jmrjames

Speaker Crossover Question

I purchased two sets of JL Audio ZR525-CSi for the front and rear of my car. This installation has been a never ending story and that is why it has taken me so long to discover this and obtain a RMA from the dealer. The first problem is that one of the woofers from one of the crossovers has no sound but the tweeter works. The second problem is that replacements are on back order for more than a month now and no date when they will be available again.

My question is can I run two woofers and two tweeters from one crossover without damage to that crossover or the amp ? I know that I will lose right and left separation that way.

The other idea is to skip the crossover and come directly from the amp.

I did do the following to determine what the problem may be:

1) I switched the woofer to another position and it worked while the functioning one stopped working.

2) I switched the amp channel location to that crossover and the problem continued.

3) I checked continuity to the woofer and the wires work.

Thank you for your advice.

SQLGuy

First question - answer: no. Crossovers are designed in conjuction with the impedance of the load. Driving two drivers in series, or in parallel, through one crossover will change the crossover point. You'd also, of course, lose L/R and have only mono at that point. So, no.

1) Indicates that the crossover is bad
2) Further evidence of 1
3) Same as 2

Cheers,
Paul

hans14914

Paul is correct. Cant do what you propose. However, you can get a universal xover from PE as a stop-gap:

http://www.parts-express.com/wizards...AT&srchCat=193

They just happen to be on sale this week. I would guess that either 2.5k or 3k version would be correct for your speakers, but your specsheet will confirm.

Hope that helps,
Hans

jmrjames

Thanks Guys !!!!

I am not sure if there was an answer to not using the crossover until a new one is obtained. Coming directly from the amp to both the tweeter and woofer.

I understand what you are saying about the load of one crossover driving more than designed not being a good idea. So I won't do that.

Edit

More advice requested.

RCA Connector Question

What I believe are good quality RCA cables from the Head to the amp do not attach tightly to the female ends that come out of the NZ500. I am afraid to "crimp" the male ends of these other cables.

It seems that when I move the NZ500 or the cables these connections become undone. I doubt that this poor connection is good for the sound quality.

I believe that this as yet another example of China workmanship. How can I fix the connection ?

Thanks for your help.

anonymousagain

Consider the price you paid for these and don't compromise to get exactly what you want:

a) get the replacements
b) return them and purchase somewhere else http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...ZR525-CSi.aspx
c) return and select a different model or brand

FWIW, seems a direct call to JL will sort this out quickly. Doubtful they will let a dealer issue taint their top-shelf product.

Good luck!

anonymousagain

...don't run the speakers w/out the appropriate crossover inline

jmrjames

You are so correct. I do not think that online nor the place I bought theses from are JL Audio authorized dealers and may not get anywhere with them.

I should try online (their reviews and BBB score were very poor) and just move on.

The issue here is again these things are from China even though JL is a FL company.

jmrjames

OK I will not. Thanks

anonymousagain

interesting point about being Authorized Dealers. Checked JL's site and clearly they supports ZERO online sales - I stand corrected about JL going to bat for you, since they won't go to bat for any product that didn't come from one of their approved stores. That sucks.

If it becomes and option, I have purchased from Online in the past w/out issue so I'd recommend them, however, knowing now that JL will not stand behind an online-purchased product, it sure does wave the caveat emptor flag (compelling argument to purchase local and ensure Factory support for such $$).

Sure hope it pans out and you get the replacements so it doesn't become a PITA. Personally, it seems appropriate to head down the returns path and look elsewhere to avoid a lengthy delay that may ultimately result the same way. Considering the place you bought from cannot return to JL either, they must be looking for a loophole with a local dealer or something, because you know they aren't going to eat the replacement cost.

...may you be surrounded by 928 zen through this one....

sharknoob

Are you asking what RCA cables to buy to replace your cheap ones? --- I have been happy with "Monster Cable"

You can't hook up the tweeter straight to the amp the coil cant handle the low freq it will cook it
You can put a capacitor across the tweeter ( it has been a while so I can't recommend a value) to cut the low freq. The woofer would be fine... it will sound like crap though since it will be a full range speaker

Jim Chambers

What is at risk in running a speaker direct from the amp, not using the crossover?

jmrjames

It sure do ! Crutchfield is "authorized" with a $860.00 price tag each set.

My cables are not Monster Quality but are not very far off. These cables fit well into the amp. They just are lose at the NZ500 Clarion Head unit. That is why I don't want to "crimp" the cables. But if I must I must unless there is another way to "shim" them.

The amp has a "pass" filter. If I used that to not allow the lows would that work without damage until I get resolution ?

SQLGuy

Unless you have an active crossover, which splits the signal before the amplifier, you would be running a full-range signal into both speakers.

A high frequency signal into a woofer is no problem. The woofer won't do much of a job of reproducing it, but it won't hurt anything.

A low frequency signal into a tweeter is a big problem. You're asking a device designed to move back and forth .1mm 5000 times per second to move back and forth 2mm 100 times per second. In short order you'll burn out the voice coil and/or tear the edges of the driver.

anonymousagain

"pass" filter, if switched to "high" is targeted at mid-bass frequency (to allow bass segregation to a dedicated woofer/subwoofer), which is still too low for a tweeter.

unless you reconfig your setup to use active crossovers (assuming you've decided against passives), your better off not using them and risking any damage.

btw - have you visited a local shop to inquire about crossovers? Very common for old display components to have suffered the wrath of finger-poking-cones, which leaves the crossovers orphaned and eventually tossed out. Ask them if they have any left overs laying around. Recently found some Infinity Kappa crossovers from a display and the guy at the store was happy to take 5-bucks for both!!

Jim Chambers

Next question, should I be able to tell which lead is high frequency and which low on the crossover pictured? Since there are two leads in and two out, I assume the negative from the the amp bypasses the crossover and goes direct to the appropriate speaker, correct?