An Introduction to the Klipsch Heritage Active Crossover
The Klipsch Heritage Active Crossover is not a speaker and not an amplifier. It is the intelligence at the center of a very specific and very special system. Klipsch designed this unit for one purpose, to serve as the active DSP crossover for the Klipsch Jubilee Heritage Floorstanding Speakers. If you are drawn to the Jubilee, understanding this component is essential, because the two are engineered to work as a single instrument.
Klipsch has built loudspeakers in America since 1946, when Paul W. Klipsch began his lifelong pursuit of the horn loaded ideal in Hope, Arkansas. The Jubilee is a modern expression of that pursuit, and the Heritage Active Crossover is what makes its two way horn architecture behave the way Paul would have wanted.
What the Active Crossover Actually Does
In a conventional passive loudspeaker, a network of components sits inside the cabinet after the amplifier, dividing the full range signal and sending the right frequencies to the right drivers. That network operates at speaker level, which means the amplifier has already done its work before the signal is split.
The Heritage Active Crossover takes a different path. It is an active, line level crossover that operates before amplification. It replaces the passive in-speaker crossover network entirely. The signal is divided digitally, using digital signal processing, and each portion is then sent to its own amplifier channel.
Two Way Division Matched to the Jubilee
The crossover performs a two way division that corresponds precisely to the Jubilee horn sections. Rather than applying a generic split, it is tuned to the specific horn loaded geometry of the speaker it serves, so the transition between sections is handled with the accuracy that only a purpose built processor can deliver.
Bi-amplification Is Required
Because the division happens at line level before amplification, the Jubilee system built around this crossover calls for bi-amplification, meaning two channels of amplification per speaker. Each output of the crossover feeds its own amplifier channel, and each channel drives its designated section of the horn system. This is a defining requirement of the design. The active crossover does not remove the need for amplification, it reorganizes where and how that amplification is applied.
Where It Sits in the System
It helps to keep the three roles clear. A passive Klipsch loudspeaker needs amplification, and thanks to the very high sensitivity of Tractrix horn loading, Klipsch passives pair beautifully with low power tube amplifiers as well as solid state. A powered Klipsch model, by contrast, carries its own amplification and needs only a source. The Heritage Active Crossover belongs to a third category. It is a component that serves the system. It sits in the signal path as the dividing intelligence, and around it you build the amplification and the source.
Sound Character and Design Goal
The purpose of moving the crossover function out of the cabinet and into an active DSP domain is precision. By dividing the signal at line level and letting dedicated amplifier channels handle each horn section, the system removes the compromises inherent in passive filtering at speaker level. The design goal here is faithful control of the Jubilee horn architecture, so that the effortless dynamics and clarity that Klipsch horn loading is known for arrive with the timing and balance the engineers intended.
This is a system for the listener who wants the full realization of the Jubilee concept rather than a simplified version of it. It rewards care in setup and thoughtful component selection.
Building the Jubilee System Around It
The natural and intended companion for the Heritage Active Crossover is the Klipsch Jubilee Heritage Floorstanding Speakers. The crossover exists to complete that pairing, so the first step in any plan is the Jubilee itself.
From there, remember the bi-amplification requirement. You will be providing two channels of amplification per speaker, each fed from the crossover outputs. The very high sensitivity of the Klipsch horn design gives you real flexibility in that choice, so both low wattage tube amplification and solid state options can be considered depending on the sound you are chasing. Finally, since the crossover handles division at line level, your source and preamplification decisions round out a complete Jubilee system.
Who This Is For
The Heritage Active Crossover is for the enthusiast committed to the Jubilee. It is not a general purpose accessory and it is not meant to serve other speakers. If your goal is the Jubilee experience as Klipsch designed it, this component is the piece that ties the horn sections, the amplification channels, and the DSP together into one coherent whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Klipsch Heritage Active Crossover?
The Klipsch Heritage Active Crossover is not a speaker and not an amplifier. It is the intelligence at the center of a very specific and very special system. Klipsch designed this unit for one purpose, to serve as the active DSP crossover for the Klipsch Jubilee Heritage Floorstanding Speakers . If you are drawn to the Jubilee, understanding this component is essential, because the two are engineered to work as a single instrument.
What does the Klipsch Heritage Active Crossover do?
In a conventional passive loudspeaker, a network of components sits inside the cabinet after the amplifier, dividing the full range signal and sending the right frequencies to the right drivers. That network operates at speaker level, which means the amplifier has already done its work before the signal is split.
Where does the Klipsch Heritage Active Crossover sit in the range?
It helps to keep the three roles clear. A passive Klipsch loudspeaker needs amplification, and thanks to the very high sensitivity of Tractrix horn loading, Klipsch passives pair beautifully with low power tube amplifiers as well as solid state. A powered Klipsch model, by contrast, carries its own amplification and needs only a source. The Heritage Active Crossover belongs to a third category. It is a component that serves the system.
What does the Klipsch Heritage Active Crossover sound like?
The purpose of moving the crossover function out of the cabinet and into an active DSP domain is precision. By dividing the signal at line level and letting dedicated amplifier channels handle each horn section, the system removes the compromises inherent in passive filtering at speaker level.
Come Hear It
AEA is an authorized Klipsch dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate and not every model is always set up, so a Heritage system like the Jubilee and its active crossover may or may not be configured on a given day. We would be glad to help, so please contact AEA to arrange a listen and we will do our best to have the right system ready for you.