Wharfedale Pro LX - loudspeakers

[volfgangmusic]

Hello everybody!

I`m user od Wharfedale Pro LX215E boxes. I use them in a passive way but I`m going to change an internal crossover into bi-amped. My problem is that I can`t get any information about technical parameters of speakers they are inside.

I would be very greatful for any infos from your side. Best wishes!

[TallMike]

Why are you looking to run them biamped?

 

If you have access to a measurement system (SIM, Smaart) or an RTA then you could measure the outputs from the crossover - but I suppose you want to alter/improve the sound, not mimic the existing crossover points/slopes?

 

I don't think wharfedale pro have a UK office, do they?

[paulears]

Is bi-amped operation a simple switch? Or are you going to internally modify the wiring?

 

I'm not familiar enough with these cabinets to really advise, but some general comments on this kind of thing may be in order. The usual split between LF and HF driver efficiencies means that it's fairly common for the LF unit to handle 6 times the power that the HF unit is required to - so you may be able to estimate the power being supplied to the drivers. I would also expect it to be fairly easy to support this estimation by measuring the voltage and current at each loudspeaker.

 

That all said, I'm not totally sold on the benefits of doing this. If the manufacturer determined that quality would be increased, then they would make it a design feature, and no doubt use it to justify a little price increase. If they don't do it, then perhaps we should ask why not? The one benefit of doing this that is tangible is the ability to adjust the balance to suit the venue and type of programme material. I find that adjustments to the amps or crossover feeding bi (or even tri) amped speakers is more musical than attempting to do this with eq at the source. You can experiment with crossover frequencies and other frequency or time parameters.

 

The one type of speaker where is doesn't really do much good are the basic budget end systems where they sound poor in the first place. Purse and sow's ear come to mind here.

[dbuckley]

This sounds like a hack job to me. Don't do it. A local co did the same thing to a couple of pairs of Quest boxes they had (EV like plastic things), they have now been rewired back to the way the manufacturer delivered them. The passive crossover papers over the gaps in the response of the drivers and box. You can recreate the old crossover with Smaart and a speaker manager, but not with anything cheap and easy. Plus they were always melting horns...