External crossover help

[Bigmoney]

Do you think I will notice any sound deterioration by adding an external crossover to my system, just because it is another component through which the signal travels, such as an equalizer.

[Feanor]

Do you think I will notice any sound deterioration by adding an external crossover to my system, just because it is another component through which the signal travels, such as an equalizer.

I mean, the essense of the problem of hi-fi - the stuff through which the signal has to travel.

Sure, you might notice deterioration, or you might not. Or you might notice a tiny deterioration in one area but a significant improvement in another. The only rule that applies is, "Add nothing to your system that isn't a net benefit". Whether an equalizer will be net benefit to your system? It depends on the problem your trying to solve and whether the EQ is the cheapest and/or most cost effective solution to that problem.

Hence if your actual problem is sound reflections from walls beside your speakers, then room treatments will be a better solution than an EQ and possibly cheaper. If your problem is a few response peaks inherent to your speaker, then an EQ might work well and be cheaper than new speakers. On the other hand if your problems is that your speakers lack resolution, the an EQ will only make things worse. If your problem is you have have a couple of hundred bucks to spare and its burning a hole in you pocket, spend it on music, not an EQ.

[Bigmoney]

sorry if my question was misleading, I wasn't asking aboutan equalizer just using it as an example. I have a few hundred to spare at the moment, I am just trying to decide if the positives of having the crossover, to take a load off my mains, and get a stronger bass through my sub outweigh the negative in that it may deteriorate my sound by adding another link.

[Feanor]

sorry if my question was misleading, I wasn't asking aboutan equalizer just using it as an example. I have a few hundred to spare at the moment, I am just trying to decide if the positives of having the crossover, to take a load off my mains, and get a stronger bass through my sub outweigh the negative in that it may deteriorate my sound by adding another link.

BM, I hope I didn't sound snarky. I gather from your earlier comments that your subwoofer has neither a 2-way crossover nor a low-pass filter, and that your objective is stronger bass with your B&W 602's. Correct?

If so, my guess is a crossover such as the Behringer with high-pass at 80Hz to the mains and low-pass to the sub also at 80Hz, would be a significant improvement without any noticeable deterioration.

[Bigmoney]

That is correct. Do you see any feasable reason to go with a more expensive crossover or will the behringer do just fine. Am I correct in saying that not only will my bass improve with the sub helping out but my mids and highs will improve being the low frequency load is taken off of my monitors? I have heard many say that but will I hear a big difference in mid and hi frequency response given the sub will take some weight off my speakers or is it more in theory that it should sound better but isn't that noticeably. Much like bi wiring.

[Feanor]

That is correct. Do you see any feasable reason to go with a more expensive crossover or will the behringer do just fine. Am I correct in saying that not only will my bass improve with the sub helping out but my mids and highs will improve being the low frequency load is taken off of my monitors? I have heard many say that but will I hear a big difference in mid and hi frequency response given the sub will take some weight off my speakers or is it more in theory that it should sound better but isn't that noticeably. Much like bi wiring.

The Behringer should be quite sufficient quality in your system and, in fact, any but quite high-end systems.

As Kexodusc suggested, you might notice some mid-range improvement by unloading the B&Ws below 80Hz. This would be becasue the B&W mid-bass drivers will be working less hard and therefore producing less distortion. However I think the bigger benefit will be that you get stronger bass. It's simply a fact that one 12" subwoofer has significantly more radiating surface than the two 7" mid-bass drivers and therefore can handle more power with less strain.