Description

The Legatia L2x is an exceptional-quality two-way passive crossover device that can be used with any Hybrid Audio speaker system to accommodate any number of different bespoke system designs. The L2x can be used for two-way passively crossed-over systems or used as the two-way dividing network for midrange and treble drivers in a “quasi-active” three-way (six-speaker) system, where the midbass is actively crossed-over at the amplifier. The L2x is based loosely off of the Unity U2x crossover, with key enhancements, including the option for vertical bi-wiring, as well as an enhanced filter set using low-tolerance, super high-quality parts.

At home in virtually any arrangement, the L2x is Hybrid Audio’s high-end two-way passive crossover, boasting exceptional performance and a design philosophy that goes hand in hand with true high-fidelity playback.

The L2x can be used for two-way passively crossed-over systems or used as the two-way dividing network for midrange and treble drivers in a “quasi-active” three-way (six-speaker) system, where the midbass is actively crossed-over at the amplifier. The L2x is based loosely off of the Clarus C2x crossover, with key enhancements, including the option for vertical bi-wiring, as well as an enhanced filter set using low-tolerance, super high-quality parts.

Key Issues in Passive Crossover Design

Before highlighting the L2x’s design attributes, there are certain key issues in a passive crossover design that the end-user should be aware of. For years, vocal manufacturers have coerced the consumer into believing that capacitors, coils, and resistors are not only desirable but are a requirement. One notable “high-end” speaker manufacturer boasts that they spend “months” working on crossover designs to ‘enhance’ their speakers. To ‘enhance’ means to add considerable filtering to fix speaker response anomalies, aka poor speaker designs.

Our speaker design philosophy is to spend the time and resources necessary to make the speakers exceptional in the design phase, and then use simpleton filtering to protect only for thermal protection at resonance and provide the desired frequency response filtering via crossovers. It is our philosophy that the passive crossover should not contain any level of equalization; none of our designs, in any series, use crossovers that contain any form of equalization beyond simple tweeter attenuation. We believe in making the speaker great, not trying to fix a poor speaker with filtering and attenuation. There’s no crossover in the world that can make a poorly-designed speaker sound good. This is why there’s a relatively simple, high-quality crossover topology employed on the Legatia L2x crossover, with no additional board-mounted equalization. And this is also why we implore you to use our world-class speaker systems in concert with the L2x.

Attributes

The Legatia L2x is a bi-amplified two-way passive crossover for use with virtually any midrange, midbass and tweeter pairing Hybrid Audio manufactures. The following are the L2x’s design attributes:

Filter Set

The L2x is a bi-wired two-way passive crossover that has the following filters:

Lowpass (midrange): 5,700 Hz at 12 dB/octave Linkwitz Riley
Highpass (treble): 5,200 Hz at 12 dB/octave Linkwitz Riley

The only filtering on the board is mentioned above, and in essence, are elementary highpass and lowpass filters common in any two-way crossover design. As noted above, there is no board-mounted equalization specific to one brand or type of midrange or tweeter, or common of competitor’s designs where equalization correction (filtering) is added. The L2x can be used with any number of drivers we produce.

The L2x passive crossover networks incorporate super high quality and low tolerance metalized polypropylene film capacitors, air-core inductors, and low tolerance non-inductive resistors. No output level switches were used in the passive crossover design because switches add a resistive effect and are typical of extremely low quality. Additionally, “jumper pins” add an unnecessary pair of splices in the signal path to the tweeter, and were not included in our design either. Rather, all tweeter level adjustments are done on the board level with dedicated non-inductive resistors; tweeter attenuation is accomplished by selecting the appropriate output (-3 dB, 0 dB, or +3 dB) on the passive crossover circuit board. The components selected are complimentary and ensure no appreciable signal degradation between the input and output side of the crossovers. Likewise, the capacitors and inductors are arranged on the board to reduce the coupling between circuits and electromagnetic interference by basic physical separation, while still keeping the footprint size of the circuit board small. Finally, the use of 12 dB/octave filters on both low pass and high pass minimizes phase-related distortion typical of crossovers with mismatched orders and ensures relative phase-coherency.

