Using two sets of Eliminators

[malkuth]

I work with a music Collective and ended up doing sound because nobody else wanted to! We cater for a variety of music so our (ahem) rig has to be all things to all men. We've been operating on a shoestring budget for years now, running a set of 15" EV Eliminator tops with the 18 inch Eliminator subs. Initially this was powered by a Studiomaster powered desk (for the tops) and a 1200W power amp for the subs. Eventually we got another 1200W power amp and a 16 channel Mackie desk. We've recently bought a second Eliminator set-up and I was wondering what would be the best way to run the two sets of Eliminators with the set-up we have.
I was thinking that if I used a Y splitter (there is such a thing, right?) on the returns that would give me right and left inputs on both amps. The speaker outputs would then be taken to the subs and, since they have a passive crossover, up to the tops. I haven't tried this yet but I think it should work. However if anyone has any suggestions, improvements or warnings I'd be grateful to hear them as I am but an egg!
Many thanks
Bob K

[malkuth]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that we also have a dbx driverack. I forgot because we only used it once, not too successfully.

[Phil]

Hi Bob

sorry if Ive misread, but heres 2 solutions

Well what I would do, correct me if ive misread (again lol), try and get away from the passive crossovers.

Use your DBX Driverack and put your L & R outs from the desk into that.
You will be running the system 2 way Im guessing (tops & subs)
Use one amp for your tops and one for subs and link them into the crossover.

Plug your main speakers into the amp and from sub L, link out to your 2nd left sub. and do the same with tops. then link right subs together etc.

set your crossover point between 100hz-120hz on the driverack.


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or to keep things simple (i have a feeling this is what you origionally wanted to know before i started blabbing on lol)

set up your 2 seperate rigs the way you normally would but put them side by side (obviously) and then take a y split from each channel of your mixer to the 2 amps. eg

L ch amp1 > L Sub1 > (passive crossover out) > L top 1
Left out{
L ch amp2 > L Sub2 > (passive crossover out) > L top 2

Hope this has helped

Phil

[jimthedrum]

i have used the bigger version of these (the double 15" tops and kw bins)
with 2 stacks a side set up at an angle to each other to try not to have comb filtering effects.
this was outdoors where a wide dispersion was asked for. the dispersion i think is around 70 degrees.

[malkuth]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Phil in your first set-up you say "Plug your main speakers into the amp and from sub L, link out to your 2nd left sub" If I do this the signal will be passing through the built in passive crossover. Will there actually be an output there (will the crossover not 'take' all the low frequencies, leaving no output?) It makes more sense to use one amp exclusively for the subs.
Also, EV recommend a crossover point of 80Hz - should I stick with this or, given that the Eliminator tops are full range anyway, do I have a degree of latitude?
Thanks again
Bob K

[Phil]

ah sorry bob. I presumed the subs would have a link out before the crossover. You will need a speakon y splitter then. Sorry for the confusion.

You dont use the passive crossover in the cabs if you are using active.
I could upload a drawing if needed lol?

Try crossing over between 80hz & 120hz and see what you prefer Id say. could settle for 100hz.

[malkuth]

Grand job Phil. I hadn't thought of splitting the speaker cables. We're now considering putting in a link out socket on the subs. You live you learn (allegedly!)
Thanks
Bob K