Modding a crossover?

[VR3]

Hmm, yeah - I am curious as to what parts of a crossover you would mod, and with what persactly ('values'?)

And I really like my speakers, so...why not look for a way to better it?

Also, the crossover, most of the components of it are glued down... so??

[hoosier21]

Sid

Very wide open question and you don't even say what speaker your wanting to upgrade. Get your read on, read a book maybe? Search the internet, then come back with something.

[madmax]

Better quality (more expensive) caps and resistors of the same value with an equal or higher voltage capacity. See www.partsconexxion.com

Get a hot glue gun. Less than $5 some places. They are glued not only to hold them down but to keep the parts from vibrating.

Lots of times a PCB is not used because it is better to glue down on a piece of thick carboard or wood.

Oh yea, like Hoosier said too...

madmax

[unc2701]

you probably won't see too much difference swapping parts for ones with the same values. However, if you change the # crossovers, values etc, you might improve the sound.

Case in point: Klipsh RF-35's. They've got two 8" drivers and one horn tweeter, single crossover at 2600hz, so both the bottom drivers get the same signal. They're begging for you to split out one of the lower drivers around 200hz. Now doing this and keeping your impedence stable and not getting volume shifts at your crossover points isn't easy, but it'd be worth a shot.

I think the first thing I would do is find a spare set of posts/ backplate for your speakers, and do all your experimenting on them, so if it doesn't work, you've still got the originals.

[VR3]

I speak of the Definitive Tech BP10B...

Here is a pic of the crossover now, its nothing special... (as you can see)

[unc2701]

Def tech uses a pretty good crossover design even on their lower end, I believe. look up the specs on them- if they're Linkowitz-something (as opposed to, say, butterworth) you're gonna have a hard time improving on them. I'd save your cash for the next upgrade.

[VR3]

Alright...

I am going to put the money in refinishing the caps...

High Gloss black edges with deep walnut stained top, gonna look dead sexy

[unc2701]

Just out of curiousity, how do your def techs compare to similiarly priced polks? I kicked around getting them, but couldn't find anyplace local, so I ended up with polk.

[VR3]

Since were on a Polk forum...

I'll put it like this...

I use to own Polk :)

[VR3]

Another thing...

The BP line has been in production since 1996, and can be had cheap. They sell as good as they did in 1996, and for a good reason to.

[RuSsMaN]

Very cheesy network.

A cap upgrade alone should make a substantial difference. Those cheap electrolytics are just that, cheap.

Try and get a diagram of the network, and completely rebuild it. The only thing I would save are the inductors. If you do change the inductors, not only get the same value, but the same guage. Even if the value is this same, but the winding is a different guage wire, you can alter the overall Q of the driver.

The book I'm sending you with your B&W's has some good crossover design information also.

Cheers,
Russ

[VR3]

Def Tech is not willing to share any information on the crossover network, probally due to the fact it is their current line...

I may ask to see if I can get a 'replacement' crossover, and dick around with it, see whats what...

[VR3]

the small electro - says 8 UF --- 100 v --- BP+/-10
Larger Electro - 15 UF --- 100 v --- BP+/- 10
The green capacitor says - CL 21 --- 3.3 UF J --- 100 V
pink one says - 85 K --- 100 V ---D
one white rectangle thing says - 10 W --- 20R
other one says - 10W --- 2R7

Help any?

[gatemplin]

They are typical cheap parts on that board. You can do better, but you would need to build a measurement rig and learn to use some design software.

You would be better off starting from scratch or building a proven kit than trying to mod that (IMO).

If you do upgrade the parts, follow Russ' advice. You can get parts from PE, Zalytron, Madisound and Solen.

[VR3]

I probally wont waste my time man...

I am completely satisfied with it as is, just curious about a price, and how hard it would be to do it

[sucks2beme]

Anyone out there try modding the RTI10s? I'd like to try taming the brightness, its a bit TOO much!!!.

[VR3]

toilet paper...

or treble control