IF you’re aiming for ultra high performance from your hi-fi or AV system, a dedicated active crossover goes a long way in extracting maximum performance from your speakers and subwoofer. And good ones don’t come cheap. The recently announced MXO active crossover from Magico is designed to split signals between your main speakers and subwoofer with maximum fidelity. Some might view this as being over the top, at least in price… read on.
According to the Magico press release, the MXO was “originally conceived and designed for the M9 loudspeaker system.” The purpose-built MXO will “benefit end users worldwide who demand the ultimate performance in sub/main integration… the MXO provides extremely transparent high/low pass filtering which relieves the main loudspeakers of the punishing low frequencies below 55Hz and sends extended low bass information to the powered subwoofers.”
This level of analogue upper and lower range signal management, says Magico, improves transparency and resolution in the main loudspeakers and allows the powered subwoofers to seamlessly integrate with the main speaker.
“The MXO features an active two-way, 24dB/octave, Linkwitz-Riley filter slope at 55Hz with a 0/180-degree phase option and 12dB gain per channel. Designed in-house, the MXO is a dual mono, fully balanced/discrete circuit topology design from input to output using the highest quality precision parts (resistors/capacitors) to ensure an extremely low noise floor with extended signal bandwidth and ultra-linear response.
“Precision step attenuators provide 0.5 dB/step control with up to +/- 12dB of gain adjustment per channel using a proprietary design to ensure purity in the signal path. The unique gain stage features software driven relays to control the circuit. A propriety technique is implemented to have one fixed resistor in series while maintaining a constant output impedance during volume changes to achieve optimised sound performance at all volume settings. The open architecture of the MXO uses a modular card to motherboard design that enables the implementation of additional filter topologies or upgrades in the future.
“The dual chassis design of the MXO isolates the sensitive filter processing circuitry from the separately housed power supply. Featuring oversized lab grade power transformers, the power supply regenerates AC and applies active regulation across every stage of the circuitry.”
The MXA will start shipping in the first quarter of next year. The price – US$48,000 for the two-way 55Hz version. But, hey, if you’re already in Magico-level territory…
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