Planar Speaker Asylum

Welcome! Need support, you got it. Or share your ideas and experiences.

Planar Speaker Asylum

RE: "The electro-mechanical nature of these transducers has an inherent 12dB roll-off below resonance" ...

58.169.244.54

In Reply to: RE: Current Maggies run full range compared to high pass and subs. posted by Davey on December 28, 2020 at 21:08:37

But surely, Dave, if you do it this way ... you're not actually cutting off much low end from the Maggie bass panels? So you're still getting into single-magnet distortion territory.

Whereas if you cut them off higher - say 60 or 80Hz (with a 24dB L-R filter) - you avoid getting into excessive distortion territory ... plus reduce the load on the amp.

Andy

Follow Ups:

RE: "The electro-mechanical nature of these transducers has an inherent 12dB roll-off below resonance" ... - ColinB 15:38:16 12/29/20 (2)
Yeah I had thought about this possibility too. I would probably try both methods and see if the first order method at bass roll off makes enough difference regarding distortion and max vol capability/congestion etc. I would imagine it would not be as good as a higher order electrical XO at higher freq but it might help somewhat compared to running the speakers full range, anc could make enough of a difference.

Better potential integration with a sub sound like a good positive of the first order method, and I suspect the bass extension and output of the speakers might not be too much different to running the speakers full range, which gives you the option of not using a sub too (if you want too) which isn't possible with the other method.
- RE: "which isn't possible with the other method" ... - andyr 16:14:51 12/29/20 (1)
  Perhaps this depends on which active path you go down?
  
  Certainly with an analogue active filter, it would be difficult ... but my miniDSP unit (initially a 10x10HD) and now a nanoDIGI) enables me to store 4 configs and select one of them 'on the fly'.
  
  So one config is "bass panels full range and subs off" - which is easy to compare against "bass panel / sub XO at 80Hz, 24dB L-R".
  
  Andy
  - RE: "which isn't possible with the other method" ... - ColinB 16:45:56 12/29/20 (0)
    Yeah good point. The newer Minidsps are v flexible for sure. Those presets sound v handy. You could also try the first order HP either subs method mentioned above and compare to quickly to the others.
    
    I'd probably still prefer to go down the HP PLLXO route with analogue active LP XOs though, but it's more work and no easy way to switch quickly to compare.
RE: "The electro-mechanical nature of these transducers has an inherent 12dB roll-off below resonance" ... - Davey 14:15:02 12/29/20 (2)
You are always in "single-magnet distortion territory" with these speakers. (Unless you have 20-somethings.)

There are advantages in higher-order/higher-slope schemes. (I don't believe I said otherwise.)
Yes, distortion would be further reduced, but you don't have the best integration (in my opinion) between main speakers and sub-woofers using that approach.

As you know, there are trade-offs at every turn with speaker systems. :)

Dave.
- RE: "The main point of my post concerned" ... - andyr 14:53:03 12/29/20 (0)
  not using your suggestion of a 6dB HP filter which coincided with the intrinsic low end roll-off of the bass panel ... but, rather, moving the roll-off higher.
  
  The fact that you do this forces you to use a higher-order HP filter, as you need to compensate for no longer having the "intrinsic low end roll-off".
  
  Andy
- RE: "The electro-mechanical nature of these transducers has an inherent 12dB roll-off below resonance" ... - ColinB 14:47:18 12/29/20 (0)
  That's interesting. Why would the integration potentially be better with the first order HP at speaker bass roll off freq method? because the XO is at a lower frequency and the ear is less sensitive to phase issues etc there?, or for another reason?

Post a Followup:

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Atma-Sphere Music Systems, Inc.