Anyone has experience with Sublime audio K231 crossover?

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by dericchan1, Sep 23, 2021.

  1. dericchan1

    dericchan1 Facebook Friend

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    Hello I am looking for an active crossover with xlr in and out for my 2.1 system. does anyone have any experience or feedback on this crossover?

    https://sublimeacoustic.com/products/k231-stereo-3-way-active-crossover

    looks very nicely built in the USA and uses plugin xo modules to set crossover frequency. Measurements provided on the page seems decent as well!!!

    Can anyone also recommend other active crossovers that work great in your system?

    thanks

    Deric
     
  2. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I've never heard of the k231.

    I hate Behringer, but their DCX2496 is sort of the budget standard. Moving up you're then into the DBX crossover stuff. Some will have mics that can auto calibrate your speakers for you and/or may involve hooking up to your computer to do its magic.

    Are you looking to remain purely analog?
     
  3. dericchan1

    dericchan1 Facebook Friend

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    Thanks for your response, yes, I want all analog (no adc - dac conversion). Didn’t see much comments or review on the sublime 231 but seems to be decent built and spec wise.

    I am also looking at dbx223xs or Ashly xr1001 perhaps friends here can chime in on feedbacks on these two or other pro gears?

    Deric
     
  4. dericchan1

    dericchan1 Facebook Friend

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    Currently running my Monitor Audio Silver 300 as full range but has a power sound audio S15 sub lying around. So would like to be able to some how have it hooked up
     
  5. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    The k231 is interesting, though I admit I misinterpreted it at first. I thought the knobs would allow you to adjust the crossover frequencies, but it seems you have to purchase modules for that and the knobs are just for relative levels on the outputs.

    That all said... you don't actually need a 3-way crossover and you could get by with a 2-way. Heck, you don't even need a crossover at all just to get the sub working since it should have a built-in low-pass already so just run a splitter and you're good to go.

    DBX and Ashly are both workhorses in the pro realm. I haven't heard either of those models, though I do have a dusty old Peavey 23XO that did alright. If you're going budget, pick ART over Behringer. If you want to go balls to the wall, you could look at the SPL Crossover and cry a little at the price tag.
     
  6. dericchan1

    dericchan1 Facebook Friend

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    well I do like to be able to set a high pass to the speakers and a low pass to the sub, k231 pricing is likely the max I am willing to pay for a decent quality crossover. I think having a plug in module to fix crossover frequency is a pretty good idea and you do have the option to set either 2 way or 3 way with it. It comes with 2 plug in modules and if you want to add more it’s $12 each.

    but can’t really justify spending $500 usd on a crossover no one knows or have any comments on the unit.

    Deric
     
  7. dericchan1

    dericchan1 Facebook Friend

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    actually I would like your expert opinion on my 2.1 set up.

    I have a preamp/dac with both xlr and rca out (output at the same time). I connect the preamp/dac directly to external amplifier which also has xlr in and rca in. Can you please advise how I can split the sound signal to my subwoofer which only takes Rca in?

    1) from preamp/dac use a xlr splitter first cable out to amplifier to speakers and second cable use a xlr to rca adapter then connect rca cable to subwoofer. Should I use 2 xlr splitters one for the left and one for the right both split to rca to subwoofer?

    Is it a good idea to use a xlr to rca connector? Is there anything I need to watch for in this set up? I do plan on adding a xlr active crossover in the future

    OR

    2) from preamp/dac use a rca splitter first cable out to amplifier to speakers and second cable connect to subwoofer. Should I use 2 rca splitters one for the left and one for the right both split to rca to subwoofer?

    It might be more difficult to find a active crossover with RCA connection.

    thanks

    Deric
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Depends upon what you are using. XLR to RCA adapters will short pins 2 and 3. With most pro gear, this won't be an issue. With other gear, because of the shorting of the - differential and ground, you could get magic smoke.

    --

    Do you intend on using the K231 as a subwoofer xover? What kind of subwoofer do you have? Most subs already have a crossover with vastly more tunability (e.g., xover frequency) without the need for a module for each frequency. I am wondering if you are making the problem much more difficult than necessary. Are you prepared to buy 10 modules from 30Hz to 80Hz so you can find the xover frequency for your subs to mains?

