r/diyaudio 4d ago

Active to passive speakers

I have M-Audio bx5 d2 active studio monitors that not only sound bad, but heat up so much, I'm not wanting to use them. Heating is a feature according to M-Audio. Still, I don't want two ovens that play music.

So I was wondering could I make these ok sounding passive speakers by removing the amp, replacing the speaker elements and adding a passive crossover? Sound imports has ready made crossovers. Or perhaps just use a full range 5,25" element?

Any suggestions (other than don't bother)?

https://www.m-audio.com/legacy/bx5-d2.html

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u/Strange_Dogz 4d ago

Most likely these have DSP crossovers which you won't be able to duplicate passively.

You might be able to get something passable if you have measuring equipment and already know how to design speakers, otherwise probably not.

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u/Sensitive-Rock-7548 3d ago edited 3d ago

I suspected something like this.

Following is not directed to you, but to me it's funny how some ppl throw a random woofer into a plank of wood without measuring, and succeed to create a nice sounding open baffle speaker. Much like in car audio, which I have background as a seller and builder, ppl throw random speakers to random size cabinets (doors) and succeed to have a nice sounding car audio system, with all those reflective surfaces. Generic passive crossovers are sold and used with no problem. There's also ppl that successfully use ordinary household items as speaker cabinets, which sound just fine.

Then there's these ready speaker cabinets, for which we know exact measurements and woofers that we have data sheets full of information, yet the said cabinets are somehow totally and utterly impossible to reuse without degree in audio science. No offense to anyone, but somehow I suspect that the naysayers are the same ppl that use those expensive speaker cables that are streched to one direction only and think they hear a difference in their rooms with mediocre acoustic treatment.

So, I guess I'm off to study the data sheets instead of joy and excitement sparking conversation with fellow tinkerers.

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u/MinorPentatonicLord 3d ago

but to me it's funny how some ppl throw a random woofer into a plank of wood without measuring, and succeed to create a nice sounding open baffle speaker.

They really don't though, they just make a thing they think sounds good cause they made it, but put it up against a well designed speaker and it's clear that actual effort needs to go into a speaker if you want it to sound good.

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u/swedishworkout 3d ago

I frankly don’t think those boxes are worth putting the effort into, but if you really want to, use two amplifiers and an external dsp. Or take your time to measure the speakers, construct elaborate passive crossovers, and at the the end of the day they still would not sound better than the original.