New Magico MXO Analog Crossover with Linkwitz-Riley filters

American firm Magico, famous for its acoustics, has presented an analog active crossover – MXO. The Magico MXO was created for the M9 speakers, where it had to work with a fixed crossover frequency of 120Hz. In the MXO version, it will receive the ability to separate high and low-pass filtering at a fixed frequency of 55Hz for work with subwoofers.

Linkwitz-Riley filter

The MXO includes an active 2-band Linkwitz-Riley filter that provides a 55Hz cutoff with a 24dB/octave slope and 12dB gain per channel. A 0/180° phase switch is also provided. The MXO features a dual mono architecture.

The circuit is fully balanced, 100% discrete and, most importantly, completely analog from input to output. Additional channel modules can be added to the system. Separately, the manufacturer emphasized the presence in the new product of precision parts, resistors and capacitors of the highest quality.

Separate power

Dual mono was also used in a separate MXO power supply. This approach eliminated potential interference from the sensitive filter circuit. There are large laboratory power transformers in the power supply, Magico says – this is evidenced by its mass of 27kg. The MXO crossover weighs an impressive 18kg.

Gain control ±12dB separately in each channel and band is provided by precision step attenuators with a step of 0.5dB. According to Magico, the measured THD+ noise in the MXO was no higher than 0.001%. Information about the system parameters is displayed on a switchable display. The crossover will begin production in the first quarter of 2022. Additional channel modules will be available in the second quarter.

Price

The Magico MXO active analog crossover has a suggested retail price of $48,000 in the US. For a couple of additional channels, you will have to pay an additional $5,000.

Magico MXO Specifications

Input Impedance Balanced:     44 kΩ (22 kΩ per leg)

Maximum Input Voltage:              15 V rms (+24 dBv)

Output Impedance Balanced: 100 Ω (50 Ω per leg)

Maximum Output Voltage:   15 V rms (+24 dBv)

Maximum Gain: 12db

SNR 1 V / 100 kΩ:  95dB (22Hz-22KHz, Unweighted at 0 db)

THD+N:          < 0.001 % at 1 V rms/100 kΩ load

All Pass Bandwidth: 10 Hz -200 kHz +/- 0.5 db

Channel Separation:               >115 dB at 10 kHz

Mains Voltage (Frequency):  100V (60 Hz) 115V (60 Hz) or 230V (50 Hz), factory-set.

Volume Control:       +/– 12 dB with 0.5 dB/steps, via front panel knob, each channel, each line

Phase Control:                   independent for each output, via front panel push-button switches

Stereo Inputs:                                            Balanced L/R (2 XLR)

Main Line Outputs:                                    Balanced L/R: (2 XLR)

Subwoofer Line Outputs:                          Balanced L/R: (2 XLR)

Subwoofer version Crossover Frequency

Filter frequency: 55 Hz

Filter Slope:   24 dB/octave, Linkwitz-Riley

Low Pass Frequency Response:   +0, -0.7 dB from 10 Hz to 35Hz, -6dB at 55Hz

High Pass Frequency Response:  +0, -0.7 dB from 100Hz up to 200 kHz, -6dB at 55 kHz

Dimensions

MXO Crossover:                   8” H x 18” D x 20” W (20 x 46 x 51 cm)
MXO Power Supply:             8” H x 18” D x 20” W (20 x 46 x 51 cm)

Weight

MXO Crossover:                   40 lbs. (18 kg)
MXO Power Supply:             60 lbs. (27 kg)