http://www.audioholics.comWhere audio and video equipment undergoes rigorous objective and subjective tests by our staff, ensuring that marketing slogans aren't the only guidelines for your home theater choices.Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0000http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/the-loudspeaker-crossoverEver wonder why some higher end manufacturers utilize top notch parts in their crossovers? This article explores the differences between capacitor and inductor types utilized in the crossovers of your loudspeakers and how the use of a non-linear materials can affect the sound of the music we hear. If we are looking to improve our systems, and purchasing upgrade crossovers, we need not only be informed about the specifications of the parts used in them, we also need to consider the PCB layout as well. While perhaps the simplest electrical circuits in use in audio today, crossovers can play a major role in the sound we hear coming from our speakers, and our speakers are the most important link in the audio chain in the vast majority of systems in use today.Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/the-loudspeaker-crossoverLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/crossoverHave you ever wondered how the tweeter and woofer have their responses combined in a speaker system, or what the crossover network is and how it works? This article sheds some light on the least seen and perhaps most undervalued part of the speaker system, the crossover network. While passive crossover components and materials and construction have changed over time, the underlying theory and practice has not. In the real world, capacitors, inductors and resistors exhibit behavior which is neither ideal or perfect. In this article, we considered the importance of real loudspeaker impedance, and how it acts as a monkey wrench to complicate and frustrate the function of constant resistance type crossover networks. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:30:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/crossoverLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/subwoofer-extensionMore often than not consumers are swayed by a single parameter in a products specifications to judge its true performance. Lately it’s quite a popular trend on the forums of people critiquing a subwoofers performance by a simple metric; its -3dB point or how low the subwoofer can go in frequency before its sound output rolls off. This article will explore the trade offs associated with tuning a vented subwoofer system for the lowest achievable frequency output and demonstrate a balance between real usable extension and efficiency for achieving the best performance given a particular driver size and box enclosure. When doing comparisons of subwoofers by looking at specifications, remember that published specifications are almost always static measurements, and usually only reflect what a speaker does at low drive levels, where speakers tend to be linear and well behaved. This is why judging a subwoofers performance by a spec sheet or singular measurement metric is misleading and often dangerous when trying to determine the better product.Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:14:50 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/subwoofer-extensionLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeakers-power-ratings-part-iii-the-test-resultsIn parts one and two, the case was made for the idea that real power handling in loudspeakers was intimately tied to the nature of the signal, as well as the electromechanical parameters of the speaker under test. In the final part of this three part article, Paul performs an experiment to determine if the underlying theory has merit, or if he is simply full of hot air. (Hot air is not good for either loudspeakers or authors.) What he aims to prove is without specifying the frequency content and crest factor of the test signal used, the power handling number/rating in loudspeakers IS MEANINGLESS. Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:26:02 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeakers-power-ratings-part-iii-the-test-resultsLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeaker-power-ratingsIn part I of this series of articles, we discussed simple concepts regarding power handling in loudspeakers and common misconceptions surrounding them. In this article, we discuss the mechanics of loudspeaker clipping and work several examples of product failure at various power levels depending on what test signal is being used. We learn that without a knowledge of the test signal used, the power rating number for a loudspeaker system is meaningless. Read on to find out why.Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:10:03 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeaker-power-ratingsLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeaker-power-handlingThere are two basic ways in which you can destroy a loudspeaker with power; thermally or mechanically. Everyone is familiar with the concept of being able to burn a loudspeaker. It gets too hot, and the voice coil wire burns, or worse, something else (like the cone) catches on fire and burns. We all go shopping with “How many watts can it handle?” This is like living in a vast desert with only a few filling stations and wanting to know your cruising range in miles. We ask how big is the tank, and not how many miles we get to the gallon. (What is the efficiency?) In part I of this series, we examine a few very simple concepts regarding power handling and common misconceptions surrounding them.Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:15:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeaker-power-handlingLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/sound-bars-silicon-chip-tiHigh-quality audio is a critical part of creating a compelling home theater product line. With the availability of six- and eight-channel surround sound systems, consumers expect movie theater quality sound in their living rooms and bedrooms from their televisions. New Silicon-on-Chip Designs promise better and cheaper sound bar technology to fill the gap for those who can't build out full 5.1 systems.Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:52:15 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/sound-bars-silicon-chip-tiLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/dayton-audio-wt3The WT3 Woofer Tester by Dayton Audio is a fast, accurate and affordable measurement tool that’s about as easy to use as it gets. Just load the included software, plug the probe into the nearest USB port, calibrate, and you’re good to go. It’s that simple! It’ll measure driver impedance and derive the all-important Thiele/Small parameters - critical to the loudspeaker design process. It will also measure the impedance of various components commonly used in the construction of passive crossover networks such as resistors, caps & inductors. Rounding out this feature set, the WT3 sports some useful extra utilities you’ll likely find handy. All in all, this is one item likely to be a favorite of the DIY community for a long time to come. Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:50:34 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/dayton-audio-wt3Loudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/subwoofer-measurement-part-1When it comes time to size up a subwoofer's performance, the proof is in the measurement! Audioholics takes a hard look at the science of subwoofer measurements in a two-part series covering a broad spectrum of measurement methods, useful to both pro and enthusiast alike. The purpose of both documents are to present a set of measurement guidelines by which a comprehensive objective assessment of a subwoofer’s performance can be developed. Included within this document’s definition of a subwoofer are: single & multiple driver subwoofer systems; powered and passive systems; systems featuring vented or totally enclosed cabinets; along with less common items such as dipole subwoofers. Let the science begin!" Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/subwoofer-measurement-part-1Loudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/subwoofer-measurementsYou often see us measuring subwoofers using various methods such as: groundplane, in-room nearfield, outdoor on a pole, anechoic, quasi anechoic, etc in our product reviews and technical articles. This article discusses the different approaches to measuring subwoofers as well as tabulates the pros and cons of each method. Depending on the resources on hand of the reviewer, we will typically apply one or more of these methods and will note them as such in the reviews. The idea here is to eliminate external influences that complicate the measurements to yield similarly correct results for each methodology employed. The scope of this overview is limited to subwoofers only and the amplitude response frequencies range of 10 Hz to 320 Hz.Tue, 06 Nov 2007 04:50:19 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/subwoofer-measurementsLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/speaker-spikes-and-cones-2013-what2019s-the-pointIn recent years it has become common for items of audio equipment to be mounted using “spikes” or “cones”. These come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and materials, at all kinds of prices. The Hi-Fi magazines sometimes ‘review’ these accessories, and recommend their use. However, are they worth buying and using? In this article, we consider their use with loudspeakers, and discuss some alternatives.Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:28:10 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/speaker-spikes-and-cones-2013-what2019s-the-pointLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/vertical-vs-horizontal-speaker-designsThe center channel’s job is a tough one. The consensus is that around 75 percent of a movie’s content is routed to the center channel loudspeaker. Yet, the design criteria for center channels traditionally require that it fit as stealthily as possible around that big-box television, or that huge sheet of projection screen. The sound can’t go through your glass TV screen and projection screens are usually not acoustically transparent. Ideally, the sound should come from behind the image, through the screen as it does in the movie theaters. But while there are new options with acoustically transparent projection screens, this article will focus on the more traditional problem of what compromises result from the different approaches to center channel design.Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:55:06 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/vertical-vs-horizontal-speaker-designsLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeaker-impedance-series-parallel-connection-basicsMore often than not a question pops up in our forum about speaker impedance and the result of connecting multiple speakers to a single amplifier. Thus we have prepared this introductory tutorial to help clear up some of these questions.Mon, 22 May 2006 00:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeaker-impedance-series-parallel-connection-basicsLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/inductor-coil-crosstalk-basicsAs a fledgling electronics buff I gathered together the usual hodgepodge of spare parts, old TV's and all the other electrical odds and ends that youngsters bitten by that particular bug seems to collect. Among my most prized possessions were 2 25 lb. spools of insulated, 12 AWG copper wire. Their weighty status didn't spare them however from featuring in many of my early experiments.Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/inductor-coil-crosstalk-basicsLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/speaker-break-in-fact-or-fictionDriver "break in", "burn in" or "run in" is a topic that's been debated in various forums for years. This topic continues to ignite occasional flame wars, fueled by the contributions of both uninformed and enlightened alike.Thu, 25 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/speaker-break-in-fact-or-fictionLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/lowering-mechanical-noise-floor-in-speakers-pt-2The mechanical & acoustical performance of a loudspeaker cabinet's panel will be assessed at various stages of construction, with an eye to noting any improvements along the way. This report will conclude with a simple before/after comparison of the acoustical output of one of the test cabinet's panels, followed by a subjective assessment of the system's performance.Tue, 05 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/lowering-mechanical-noise-floor-in-speakers-pt-2Loudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/lowering-mechanical-noise-floor-in-speakers When I design a loudspeaker system for home or studio use, with the goal of maximizing sonic accuracy, there are a handful of key areas I focus on when it comes time to judge how successful the design is.Thu, 17 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/lowering-mechanical-noise-floor-in-speakersLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/understanding-loudspeaker-frequency-responseWhen I look at Infinity, then Axiom, then Paradigm, and then Rocket, I can't see any consistency with the frequency range and the price. How can a speaker with a frequency range of 60-20,000 Hz cost four times as much as a speaker that has a rating of 30-20,000 Hz?Fri, 11 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/understanding-loudspeaker-frequency-responseLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/how-to-judge-loudspeakers-sound-and-accuracyWhat do we really mean when we talk about "loudspeaker sound"? We've said it - we've heard it - but what should a good loudspeaker sound like? If we are being true to the goal of seeking higher fidelity, then an ideal loudspeaker should have no "sound" at all. In other words, it should be completely transparent, an open door to the musical performance.Fri, 31 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/how-to-judge-loudspeakers-sound-and-accuracyLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/wireless-surround-sound-speakers-the-futureAre wireless surround sound speakers the next big thing? Hong Kong leads the market in the release of wireless 5.1 speaker systems. Wireless and active surround sound speakers with built-in decoders appear to be topping the list of R & D expenditures in various Chinese technology manufacturing companies.Fri, 15 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/wireless-surround-sound-speakers-the-futureLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeakers-when-is-good-enough-enough-part-3 In this, Part 3 in the series, I'd like my 30+ year journey through speaker design to illustrate how much of the knowledge was gained over long periods, by testing combinations and by following what others were doing to improve their systems. Hopefully it will become apparent that the journey of our industry in audio has been and continues to be an ever-fascinating learning experience…Mon, 06 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeakers-when-is-good-enough-enough-part-3Loudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/filter-crossover-types-for-loudspeakersThe filter type can be described in several different ways. Low-pass and high-pass filters in two-way crossover networks are often identified by their "Q". The Q is the resonance magnification of the filter and it is recognized by the shape of the "knee" of the amplitude response. Filters with a high Q tend to "ring" and exhibit poor transient response.Mon, 30 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/filter-crossover-types-for-loudspeakersLoudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeakers-when-is-good-enough-enough-part-1 Initially, the Audioholics topic that impressed most was their multi-part series on cables . After reading that series just about anyone who…Mon, 30 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeakers-when-is-good-enough-enough-part-1Loudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeakers-when-is-good-enough-enough-part-2In truth, it is very difficult to know for sure how a speaker by itself really sounds unless you can listen to it in an almost perfectly neutral room. Any listening situation short of that perfectly neutral room and you have no idea how much of what you're hearing is room and how much is the speaker.Mon, 30 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/loudspeakers-when-is-good-enough-enough-part-2Loudspeaker BasicsAV Universityhttp://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/series-vs-parallel-networks-first-order-comparisonDespite many of the myths that surround series networks and their acclaimed superiority over conventional parallel networks for loudspeaker design, both networks can be designed with identical transfer functions if the load impedance remains constant. Most of the claims regarding series networks are either grossly overstated or blatantly wrong and may cause deleterious effects on system performance.Mon, 30 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0000/education/loudspeaker-basics/series-vs-parallel-networks-first-order-comparisonLoudspeaker BasicsAV University