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

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Planar Speaker Asylum ] [ Return to Search Results ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

Next level active Maggies

Posted by play-mate (A) on March 27, 2011 at 09:24:45

Dear Forum,

It´s been a long joyful (also frustrating at times) ride between the Planar -, Digital - and cMP Forums to finally announce the result of Dawnrazor´s initial recommendation of the cicsmemoryplayer and some independent thoughts along controlling crossovers digitally.
Thank you all for your help and support !

So here is the poor mans DIY DEQX alternative :

In the center of the setup is the cMP2 system (cicsmemoryplayer.com) which is a State-of-the-Art Computer featuring advanced upsampling and RAM memory playback. Since the implementation of the VST plug-in into cPlay it also allows integrating FIR filters that can correct frequency response, phase behavior and time alignment between drivers in a way that no electronic or passive crossover can ever do !

The important stage in working with FIR filters is to allow sufficient control of the parameters with which these filters are calculated. The pioneering TacT and Lyngdorf equipment are nowadays flawed with too little processing power, too fixated proprietary software & hardware and the general lack of programmable flexibility.
The revolutionary DEQX DHP-3 does certainly take FIR filtering a significant step up the quality ladder and is indeed a highly recommendable piece of gear, but does come with a equally significant pricetag.

For about 4 weeks ago the german "Acourate" FIR filter software was released with the new ability to operate within an active (bi-tri- & quad-amping) setup.
The only previous software that could do that, is the norwegian "Audiolense", but I regard the Acourate as the superior one, as the crossover filter characteristic can be determined upfront, and it´s fine tuning of the so called "excess phase" can get the feared pre-ringing out of the calculation. This is a very important feature within this technology.

To setup FIR filters one will need following :

A PC computer of newish specifications with Win XP
+ soundcard with 6 channel analog output (for a 3 way system). RME FireFace 400, Lynx Two-B or any equally 2-in/6-out interface
+ measurement microphone (calibrated is best)
+Acourate software (about $500 U.S.)
+convolver software (free)

Connect the interface to the amplifiers & respective drivers, and to the microphone (positioned at your listening chair).
Select samplerate and the desired crossover filter parameters. Linkwitz-Reilly 8th order for example.
When running the Logsweep Recorder of Acourate the program generates a series of advanced pulse and frequency sweeps on each driver, and records the results.
These sweeps contain 130.000 samples (!) of information from each driver and the reflections in your room.
The generated Pulse files are now run through a series of parameters that ensure you´re not stressing the loudspeaker more than necessary and that you get the desired behaviour from the system.
Once that´s done you can finally calculate a "reverse" or "mirrored" filter that can be read in the playback software (cPlay & convolver) and allocate the outputs to the D/A converters and pass them on to the amplifiers.

Since Acourate can calculate different scenarios and has a very flexible approach, you´re never stuck to only one result. Just run a new calculation with a different set of parameters and listen to the result.
....and that´s gonna be MIND BOGGLING.

Here´s a little series of pics of how "discrete" and simple an advanced setup can look :

one box design : player, upsampling & FIR filtering all in one

3-Way digitally controlled MG3.3 in Beechwood frames and reversed drivers

remote controlled cMP2 directly at my favorite seat

the beautiful sounding Lynx Aurora feeding the amplifiers

amplifiers directly placed behind the Maggies. Note: the reversed drivers and the cross-supports of the magnets

Hysolid // Mytek Brooklyn // Spectron Musician III // Analysis Audio Omega

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

VH Audio

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---