[George Flanagin]

On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 04:51:13 +0000, JimC wrote:

Any advice or suggestions? Do I need an external electronic crossover to
resolve this issue?


I think even a basic external xover is a worthwhile investment --- try a
cheap one and decide for yourself.

I use an Ashly XR1001 ($US300?) to divide the signal between my QUAD ESL
988s and a Meridian M2500 subwoofer. The Ashly allows you to choose the
corner frequencies of the high and low pass filters, and it also allows
you to choose the degree to which you want the frequency span in the
overlap to be exactly flat, slightly elevated, or slightly attenuated.
This will take care of most of the room abnormalities that Arny mentioned.

I have two other pairs of speakers (Celestion SL700SE & QUAD 12L Active)
that I occasionally use. After measuring, I wrote down the three separate
xover settings on an index card, and taped it to the top of the xover.
Rapid set up when switching speakers is now possible.

Inside the unit (i.e., no front panel control) is a switchable 20Hz high
pass that allows you to filter out the dreadful rumble in many concert
halls, now faithfully brought to us through (SA)CDs.

Regards,

George

[Sonnova]

On Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:33:44 -0700, George Flanagin wrote
(in article ):

On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 04:51:13 +0000, JimC wrote:

Any advice or suggestions? Do I need an external electronic crossover to
resolve this issue?


I think even a basic external xover is a worthwhile investment --- try a
cheap one and decide for yourself.

I use an Ashly XR1001 ($US300?) to divide the signal between my QUAD ESL
988s and a Meridian M2500 subwoofer. The Ashly allows you to choose the
corner frequencies of the high and low pass filters, and it also allows
you to choose the degree to which you want the frequency span in the
overlap to be exactly flat, slightly elevated, or slightly attenuated.
This will take care of most of the room abnormalities that Arny mentioned.

I have two other pairs of speakers (Celestion SL700SE & QUAD 12L Active)
that I occasionally use. After measuring, I wrote down the three separate
xover settings on an index card, and taped it to the top of the xover.
Rapid set up when switching speakers is now possible.

Inside the unit (i.e., no front panel control) is a switchable 20Hz high
pass that allows you to filter out the dreadful rumble in many concert
halls, now faithfully brought to us through (SA)CDs.

Regards,

George

This is a question, not an implied criticism (I haven't tried an active
crossover). Don't you find that all of that extra circuitry (and another
round trip of A/D and D/A - I assume the Ashly uses DSP for the filters)
muddies the sound? I would think that it would.

[George Flanagin]

On Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:06:23 +0000, Sonnova wrote:

On Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:33:44 -0700, George Flanagin wrote (in article
):


This is a question, not an implied criticism (I haven't tried an active
crossover). Don't you find that all of that extra circuitry (and another
round trip of A/D and D/A - I assume the Ashly uses DSP for the filters)
muddies the sound? I would think that it would.

If you look he (http://www.ashly.com/product/xr-series-2.htm) you will
note that the Ashly is an analog domain crossover.

I will tell you a story about its profound effect on the sound. A dealer
came by my house to take a listen to the QUAD ESL 988s. He seemed to enjoy
the sound, or at least he was being polite about what he heard. A few
weeks later he overheard me discussing the Ashly with another hifi
enthusiast, and he commented on the way that all line level crossovers
always introduce some harshness in the region of the upper octave of the
piano (2-4 KHz).

What amazed me is that the Ashly did not arrive at my house until three
days /after/ the dealer heard the system, and I did not yet have my
subwoofer in circuit although it was in the room. So, apparently the Ashly
influenced the sound while it was still on the UPS truck. I showed him the
shipment tag, and he still didn't believe me.

My opinion is that the sound is fine, and I find it musically satisfying.
I feel that feeding a bunch of low notes to the speakers when they can't
accurately reproduce them is bound to be detrimental to the sound --- just
forcing the electrostatic membranes to "flap around in the breeze," so to
speak.

Regards,

george