16 ohm X-overs

[Dar57]

Hey gang. I have a pair of 16 ohm passive crossovers from a long-since-departed pair of 16 ohm A7's. I was wondering if I could use them in a pair of my unpowered 8 ohm 1233's that I have? Will they be compatible? If not,what would need to be changed to get them there?

Thanks in advance.

[Dar57]

Cant anyone answer this Q for me? Gotta be someone out there with an answer.....

Originally posted by Dar57:
Hey gang. I have a pair of 16 ohm crossovers from a long-since-departed pair of 16 ohm A7's. I was wondering if I could use them in a pair of my unpowered 8 ohm 1233's that I have? Will they be compatible? If not,what would need to be changed to get them there?

Thanks in advance.

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[jmarkwart]

Dar57,

You didn't say what model of A7 crossovers you had, but I doubt that they would be compatible for a number of reasons:
1) the difference in loading (8 ohms vrs. 16) will lower the Q, or slope, of both filter sections output as they approach the crossover region
2) A7s have driver voice coils in vertical alignment, 1233s use a stepped driver configuration - so an A7 filter will most likely not compensate correctly for the phase shift between the 1233's drivers at crossover
3) A7 shelving controls are designed to attenuate 16 ohm loads, not 8, and will not accurately deliver the actual amount of attenuation selected
4) If your A7 crossovers are 500Hz, then the 800Hz horn of the 1233, combined with the lower Q of the filter, will likely produce a huge hole, or dip, in midrange

You need to buy, or build, a pair of 1209-8A crossovers for your 1233's. Maybe you could trade your old A7 filters for a pair?

Jeff