Hi Rob,
Great question.
We can provide more than one pre set curve or full adjustment for the user.
There is latitude for multiple EQ points.
Some users will bi amp in the conventional sense and use the existing JBL Horn passive EQ or that pertaining to any loudspeaker system.
The thinking cap customer as Nelson Pass refers to may wish to make the system fully active and we can provide EQ modules for that.
We are still working though some of these things and appreciate your questions.
Ian
+1 for applying this to the M2.
An update.
In view of the current circumstances this is going to take a bit longer than expected to get to market so bare with us.
Some progress. l just signed off on the industrial design by one of the leading designers in the industry Desmond Harrington.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i571p0xdbho
l will be looking to arrange some prototype evaluations in the field. When l to get to that point l will ask for a show of hands.
I watched the whole thing and saw the quick show of that mainboard!Originally Posted by Ian Mackenzie
I especially liked it when Nelson Pass proclaimed to have an extensive Frank Zappa collection!
As l am sure you all appreciate COVID 19 is going to be around for a while and unfortunately this has impacted on plans to get product to market on a number of levels.
However, l thought l would put it out there that this would be a good time to conduct some user evaluations with prototype product while people are at home.
We have previously completed some user evaluations and are at a 3rd prototype revision. Nelson Pass and l have spent many many hours on refining the product towards the current modular design concept and at this point we would like to see some product feedback from out in the field.
I have some prototype product set up for the JBL Everest DD65000, DD66000, DD67000 systems in either bi amp or triamp mode.
Therefore if any LHS members with the Everest’s would be interested in being engaged in a product evaluation or if you have a close friend with the Everest’s who is interested please contact me via a PM. l will then discuss the evaluation process in detail with you and work it out from there. This applies to LHS members in mainland USA, South America, Mexico, Canada, Europe, Asia and the UK.
Other jbl system evaluations will be investigated.
I will post some images of the prototypes in the next couple of days.
Hello Ian
Glad to see things going forward! Best of luck!
Rob
"I could be arguing in my spare time"
Hi All,
I thought l would let you know where this is at.
With the flux of time during Covid 19 there has been some pondering of matching needs to product features and benefits.
With that in mind l am interested in your impressions and thoughts on the following:
Option 1.
A simple to use stereo 2 way universal analogue active crossover with continuously adjustable crossover points from 200-1500 hertz or similar.
24 dB LR slopes, state variable with balanced/unbalanced inputs and outputs.
Designed with premium TI audiophile chips and hi quality Wima capacitors and high quality pots.
This will be an improved Ashly or other universal crossovers like the Rane.
The idea is too keep it simple for those who want premium sound quality but aren’t into taking the lid off and making fine adjustments.
It won’t cost an arm and a leg because you will deal direct with the factory.
Option 2.
A stereo 2 way analogue active crossover that can be set up for specific Jbl systems using plug in cards.
In concept like the DX1. It will also feature a sub out put with an optimal low pass filter.
The crossover frequency, slopes ect are all set precisely for your particular Jbl systems.
The design will use premium class A Jfet buffers and high headroom studio quality discrete op amps.
Available in unbalanced as this crossover is for consumer hifi fanatics. Balanced connection and circuits add cost and complexity and frankly don’t promise improvement in sound quality.
All parts are of the highest quality. This product will be endorsed by Greg Timbers.
Option 3.
A Stereo 2 way or Tri amp analogue active crossover for the audio amateurs who enjoy building project loudspeakers of their own design.
The design will feature premium class A buffers like option two but with adjustable plug in crossover cards for crossover points and slopes. Special purpose plug in cards will be made available for equalisation of low and high frequency drivers and phase alignment of low and mid frequency drivers.
It will available with unbalanced or balanced connectors to a customers requirements.
Option 3 will be sold with the Dayton Omni Loudspeaker measurement system.
I have a reasonable inventory of popular JBL small and large format compression drivers and a growing collection of horns and woofers. So I can offer users with ball park crossover set up guidance.
Why Analogue? Because it’s simple with not a lot to learn and adjust. The focus is on doing the least damage to your precious analogue source. Vinyl is well and truly back and it sounds incredible with with a pristine signal path.
I have some state of art test abs measurement equipment on order.
