As I currently understand, having an actively run frontstage means you have dedicated channels for the midbass & tweeter (2 way setup of course). Thus meaning to have a 2 way frontstage active you'd need 4ch's. Is that how it goes?

What are the advantages with an active setup and what tuning options does it allow me to do?

Cheers guys

yes for 2 way front stage active you do require a 4channel amp or two 2 channel amps

you could choose 30-50watt x 2 tweeter amp and a 80-150watt x 2 midrange amp.

next i would not use the x-overs in the amps its just too hard to setup the correct setting for the tweeters.

so i would use an headunit designed for 3way x-over like the alpine bass engine pro (7998 or 9855 have this feature)

the way i have my front splits setup for an active crossover, is i have a three way active crossover made by audiocontrol model 6XS, It is fully selectable for the crossover frequencies between the tweeter/midrange woofer/sub woofer

Then you have to have a 4 channel amp to power each of the tweeters and mid woofers seperatly. It goes

HU > Crossover > amplifier > speaker driver
It splits each of the signals for each speaker drivers before it goes through the amplifier, means each channel of amplifier only has to specifically amplifier signals between the desired requency points. Meaning higher power for each driver, lower distortion at the same level as before, and ultimatly higher sq (presuming a high sq, low distortion amplifier).

and of course, you need the three-way crossover because you have tweeter, woofer and subwoofer.
that's 3

so a 4 channel amp for the splits, plus the subwoofer and it's own amp.

Ahh that makes sense. What makes and models are there of 2 way active xovers?

i'm looking at doing the same mate and was actually going to post up this question too.

i've got the alpine 9855 and remembered it had the 3 way crossover so that should save alot of trouble. i was originally looking at getting the PDX 2.150 and using them on my type x's but then i started to hear about running them active and there would be better tuning ability so i'm going to opt for the PDX 4.150 now for the splits and a PDX 1.1000 for my subs. should work out well i think....

as for the difference, check out the thread in the general forum....

a passive setup is one where x-overs are placed after the amplification, and really on power drawn from that source..ie, the standard crossovers with splits are passive, as they sit after the amp, and really oin that signal..

active is where the "crossing over" (sic) happens before the amplification, and therefore requires its own power, eg x-overs on the h/u, or an external processer, like the HX-D2, or the alpine F#1 status etc.

I have a dedicated active x-over, however honestly with the amount of tuning you can get in some of the not too expensive hu's (some of the alpines spring to mind) I'd easily prefer to go down that path.

And trism: so your a crossover expert now ey?

hahahaha sure am nah i dont think im an expert at anything, just knowledgable in some areas....

thanks for the responses guys, I have a CDA-9856 HU which doesn't have a built in xover. If I choose to go active, will I need a new head unit?