Active crossover - woo hoo!

Doc B. · 5227

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Online Doc B.

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on: April 25, 2018, 01:11:33 PM
Today Peebs brought over a prototype of the active tube crossover that PJ has had in mind for the Jäger. We seem to have achieved what I was hoping for. I did a comparison of the active crossover vs. the biamp configuration of the passive crossover, for as little change as possible between the two setups. I'm using a single stereo Kaiju to run the right and left tweeters and a strapped Kaiju monoblock for each woofer channel. Bass is tighter and cleaner and there is better separation with the active crossover. The difference was pretty obvious right from the get-go which is what I had hoped for, as I didn't want to make an active crossover if we had to make up an excuse for upgrading to it. The prototype circuit is built on a Smash chassis, but it will get its own chassis design in time. Not sure about a release date or price yet, since I just heard it for the first time about an hour ago. If I had to guess I'd say we could be taking orders by the end of summer.

In the meantime we are getting closer to another speaker production run. I've been working with the cabinet shop on the minor revisions and am just waiting to hear that they have run another sample cabinet for me to look over.

« Last Edit: April 26, 2018, 08:29:58 AM by Doc B. »

Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
President For Life
Bottlehead Corp.


Offline johnsonad

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Reply #1 on: April 25, 2018, 04:07:17 PM
Congrats guys! I’m looking forward to hearing it!

Aaron Johnson


Offline bombay317

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Reply #2 on: April 25, 2018, 05:13:39 PM
This sounds exciting!

Will existing Jägers be retrofit-able?

Niagara 7000
Benchmark DAC3L (XBOX1 and TV)
CA Performance w/ Satisfy Turntable
Talismann V2 CA Cartridge
Tavish Designs Adagio Vacuum Tube Phono
BHSE Amp
Stax SR-009
BeePre 300B w/ BeeQuiet and Cinemag Transformers
Kaiju 300B w/ DC Filament
Jäger Speakers
Transparent and Benchmark Cables


Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #3 on: April 25, 2018, 06:24:35 PM
This sounds exciting!

Will existing Jägers be retrofit-able?
This is the reason for the cubby at the bottom of the speaker for the passive crossover.  When the active is used, the passive board can be pulled out and set aside.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline caffeinator

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Reply #4 on: April 26, 2018, 08:05:51 AM
Very excited to hear this, and looking forward to its introduction.

What sort of name would befit such an item? What goes between a Jaeger and a Kaiju?  A Plasmacaster? A Chain Sword?

Meanwhile, I'll try to hustle up some lawn-mowing jobs or something to save up...



Offline bombay317

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Reply #5 on: September 24, 2018, 04:49:11 AM
Any update on when this will be available?

Niagara 7000
Benchmark DAC3L (XBOX1 and TV)
CA Performance w/ Satisfy Turntable
Talismann V2 CA Cartridge
Tavish Designs Adagio Vacuum Tube Phono
BHSE Amp
Stax SR-009
BeePre 300B w/ BeeQuiet and Cinemag Transformers
Kaiju 300B w/ DC Filament
Jäger Speakers
Transparent and Benchmark Cables


Online Doc B.

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Reply #6 on: September 24, 2018, 05:22:48 AM
We have a newly revised product to announce this week (watch for updates) and the active crossover is in line to be completed and released after that product has been launched. So it might be available by year's end.

Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
President For Life
Bottlehead Corp.


Offline Hank Murrow

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Reply #7 on: January 05, 2019, 05:48:13 AM
Well, years end came and went; so I am wondering how the active Xover is coming for the Jaegers. Time for an update on this before Dan heads for the salt!

Cheers, Hank in Eugene



Online Doc B.

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Reply #8 on: January 05, 2019, 05:58:16 AM
After giving this some consideration in regards to development time vs. the number of potential users, we have decided not to make it a kit. That only makes sense for equipment we might sell in the hundreds to thousands. However PB has said he might consider building a limited number of finished crossovers. If we get enough commitments we could produce a small run. Let us know here if you want one, and PB and I will sit down and work out a price.

Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
President For Life
Bottlehead Corp.


Offline caffeinator

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Reply #9 on: January 05, 2019, 07:28:24 AM
Hi there,

I'm definitely interested - please keep us posted on how this develops.

And Happy New Year!



Offline Hank Murrow

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Reply #10 on: January 07, 2019, 08:35:30 AM
I will be interested in what you and Paul come up with for an active for the Jaegers.

Cheers, Hank



Offline Rocketman248

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Reply #11 on: January 10, 2019, 01:46:40 PM
I might be interested.  I have a Stereomour II sitting around gathering dust.  It would be interesting to put the Stereomour on the tweeters, and the Kaiju on the woofers.

Nick DeBrita
Yokosuka, Japan


Offline bombay317

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Reply #12 on: January 11, 2019, 05:40:55 AM
I am interested!

Niagara 7000
Benchmark DAC3L (XBOX1 and TV)
CA Performance w/ Satisfy Turntable
Talismann V2 CA Cartridge
Tavish Designs Adagio Vacuum Tube Phono
BHSE Amp
Stax SR-009
BeePre 300B w/ BeeQuiet and Cinemag Transformers
Kaiju 300B w/ DC Filament
Jäger Speakers
Transparent and Benchmark Cables


Offline Halvosh

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Reply #13 on: June 25, 2019, 09:30:08 PM
I,m also very interested 100%,put me on the pre order list please. :)



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #14 on: June 26, 2019, 05:20:42 AM
It looks like I should build a few of these up and make them available!

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man