Overview

The Design of Active Crossovers is a unique guide to the design of high-quality circuitry for splitting audio frequencies into separate bands and directing them to different loudspeaker drive units specifically designed for handling their own range of frequencies. Traditionally this has been done by using passive crossover units built into the loudspeaker boxes; this is the simplest solution, but it is also a bundle of compromises. The high cost of passive crossover components, and the power losses in them, means that passive crossovers have to use relatively few parts. This limits how well the crossover can do its basic job. Active crossovers, sometimes called electronic crossovers, tackle the problem in a much more sophisticated manner. The division of the audio into bands is performed at low signal levels, before the power amplifiers, where it can be done with much greater precision. Very sophisticated filtering and response-shaping networks can be built at comparatively low cost. Time-delay networks that compensate for phyical misalignments in speaker construction can be implemented easily; the equivalent in a passive crossover is impractical because of the large cost and the heavy signal losses. Active crossover technology is also directly applicable to other band-splitting signal-processing devices such as multi-band compressors. The use of active crossovers is increasing. They are used by almost every sound reinforcement system, by almost every recording studio monitoring set-up, and to a small but growing extent in domestic hifi. There is a growing acceptance in the hifi industry that multi-amplification using active crossovers is the obvious next step (and possibly the last big one) to getting the best possible sound. There is also a large usage of active crossovers in car audio, with the emphasis on routing the bass to enormous low-frequency loudspeakers. One of the very few drawbacks to using the active crossover approach is that it requires more power amplifiers; these have often been built into the loudspeaker, along with the crossover, and this deprives the customer of the chance to choose their own amplifier, leading to resistance to the whole active crossover philosophy. A comprehensive proposal for solving this problem is an important part of this book. The design of active crossovers is closely linked with that of the loudspeakers they drive. A chapter gives a concise but complete account of all the loudspeaker design issues that affect the associated active crossover. This book is packed full of valuable information, with virtually every page revealing nuggets of specialized knowledge never before published. Essential points of theory bearing on practical performance are lucidly and thoroughly explained, with the mathematics kept to an essential minimum. Douglas' background in design for manufacture ensures he keeps a wary eye on the cost of things. Features: Crossover basics and requirements The many different crossover types and how they work Design almost any kind of active filter with minimal mathematics Make crossover filters with very low noise and distortion Make high-performance time-delay filters that give a constant delay over a wide range of frequency Make a wide variety of audio equaliser stages: shelving, peaking and notch characteristics All about active crossover system design for optimal noise and dynamic range There is a large amount of new material that has never been published before. A few examples: using capacitance multipliers in biquad equalisers, opamp output biasing to reduce distortion, the design of NTMTM notch crossovers, the design of special filters for filler-driver crossovers, the use of mixed capacitors to reduce filter distortion, differentially elevated internal levels to reduce noise, and so on. Douglas wears his learning lightly, and this book features the engaging prose style familiar from his other books The Audio Power Amplifier Design Handbook, Self on Audio, and the recent Small Signal Audio Design.

Full Product Details

Author:   Douglas Self
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Focal Press
Dimensions:   Width: 19.00cm , Height: 3.30cm , Length: 23.40cm
Weight:   1.234kg
ISBN:  

9780240817385

ISBN 10:   0240817389
Pages:   608
Publication Date:   29 July 2011
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Replaced By:   9781138733039
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Out of Print
Availability:   In Print  
Limited stock is available. It will be ordered for you and shipped pending supplier's limited stock.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Crossover Basics Chapter 2: How Loudspeakers Work Chapter 3: Crossover Requirements Chapter 4: Crossover Types Chapter 5: Notch Crossovers Chapter 6: Subtractive Crossovers Chapter 7: Lowpass & Highpass Filter Characteristics Chapter 8: Designing Lowpass & Highpass Filters Chapter 9: Bandpass & Notch Filters Chapter 10: Time Domain Filters Chapter 11: Equalisation Chapter 12: Passive Components for Active Crossovers Chapter 13: Opamps for Active Crossovers Chapter 14: Active Crossover System Design Chapter 15: Subwoofer Crossover Chapter 16: Line Inputs and Outputs Chapter 17: Line Outputs Chapter 18: Power Supply Design Chapter 19: An Active Crossover Design Appendix 1: Crossover Design Reference Appendix 2: Loudspeaker Design Reference

Reviews

Best known for his work in audio power amplifier design, Self has also devoted a good deal of study to small-signal circuitry. He begins here by pointing out that almost everyone who knows agrees that audio systems using active crossovers sound better than those using passive crossovers. He predicts that this feature will be the next big step in high fidelity sound reproduction, but says his explanations could be useful for holdout designers of passive crossovers as well. Among his topics are how loudspeakers work, crossover types, lowpass and highpass filter characteristics, equalization, subwoofer crossovers, line inputs and outputs, and power supply design. --Reference and Research Book News This book includes valuable information with virtually every page revealing nuggets of specialized knowledge never before published. With this book you will learn about the use of capacitance multipliers in biquad equalizers; opamp output biasing to reduce distortion; the design NTM notch crossovers; the design of special filter-driver crossovers, and more. --Wonderpedia.com A crossover unit gives the right frequencies to the right speakers so they can create the best sound. Using a crossover unit is more than just plug-and-play. It's plug-andconfigure. It's a science. Whether you already have a crossover unit or are looking at upgrading your existing speaker system, consider adding 'The Design of Active Crossovers' to your bookshelf. I've added it to mine. --ProSoundWeb.com

"""Best known for his work in audio power amplifier design, Self has also devoted a good deal of study to small-signal circuitry. He begins here by pointing out that almost everyone who knows agrees that audio systems using active crossovers sound better than those using passive crossovers. He predicts that this feature will be the next big step in high fidelity sound reproduction, but says his explanations could be useful for holdout designers of passive crossovers as well. Among his topics are how loudspeakers work, crossover types, lowpass and highpass filter characteristics, equalization, subwoofer crossovers, line inputs and outputs, and power supply design.""--Reference and Research Book News ""This book includes valuable information with virtually every page revealing nuggets of specialized knowledge never before published. With this book you will learn about the use of capacitance multipliers in biquad equalizers; opamp output biasing to reduce distortion; the design NTM notch crossovers; the design of special filter-driver crossovers, and more.""--Wonderpedia.com ""A crossover unit gives the right frequencies to the right speakers so they can create the best sound. Using a crossover unit is more than just plug-and-play. It's plug-andconfigure. It's a science. Whether you already have a crossover unit or are looking at upgrading your existing speaker system, consider adding 'The Design of Active Crossovers' to your bookshelf. I've added it to mine.""--ProSoundWeb.com"

This book includes valuable information with virtually every page revealing nuggets of specialized knowledge never before published. With this book you will learn about the use of capacitance multipliers in biquad equalizers; opamp output biasing to reduce distortion; the design NTM notch crossovers; the design of special filter-driver crossovers, and more. --Wonderpedia.com

Author Information

Douglas Self has dedicated himself to demystifying amplifier design and establishing empirical design techniques based on electronic design principles and experimental data. His rigorous and thoroughly practical approach has established him as a leading authority on amplifier design, especially through the pages of Electronics World where he is a regular contributor.

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