| Crossover/Filter Design |
|
Crossover/Filter Design
Crossover design is critical to loudspeaker performance. Yet,
many loudspeaker manufacturers design crossovers within narrow
guidelines of price or performance, leaving the end-user the
task of loudspeaker equalization to compensate for built-in
crossover deficiencies. EAW doesn't expect system operators
to make our loudspeakers sound great. Our loudspeakers are intentionally
engineered to produce great sound right out of the box. To accomplish
this, EAW incorporates the time consuming - but superior - iterative
process of development that includes creating complex, asymmetrical
passive crossover networks to optimize total system performance.
An iterative process repeats a cycle of operations, beginning
each new cycle with the results of the previous one. With each
cycle (iteration), the end results moves closer to the "ideal",
or "model", result. For EAW loudspeaker systems, the ideal result
is perfectly flat on-axis response and perfectly linear power
response. This latter parameter ensures smooth off-axis performance.
The iterative process begins with the measurement of the acoustical
and electrical response of the individual transducers in the
enclosure with a dedicated laboratory measurement system. The
data is then fed into a proprietary software program called
Filter Designer. Based on the data obtained, EAW engineers build
a prototype crossover network. The loudspeaker is measured again
and the new data is fed back into Filter Designer. The network
is refined through iteration until optimal total system performance
is achieved.
|
|
|
The Importance of Asymmetrical Crossover Slopes
Only asymmetrical crossover slopes can precisely match the
characteristics of a specific driver through the crossover
transition. Unfortunately, some manufacturers cut corners
using mathematical abstractions to design filter networks.
To optimize power response, a system-specific crossover network
utilizing asymmetrical slopes must be designed around the
actual performance of the raw components and enclosure.
Raw drivers in a three-way system sum incoherently. (right)
"Mathematically correct" crossover slopes provide
some improvement (below right) but only complex, asymmetrical
slopes provide optimal summation. (below)
|
 |
 |
 |
|
