How a Exile system comes to be

[EarmarkMarine]

On a slighty different note but relating to highpass crossovers here is something that I think is worth sharing. This relates to all fullrange speakers and particularly in-boat coaxials.
Most understand the benefits of using a highpass filter on a 6.5" coaxial even if you don't have a subwoofer. It protects the speaker and limits mechanical fatique to the spider among other things. There is no point in attempting to drive a speaker below its reproduction ability and a 6.5" coaxial cannot reproduce 50 Hz.
But here is what is so important from a sound quality standpoint. Half of all musical fundamentals occur between 200 and 600 Hz. This is the sole domain of the coaxials larger fullrange cone. In most automotive and marine coaxials the tweeter is mostly limited to harmonics which are important to percussion, small wind instruments and provides the pitch and nuances that shape the character of each instrument. But make no mistake about it, the content with the most contrast and variety is in the range of the midbass driver. And this critical range is just an octave above much of the subwoofer's main contribution. In many systems this happens to be the most ignored area in that many are more occupied with the "boom/sizzle". Also, many speakers do a terrible job in this area because its the most difficult. By using the highpass filter to remove much of the wasted and unnecessary excursion from the coaxial you will dramatically clean-up this critical musical range. This over-excursion smears the midrange content in a similar manner as a moving train changes the pitch of the train whistle as in Intermodulation Distortion.

David
Earmark Marine

[kaneboats]

I'm not sure what that last part said. It seems to be saying that the typical 6.5 coax can't really reproduce lows anyway so you are better off running them (whether in-boat or on the tower) on hi pass whether you have the subwoofer or not.

It makes me think that if you can adjust your cut off points you can do a better job of tuning whatever you have, i.e., certain model speakers will go a little lower than others. Thoughts?

[EarmarkMarine]

kaneboats,
It sounds like you have got a good handle on it.

[kaneboats]

Thanks. We appreciate your patience-- all of you guys. I have owned exactly 3 amps in my life, don't play any instrument and wasn't in the grade school band. It's like a foreign language but it does all make sense.

Next up I have to try (again) to learn about wiring speakers, amps, etc. I start getting lost with multiple speakers and the equations. I'll have to (and I assume Moombadaze too -- it's his thread!) run my setup by this forum once I think I have everything for this season in place.

[rdlangston13]

so the exile SXT65 tower speakers, are those the same speaker at the exile in boat speaker just mounted inside a can?

[EarmarkMarine]

Same Exile speaker in the tower coaxial and in-boat coaxial? Absolutely not!
The tower speaker has a larger basket/frame and more robust motor structure. The tower speaker has a bridge/grill mounted tweeter versus a post mounted tweeter and the tower speaker has a sealed and continuous midbass cone resulting in more surface area. I'd bet the passive crossover has an extra pole or two as well. So there is a large difference. Consider the difference in what the two are expected to do.

David
Earmark Marine

[rdlangston13]

yeah i figured there was a difference. the model numbers just seemed very similar so I wanted to make sure.

[moombadaze]

Thanks. We appreciate your patience-- all of you guys. I have owned exactly 3 amps in my life.

I have only had 2 amps, the one that came with this boat and one I won about 5 years ago and only hooked up last year.


Big thanks to all you guys who know what the heck your talking about even when it goes over my head

[kaneboats]

I think I've actually had 4. I forgot that I added tower speakers and a subwoofer to my last Moomba and installed a cheapo amp. I knew less then than I know now. Looking back I understand that I should have switched the towers to HP and putting the sealed box sub in the closed up passenger side storage space muffled it a lot. It had more "shake" than sound.

[moombadaze]

were learning more everyday-could be dangerous