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Topic: DSP plugins for biamp / active system experiments (Read 6153 times) previous topic - next topic
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DSP plugins for biamp / active system experiments

Hi !

I want to try multiple  DAC idea . It seems to be best way , because it gives many more possibilities than conventional ( simple ) active crossover . It's very tempting to adjust frequency characteristics , phase corelation or , "just" to be able to move crossing point via freq with different slopes . Seems like a paradise for any experiments with speakers .
I have prepared Tannoy Mercury m 2.5 for biamp/biwire . Simple biwiring with all components of original crossover ( later replaced to better ones ) changed these cheap speakers drammaticaly . It was like to take off a sheet or even something thicker from the front of these speakers  Sound become more clear , more saturated with details , music seems now to fill more space , than I have in my small room. The results pushed me to many experiments with tubes , Hexfets and etc ... first all in biwire mode , but in biamp lately too .
Now it 's time to get rid off analog crossover from my system . I have ESI ESU1808 audio interface . It has 16 analog inputs and , what is most important here , 8 analog , symmetric outs to use . For the beginning I've decided to
remove all components from crossovers or disable them by bypass . For security I want to temporarly
leave one capacitor on HF driver ( about 10 mikro ) to prevent DC current flowing thru driver coil . Hope to replace this cap. to fast fuse later .
My interface connects via USB . For now I just need to divide signal to three bands :

Low pass filter for subwoofer feed , possibly L+R channel with cutoff freq about 150 hz max , some phase shift .
LF to MID , 0 - 200 bottom cutoff and 1 to 5 k top cutoff .
HI pass filter with 1 to 5 k bottom cut.

I have no experience with Foobar plugins . Any suggestions ? Whih plugin should I use for this project ?
Need some help with software , everything else is ready

Any ideas ?


Maciej

DSP plugins for biamp / active system experiments

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Bregg on
I have prepared Tannoy Mercury m 2.5 for biamp/biwire . Simple biwiring with all components of original crossover ( later replaced to better ones ) changed these cheap speakers drammaticaly . It was like to take off a sheet or even something thicker from the front of these speakers  Sound become more clear , more saturated with details , music seems now to fill more space , than I have in my small room.


I am sorry to tell you this, but this is nonsense. While I could believe the change of sound when replacing crossover, bi-wiring does nothing. Instead of feeding the speaker with one pair of wires, you are just feeding it with two pairs. Your "improvements in sound" can be explained with moving the speaker in listening space, sitting in some other position regarding the speakers, but not with bi-wiring.
Bi-wiring does nothing to the sound quality.

For further information check this picture and read this article, page two - biwiring.
TAPE LOADING ERROR

DSP plugins for biamp / active system experiments

Reply #2 –
while I totally agree with hlloyge, I'm still convinced that playing around with crossover frequencies and slopes in software is a valid approach. not to mention that only that way you can achieve linear phase filters.
of course, if you do this in software, you HAVE to bi-wire

you should try foo_dsp_xover by Francois Bourdon:
http://xover.sourceforge.net/

DSP plugins for biamp / active system experiments

Reply #3 –
From the other side :
I think there is direct relation between Biamp and normal connection  . It begins from resistance of cables and terminals and amplifier oc . When bigger current flows thru our spkr cables ( biggest is on low frequencies oc ) , the ground potential is floating with low frequency pulse . Tweeter is using this common level and it's effecciency is affecting too , and very big dispropportion between levels of low and high freq voltage make for Tweeter real output a big difference also . If gnd level becomes unstable for very little , but hearable HF signals ... we lost them , or receive distort , cower with " mud " or " blanket " or ( and ) with no attack and proper ADSR proportions . And there is more than signal incoming from amplifier to analyse . LF speaker generates peaks of voltage of remaining input signal freq because of mass of membrane . They are strongest close to resonance of speaker in cabinet , BR resonance etc ...
Before these effects fade we can't talk about clear and neutral wideband conversion of current to acoustic pressure and neutral reproduction of sound . It's the reason of developing Bi wired and in next step Bi amped systems ?  Maybe i get something wrong in whole picture , dunno ... hmm 

Sorry for this little OT , but I have to know

Thanx for replies and linx . It will take me a while to get familiar with .

DSP plugins for biamp / active system experiments

Reply #4 –
You might have a look at software like  The Frequency Allocator by Thuneau: http://www.thuneau.com/
The Building of a Pure Digital System by Arthur Cheng: http://web.me.com/drarthurcheng/Site/Welcome.html
A bit more on active crossover can be found here: http://thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/ActiveCrossover.htm
Success and mind your tweeters!
TheWellTemperedComputer.com

DSP plugins for biamp / active system experiments

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Polouess on
...of course, if you do this in software, you HAVE to bi-wire
No, you have to bi-amp (separate amp, and wiring, for the woofer & tweeter).

Bi-wiring (like expensive speaker wires) is useless nonsense.  (Until proven otherwise in double-blind listen tests.)

Quote from: Bregg on
For security I want to temporarly
leave one capacitor on HF driver ( about 10 mikro ) to prevent DC current flowing thru driver coil . Hope to replace this cap. to fast fuse later .
I'd stick with the capacitor.  It will block low frequencies as well as DC (in case "something happens" with your software-crossover), and if something does go wrong, it won't blow like a fuse.    Just choose a capacitor that "crosses-over" about an octive below your actual crossover frequency and it will effectively be "out of the circuit" where the software/electronic crossover kicks-in.