Crossover Pedal Help.

[mickeybellinello]

Hi to all,

don't know if it is the right forum place but let me explain.

I play bass guitar, I have an ampeg pf 500 head and a 1x15 cab (8ohm) and a 4x10 cab (8ohm) so the head works at 4ohm and send the same signal to both cabinet.

Here's my question:

Is it possible to build a "pedal" that works like a crossover? I mean under certain frequency the signal goes to cab a and over certain frequency the signal goes to cab b.
Is it possible to select how much power send to cab a and b?

Don't know if the question is clear... I mean, is it possible to recreate what the Ampeg SVT4 pro can do (I know this head has two power amp section)?

Thanks

[PRR]

You don't have two amplifiers so it isn't "biamping", and there is little advantage (for this set of speakers).

The general idea is "crossover". Yes, you can build/buy a passive filter to send everything <250Hz to the 15 and everything >250Hz to the 10s. In voice and theater it is common to split at 800Hz, lows to a 15, highs to a 3" dome on a horn. But a 15 and four 10s are not *very* different in capacity and range. I wonder what advantage you envision.

[Mark Hammer]

As Paul notes, yes you could purchase a passive crossover/frequency-divider network that treats the two cabs like a woofer and midrange/tweeter.  And given the need to divide the spectrum at any of a variety of power ranges, they will exist.  Here's one that can handle 400W:  https://www.parts-express.com/eminence-px-bii-2k6-2-2-way-speaker-crossover-board-2600-hz--290-5630  Here's a 3-way that claims to be able to handle 950W:  https://www.parts-express.com/prv-audio-3df400-1800-three-way-crossover-board-400-1800-hz-with-selectable-attenuation--294-2869

The thing to keep in mind is that: a) passive crossovers DO eat up power, b) you don't really have any a priori criteria for where the crossover point needs to be, and c) passive crossovers tend to use shallow filtering, such that if you want to have a clear distinction between cab A and B, 3-pole filtering WITH power handling will set you back a pretty penny.

[mickeybellinello]

You don't have two amplifiers so it isn't "biamping", and there is little advantage (for this set of speakers).

The general idea is "crossover". Yes, you can build/buy a passive filter to send everything <250Hz to the 15 and everything >250Hz to the 10s. In voice and theater it is common to split at 800Hz, lows to a 15, highs to a 3" dome on a horn. But a 15 and four 10s are not *very* different in capacity and range. I wonder what advantage you envision.

Thanks for the reply.

I was taking a look at different amps and I found the svt4pro and I saw that this head has this kind of stuff. I looked at some videos and I saw a lot of guys talking about this "great feature" that let them get great tone, so I decided to ask to you.

So, by your experience it is a unuseful method?

Thanks

[mickeybellinello]

As Paul notes, yes you could purchase a passive crossover/frequency-divider network that treats the two cabs like a woofer and midrange/tweeter.  And given the need to divide the spectrum at any of a variety of power ranges, they will exist.  Here's one that can handle 400W:  https://www.parts-express.com/eminence-px-bii-2k6-2-2-way-speaker-crossover-board-2600-hz--290-5630  Here's a 3-way that claims to be able to handle 950W:  https://www.parts-express.com/prv-audio-3df400-1800-three-way-crossover-board-400-1800-hz-with-selectable-attenuation--294-2869

The thing to keep in mind is that: a) passive crossovers DO eat up power, b) you don't really have any a priori criteria for where the crossover point needs to be, and c) passive crossovers tend to use shallow filtering, such that if you want to have a clear distinction between cab A and B, 3-pole filtering WITH power handling will set you back a pretty penny.

Thanks for the reply.

So it's an expensive solution to get a "working well" crossover?

Thanks

[alexradium]

crossover for that kind of power is not inexpensive,but in the end to me its useless,the only  condition where you need to cross over is if you apply an HF horn tweeter,but its easier to add a simple 20 watt amp fed by the preamp out with a high pass filter in line.

[KarenColumbo]

I guess the amp should ne strong enough to just add a DIY tweeter cab to it - then you could split the signal passively  and get those 80ies funky slap attacks

[mickeybellinello]

crossover for that kind of power is not inexpensive...

thanks, the idea was to send only the lower freq to the 15" cab. I've got already a crossover (in the 4x10 cab) for the tweeter

I guess the amp should ne strong enough to just add a DIY tweeter cab to it...

Thanks so much! As said already got the HF tweeter with crossover.. the idea was to send only lower freq to the 15" but as all of you said this isn't a great idea.

Thanks to all for support!