Why do you need a speaker crossover - discuss

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

Richard,

You are quite right about the commercial issues and domestic harmony. This is why I have not bothered to market the line arrays. However I think I am one of the lucky ones in that my lass and my daughter both love music and film, and art in general for that matter, so I can do what I want with the AV system even though it is in the main lounge. With this system I have not been working on a commercial solution, it is purely for myself and I will follow my wildest dreams to get the system where I want it to be. Speaking of dreams, I often dream up solutions to engineering problems while asleep. Does this happen with you too? It can save a lot of R&D time if the dream works in real time.

Well I am not sure I should reply as I am sure it will just re-enforce some peoples opinion that I am bonkers.

I have very rarely talked about but yes that is the only way I design. Nothing goes on paper, I write and draw and move things around in my head and most of it happens at night usual before and after sleep. An idea is placed in my mind and it is almost like a muse is in my head directing me, most bizarre, not so much recently it has calmed down a lot. I built the prototypes including the case working straight from my head. Laying the board (in the old days from Letraset) straight from my head. For production it is either measured and drawn up from the prototype or I dictate the design to my case makers and they draw it up. I have always been able to do this even as a kid and I find it normal, my wife thinks I'm bonkers when I have a eureka moment in the middle of the night.

Those speakers were first built in my head in bed

[Marco]

There's nothing at all unusual about that, Richard. It is how most artistically-minded people function, for example, musicians and songwriters.

I can certainly relate to that way of thinking, and design, much more than to the mundane principles of the 'scope squad'

Marco.

[Marco]

Already taken.

What constructive purpose did that post serve, Andrew?

Marco.

[Alex_UK]

Richard, I don't think anyone has a problem with you being bonkers, the "mad professor" image is quite endearing, in my opinion. For me personally, it's the arrogance that your posts portray the "I'm right and everyone else is wrong" attitude that seems to permeate every thread you become entrenched in, and then we just go round and round, until as I sarcastically suggested, all the old prejudices come out one by one.

Without wishing to offend you personally (truly, I don't know *you*) - coupled with the (as I see it) obnoxious attitude, I don't think you're winning many of us over. So I would respectfully suggest that being bonkers is the least of our concerns.

[Marco]

Guys, can we move away from discussing personalities, and get back to discussing the thread topic instead?

If you don't like someone, or what they write - put them on your ignore list: simples. I just can't be doing with the moaning, dressed up as something intentionally sarcastic.

I was enjoying the standard of discussion here when the likes of Paul Hynes, Anthony, Richard, Nick, Guy S, Ali, etc, were batting ideas of each other, with regard to loudspeaker design, so either we return to that, or I close the thread.

Your choice!

Marco.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

Ahem.....!!

As an aside, I do agree that there is no 'one true path' in audio and that implementation of design and components is the key. I don't see how anyone could dispute that.

Also, in terms of 'BBC-style' speakers, I will reiterate, that all the ones I've heard to date, from Chartwell LS35as, to Harbeth Compact 7s, M40.1s, Spendor BC1s, and ALL the current Spendor Classic range (including the SP100s I used for years), to my ears, sounded superb.

I think that context is also of paramount importance, and so I can only judge within the context which I heard the above speakers, so of course results will vary within the context of other people's listening experiences, for example Richard's, who obviously either has different tastes, or for whatever reason, wasn't as fortunate to hear 'BBC-style' speakers perform as optimally as I have, or Alex.

Anyway, let's not fall into the trap of absolutes (it is not healthy), and attribute equal validity to all of our respective experiences in audio, with loudspeakers, and everything else

Marco.

Well at least I am not alone here now thinking they are crap. There is another deafy now in Guy.

Why do people think I post in absolutes, I post my opinion the same as everyone else. I would put IMO after every statement if you wish, but you think that is daft, so why can't people see that everything I say is IMO.

[Alex_UK]

Indeed, Marco. As you picked up on my post, the constructive bit (of my admitted sarcasm) - I truly don't believe there is a right or wrong answer to the original question - it is completely dependent on the design, as to whether or not you need a crossover and the aspirations of the designer. There are great implementations of every flavour - no crossover - passive crossover - active crossover - in the end, it will come down to how each version is implemented, and then to personal taste - as Andre eluded to, you will either like a particular design, or you won't - whether it has a crossover or not is in my opinion, largely irrelevant.

[Marco]

Well at least I am not alone here now thinking they are crap. There is another deafy now in Guy.

Why do people think I post in absolutes, I post my opinion the same as everyone else. I would put IMO after every statement if you wish, but you think that is daft, so why can't people see that everything I say is IMO.

Well, Richard, to be blunt (and you know I mean no offence), you do tend to rattle on sometimes about the 'same old, same old', in terms of your particular 'pet hates', often I think without even being aware you are doing it.....

Therefore, I'd treat Alex's earlier gentle dig (his first post on the matter) as a polite reminder of that

I don't think anyone here is "deaf". Like I said before, out with of personal tastes, context is the key. Perhaps if you'd heard some of the BBC loudspeaker designs in a different context, with different equipment, results would've been different? It's not an impossibility.

Therefore, I think it would be an idea to keep that thought in your head, rather than simply write off ALL BBC-style loudspeakers as crap, because to do so would simply be absolutist and smack of simplistic thinking, and IMO, you have a much more inquisitive mind than that!

Marco.

[Marco]

What constructive purpose did that post serve, Andrew?

Marco.

I'm still waiting for an answer to this Andrew - trust me, ignoring me is not an option!

Marco.

[Butuz]

I'm still waiting for an answer to this Andrew - trust me, ignoring me is not an option!

Marco.

That's not what your missus told me

Just trying to take the pressure off a fellow Andrew

Butuz