Connection

The L2x has convenient spring-loaded terminals for wire connection. Bare wire can be twisted tightly and inserted into the spring-loaded terminal; however Hybrid Audio recommends that the wire be tinned with solder to avoid oxidation, fraying, and to promote a better connection. The following is the connection nomenclature on the L2x, from left to right on the circuit board:

+WF Woofer positive input from amplifier

IN- Woofer negative input from amplifier

+WF Woofer positive output to Hybrid Audio Technologies midbass or midrange positive terminal

OUT- Woofer negative output to Hybrid Audio Technologies midbass or midrange negative terminal

+TW Tweeter positive input from amplifier

IN- Tweeter negative input from amplifier

HI+ Tweeter positive output to Hybrid Audio Technologies tweeter positive terminal, +3 dB setting

MID+ Tweeter positive output to Hybrid Audio Technologies tweeter positive terminal, 0 dB setting

LOW+ Tweeter positive output to Hybrid Audio Technologies tweeter positive terminal, -3 dB setting

TW- Tweeter negative output to Hybrid Audio Technologies tweeter negative terminal

NOTE: the L2x is a bi-wired crossover, meaning the crossover has two sets of inputs for use with two two-channel amplifiers or a four-channel amplifier. If you wish to not use two two-channel amplifiers or a four-channel amplifier, and use only one two-channel amplifier instead, simply “bridge” the connections between + WF and + TW and IN – and IN – with two short strands of insulated wire.

Once all speakers are installed, you will need to do a brief listening test with high-quality music that you are intimately familiar with to determine which tweeter attenuation you desire. Be sure that all equalization, bass, and treble levels are defeated or set to “zero” on the source unit before evaluating the intensity of the tweeters with respect to your midrange/midbass level and your listening taste. Note also, after approximately 25 hours, the speakers will begin to “break-in”, like any mechanical component, and intensities may need to be readjusted again. In other words, the midbass needs to be broken in with typical play-time before the final tweeter attenuation is set. You may find that after the break-in, the tweeter intensity will need to be re-adjusted.

Mounting

Choose your L2x mounting location carefully. The L2x contains parts that are susceptible to damage through repeated shock, moisture, and electromagnetic interference. For example, it is advisable to install the passive crossover inside the passenger compartment versus the door, since the door is exposed to repeated opening and closing “shock” which may damage the delicate passive crossover components, or cause soldered joints to break over time. Likewise, moisture may be present in a door installation. Finally, if you are mounting the passive crossovers in the kick panels or dashboard, be sure to keep the networks away from any noise-inducing device within the vehicle, such as factory ECU’s, auto transmission control ECU’s, BCM’s, alternator field/stator wiring, and numerous other devices. Readers note: be mindful of the location of the throttle, brake, and clutch pedals when you are selecting a mounting location and where to route the speaker wiring.

If the only option for crossover mounting is in the door, it would typically be prudent to install the passive crossovers immediately adjacent to the midbass location to keep speaker wiring and connections short and allow access to the OEM wiring, if it is used, without having to extend it and creating an additional resistive splice in the wire. If you must install the L2x in the door, DO NOT MOUNT THE CROSSOVER INSIDE THE DOOR CAVITY! Rather, install the networks on the same mounting plane as the midbass, toward the passenger compartment, and behind the OEM door panel/skin, so as to not expose the delicate electronic parts contained within to moisture inside the door cavity. Once an adequate spot for mounting the L2x is found, securely mount the crossover networks using the supplied screws. Before any cutting, drilling, or insertion of screws, check the clearance of the panel from behind to verify that you won’t be damaging existing wiring, window or door lock motors, window tracks, and the windows themselves, and etc.

Summary

The Legatia L2x is an exceptional-quality two-way passive crossover device that can be used with any Hybrid Audio speaker system to accommodate any number of different bespoke system designs. At home in virtually any arrangement, the L2x is Hybrid Audio’s high-end two-way passive crossover, boasting exceptional performance and a design philosophy that goes hand in hand with true high-fidelity playback.

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