of these are required for a stereo setup. How do you align the crossover adjustments for both channels to ensure they match?

[@matt12v2]

Cool thanks for the review! Sounds like finally there is a good alternative to MiniDSP and modded DCX2496. I bet you can mod that crossover chip with variable resistor to fine tune the crossover point too. Just have to reverse engineer it! I bet your good at that lol.

[@rewind9536]

DiyAudio store has two analog opamp-less crossovers that you should try also. But horns have some problems that should be addressed with DSP. Especially with phase.

[@callmebigpapa]

Always great insightful content !

[@JosephCrowesDIYSpeakerBuilding]

Thank you!

[@urabanos]

Thanks for the review. Xkitz seems to be a good solution for crossovers. I am looking for a 3-way crossover with adjustable delay (and I would like to avoid AD / DAC). you mentioned that you are not satisfied with the "pro" products. have you tried RANE - AC 23S? can you recommend any other products? Cheers!!

[@warpspeed9877]

Sounds too good to be true! What if someone wants 3 or 4 way boards? Do they provide these solutions?

[@wesmallo5321]

I have the mini dsp 2x4 and disconnected the dsp from the amplifier and still had hiss on my horns, which tells me the noise is not from the dsp. If a passive network removes the hiss, what else is it filtering out?

[@JosephCrowesDIYSpeakerBuilding]

You should at least do a fixed resistor L-pad just before the horn. An 5.1 ohm in series with a 3.9ohm to ground should attenuate by about 10dB assuming you have 8ohm drivers. Or you can use a low gain amplifier such as the ACA Mini by Nelson Pass. The kit is $135 USD.

[@the_niceking7011]

I have the same problem with the miniDSP 2x4 in car, possibly due to the low 0.9v output?

[@russellborrego1689]

Very cool! Thanks!

[@darmakiss4829]

Big bang theory

[@300ZCorradoVR6Z]

Why not go with the MiniDSP?

[@JosephCrowesDIYSpeakerBuilding]

Corrado VRz I’m surprised you asked that question when I directly compared the product to the MiniDSP in the video. You should watch the video.

[@300ZCorradoVR6Z]

@@JosephCrowesDIYSpeakerBuilding I did watch the video but I must have missed the part where you talked specifically about the MiniDSP. I only saw you mentioning about Pro audio and car audio processors, not the MiniDSP. I'll try to watch it again when I have some time.