Can someone enlighten me on the differences between simple and more complex crossover circuits? What is meant by n-th order cross-overs?
In addition, many (most?) 3-way and 2-way speakers have 2 sets of binding posts, not 3... Obviously, the specs state crossovers like 350Hz/4kHz for 3-way, and 4kHz for 2-way speakers... I can see that bi-wiring the 2-way makes sense, but what about the 3-way? Can I assum each set of binding posts addresses <4kHz and >4kHz (B&W)? Would it not make more sense to split the 3-way at <350Hz and >350Hz, which would more evenly spread the actual load from typical music?
Finally, if a speaker manufacturer (like B&W) has carefully selected a crossover with n-th order circuitry, is it really of interest to split the signal prior to amplification using another type of crossover? OK, the amplification will be easier, no mixing of fequency signals/current... but bi-wiring doesn't bypass the speaker's internal crossover, so isn't there a risk of slight frequency or n-th order mismatch, resulting in some signal loss? And if the internal crossover is bypassed (quite complex for a 3-way speaker, right?), isn't there a risk that the selected cross-over of n-th order is not as good as the speaker manufacturer selected themselves?
Thanks
Christophe
In addition, many (most?) 3-way and 2-way speakers have 2 sets of binding posts, not 3... Obviously, the specs state crossovers like 350Hz/4kHz for 3-way, and 4kHz for 2-way speakers... I can see that bi-wiring the 2-way makes sense, but what about the 3-way? Can I assum each set of binding posts addresses <4kHz and >4kHz (B&W)? Would it not make more sense to split the 3-way at <350Hz and >350Hz, which would more evenly spread the actual load from typical music?
Finally, if a speaker manufacturer (like B&W) has carefully selected a crossover with n-th order circuitry, is it really of interest to split the signal prior to amplification using another type of crossover? OK, the amplification will be easier, no mixing of fequency signals/current... but bi-wiring doesn't bypass the speaker's internal crossover, so isn't there a risk of slight frequency or n-th order mismatch, resulting in some signal loss? And if the internal crossover is bypassed (quite complex for a 3-way speaker, right?), isn't there a risk that the selected cross-over of n-th order is not as good as the speaker manufacturer selected themselves?
Thanks
Christophe
Comment