Just a show of hands would be useful or other ideas.
Ian
Thanks for the update.
I could be in for either option #1 or #2, price dependent, for the 4345 Clones. I'm currently still using the Ashly XR1001 with a spare for backup.
". . . as you have no doubt noticed, no one told the 4345 that it can't work correctly so it does anyway."—Greg Timbers
Thanks.
It’s too early to call out pricing.
In a conventional distribution chain you have an importer/wholesalers and then a retailer. This creates several markups.
Active crossovers are a specialised component and not something normally stocked by a hifi shop. Invariably the user needs after sales support so a direct factory relationship an option.
A hybrid of Option 2 & 3 would be more of interest to me. A unit configured as with Option 1 would compete as just another Ashley or Rane competitor, albeit with much better component parts. May be more cost-acceptable than Option 2 or 3 but there may be just too many alternatives out there to differentiate this configuration.
Keeping the product tied to specific JBL designs may be OK but I think it would limit reach into the market. Having the option to customize Option 2 to other configurations would make it more appealing. Obviously a more hands-on than Option #1 but far more usable to the typical sound-oriented or DIY-oriented user.
David F
San Jose
Thank you for your feedback.
One thing to appreciate is that at least on this site a number of users have adopted either the Rane or the Ashly crossovers.
I am not sure if that is a user choice or a price decision?
Only a few have adopted a switchable crossover such at the Bryston 10B or the FirstWatt F4.
Neither are pre set or programmed for a pre described loudspeaker with bi amp capability as intended by the loudspeaker designer
These are priced above US$1500.
There have been a number of enquiries or the discontinued DX1.
If I refer to my earlier post
http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...l=1#post430027
Is this more along the lines of that you would like?
Btw option 2 could be customised to another loudspeaker system either commercial or diy. The plug in cards can be offered in a adjustable format.
Hello Ian
I like option 2. I like the added sub output. Are you planning on summing to mono or having it in stereo with the option to sum?
I am intrigued about option 3. Why are you including a measurement system??
Rob
"I could be arguing in my spare time"
Hi Rob,Hello Ian
I like option 2. I like the added sub output. Are you planning on summing to mono or having it in stereo with the option to sum?
I am intrigued about option 3. Why are you including a measurement system??
Rob
Summed mono or stereo sub can be switched.
The inclusion of a measurement kit is an option but will be priced as a package.
In the 1980’s companies like Sony and Accuphase made elaborate analogue crossovers with plug in modules with different crossover frequencies and slopes. They were deemed the ultimate solution for a hi end hifi system using system of art drivers.
But no driver is perfectly linear and the shape and location on a baffling has a significant effect on the system overall integration and frequency response. The crossover characteristics therefore need to consider these factors.
The above 1980’s crossover assumed text book drivers and results when integrated into a system. This is never the case in practice.
So the inclusion of a measurement kit is a tool to close the loop on optimising the overall results objectively and subjectively with listening . Listening is important but measurement guides the user in dialing in the system.
This also applies to setting the precise driver levels, accounting for room gain to achieve correct system tonal balance and fine adjustment of horn response all come into play. So the owner buys the product and can buy other additional plug in cards with the evolution of the loudspeaker.
Setting up an active system is not necessarily straightforward. We found Setting the levels important and users found this challenging. It requires a procedure as power amp sensitivity can vary and adjustment by ear is inconsistent.
I have such a design(s) mapped out and are designing and evaluating the building blocks.
I will have a portal on my website where a new customer or product owner can specify the product or product update and have the solution provided.
The design will focus a very low residual noise below -100 dB. A filter card may have nose below -110 with good design practice.
On paper you often see distortion rise below 1.00 volt output of a preamp because the test is total THD plus noise. The thing is that class A circuits are very linear with unmeasurable distortion at low signal voltage levels.
So the problem is noise and hum. This points to low impedance circuits which means the active devices must be able to drive sufficient current to maintain linearity and low distortion. This requires specialised audio circuits with very low noise and distortion with massive headroom. Such hardware with SOA performance is used in the recording and broadcast industries.
The crossover functionality, equalisation and other special purpose modules will be plug in.
The business will offer other key resources to support the product owner.
Without any means of measurement obtaining a good result can be time consuming and difficult.
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