Ashley 3.1-26 crossover kit

Description

We have started with a recommended “baseline” for components. You may select upgrades or downgrades based on your preferences.

Recommendations:

Capacitors:  The tweeter capacitor is the most critical in this design and should be considered for upgrade. Our “baseline” offering is from the JB, JPX Supreme line, which offers tremendous value as do all of the JB capacitor lines. The premium upgrade offerings are from the Obbligato Copper and Silver Series which were each given pricing discounts to further ease your upgrade decision.

Affordability has been prioritized in the default selections for the mid and woofer circuit capacitors. The smaller 4.7uF capacitor in the mid-circuit can be upgraded affordably due to its smaller capacitance value, but due to its shunt position and role in the circuit that upgrade is not a priority, and the tweeter capacitor and the mid and woofer inductors should receive upgrade considerations first.

Bypass capacitors: Small 0.1 uF bypass capacitors are offered from the Obbligato Copper Series . These are high-quality, fast, clean, and resolving capacitors, representing a great value at $3.50 each. Bypass capacitors are the most affordable way to upgrade the capacitors in the woofer and mid circuits. They are effective at speeding up the discharge and improving the overall response of the larger capacitors.

Inductors: 16-gauge is proposed as a “baseline” for the woofer and mid-circuit inductors.

The tweeter inductor includes an 18-ga as “baseline”. The tweeter does not benefit as much from the larger-gauge wire as the woofers do.  After upgrading the tweeter capacitor, upgrades to the woofer and mid-bass circuits would be the second consideration, if budget allows. This is not critical as the 16-ga already is a premium component.

Resistors: We have kept it very simple here. High-Quality resistors are very affordable. We are providing GR-Research branded 10-watt resistors ($4 each) for each resistor in this design.

Note: Due to the slightly uncommon values specified within the design, a couple small value substitutions are necessary. As example, 2x 35ohm resistors are used in parallel to create a single 17.5ohm resistor where an 18ohm is called for. This small variation is necessary and the variance is within manufacturer tolerances and won’t harm the results.  These minor substitutions are routine, especially when software or simulations are used to create the crossover schematic and may not take actual product availability into account.

Wiring: The crossover is easiest to install when splitting the woofer and tweeter circuits onto two separate boards. 20ft of each color is plenty for a clean install. For those with additional projects planned, or who desire additional flexibility in placing the crossovers, the 30ft wire option is also provided.  You may also purchase the kit without our wire.

We do think our wiring is the best value available. Premium wire without the traditional markups. Both versions are very similar, 16ga solid strand, high-purity OFC, Polyethylene insulator.  The “unbranded” is imported, the “Premium USA” version is not. Wire details are here.

Crossover boards & assembly option:

As a convenience we are offering you empty crossover boards, already sized appropriately for the size of components and cabinet. We use premium baltic birch. It is an expensive material, and not everyone wants to buy a small $30 sheet when they only need much smaller pieces. Price is $15 for two pairs of custom sized boards (separate boards for woofer and mid-tweeter circuits).

Complete assembly of your crossover boards is available. A $170 assembly fee includes the the assembly labor, crossover boards, and all small incidentals (zip-ties, heat shrink as needed), as well as the additional shipping costs associated (size & weight). This kit should be assembled onto two separate crossover boards (woofer separate from mid-tweeter circuits) per speaker cabinet.

Two smaller crossover boards are easier to install and place within the cabinet than a single larger board. This often becomes necessary based upon the limited opening size of the woofer.

Assembly capacity is limited, with a 2-week maximum turnaround time, and is only offered as an add-on.

Assembly of crossovers does not include attachment of internal wiring. It is recommended that you attach your internal wiring after identifying where you will install the crossovers in your speaker cabinet.  By laying the crossovers inside if your cabinet, you can most efficiently determine what wire lengths are appropriate for each connection based upon crossover placement. I am willing to install your internal wiring but it does require me to overestimate the wire lengths to ensure that there is enough length for each connection, based upon likely crossover placement locations within your cabinet. If you request that I attach the internal wiring it does require an additional labor charge, and generally is a 1.5 to 2 hour task to estimate and cut lengths for each connection, and to solder wire to the crossover leads which are then protected with heat-shrink and secured to the crossover board for their stability and protection.