    Also, if your subwoofer has speaker level inputs, try those. For two channel music systems running a moderate to moderate-high SPL, I've always gotten the best results feeding mains power amp -> sub speaker level input and leaving the mains be. The idea is more seamless integration of subs and mains because the mains distortion characteristics are going to carry forward to your sub, and also not running the signal to the mains through a combobulator.

    P.S. Noticed the K231 has balanced TRS inputs. You can use XLR to TRS cables.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2021
  9. dericchan1

    dericchan1 Facebook Friend

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    thanks for your prompt response. My intended of amazon active crossover is as follows:

    DAC as a preamp, XLR out to K231, from K231 1) set high pass filter out to external amp through XLR then from amp to passive speakers, 2) set low pass filter out to Sub which only takes RCA input (no high level input on sub, it’s a power sound audio S15) so for 2) I will need a xlr male to rca adapter to connect to the sub.

    you mentioned about the PIN 1 and 3 of xlr connecting to the RCA may cause “magic smoke” I am not sure what that entails and if there is anything I need to do to address?

    my subwoofer does have a built in crossover. Would you suggest instead of using a K231, perhaps it might be a better idea to simply 1) from dac use rca splitter to output to amp to speaker AND out to Sub; 2) from dac use xlr splitter to output to amp to speaker AND use a xlr to rca adapter to output to sub rca in? And just leave the Monitor Audio Silver 300 as full range speakers and using the Sub.

    thanks

    Deric
     
  10. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Use the RCA splitter from your dac. Leave the speakers as full range. Don't mix XLR/RCA because the XLR are "louder" than the RCA. However, since your sub has individual level adjustment... you know what, you can get away with running XLR to your speaker amp and the RCA to your sub and do the level matching with the sub itself.

    We typically do not recommend using XLR->RCA adapters because this can cause a malfunction in the dac preamp. XLRs have 3 wires and RCA only have 2. In a cheap adapter, it joins two wires together from the XLR which can damage the source. "Magic smoke" is an old joke about machines having "magic smoke" inside which keep them running, and when you let it out (ie: by damaging the machine) the machine no longer works. Basically, don't do stupid things and break the machine.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2021
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It basically means smoking transistor or opamp in your pre/DAC. Without knowing the circuit, it's hard to say what will happen with such an adapter.

    ^ What @Armaegis said.

    Unless you are doing 105db SPL explosions from Optimus Prime and Megatron duking it out on Cybertron, you will be fine running the mains full range. Keep things simple. The K231 looks like a PIA from the standpoint of tuning the xover frequency your sub. I would shoot for a lower frequency than you think you would need because of room gain / room modes. Most people tend to do it wrong with a xover frequency higher than it needs to be. It really depends if you want a true sub or moar woofer.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2021
  12. dericchan1

    dericchan1 Facebook Friend

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    Thank you both for your valuable advice. I have now asked a buddy of mine to make a pair of RCA splitter cable 3 ft of cardas to the amp and 6 ft of canare shielded cable to the sub

    will explore the k231 in the future to cross over mains and sub at 50hz

    thanks

    Deric
     
  13. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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  14. dericchan1

    dericchan1 Facebook Friend

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  15. Thomas Wolf

    Thomas Wolf New

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    Looks like something engineeter by a retarded 8 year old, and price derived by a random number generator.

    .. ??? What is this garbage lmao
     
  16. dericchan1

    dericchan1 Facebook Friend

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    Actually audioquest makes exactly the same thing only bill 3-4 times more!!!
     
  17. dericchan1

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    sorry I thought you were referring to the rca splitter!!!
     
  18. Chris Allingham

    Chris Allingham New

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    Two days ago I inserted a used Outlaw Audio ICBM-1 (active analog bass management) between my Freya+ and my power amp and stereo subs. I did need to forego the balanced connection between Freya and power amp. I had been running the mains (bookshelves) full range and using the subs' low-pass crossover. The results with the ICBM were a revelation, everything top to bottom sounded more present and at ease, able to stretch out in its own space. Game-changer. I would love to see Schiit develop an analog active bass management device for two-channel application, with balanced and single-ended connections.
     
  19. dericchan1

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    thanks for sharing this. Which was the reason why I was tempted to give the sublime a try but there’s hardly any reviews or feedbacks on it

    Deric
     

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