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Thread: Electronic Crossover Polarity

  1. #1
    smartpolo
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    Electronic Crossover Polarity

    When I use the second order passive crossover, the polarity of tweeter is inversed to keep the sonic in phase.Anyway, do I also need to inverse the polarity of the tweeter when I use the second order electronics crossover?

    Besides, does the polarity is need to change with different slopes (18, 24db/octave, etc.)

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    RIP 2011 Zilch's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by smartpolo
    Anyway, do I also need to inverse the polarity of the tweeter when I use the second order electronics crossover?
    In theory, yes, assuming it is separately crossed. You want to attempt to have all drivers operating in phase.

    Quote Originally Posted by smartpolo
    Besides, does the polarity is need to change with different slopes (18, 24db/octave, etc.)
    Not with 24dB, which yields 360° phase shift, i.e., back home again.

    18dB, I don't know what to do with. If you invert it, it'll behave like 6 dB with respect to phase, I suppose; either case can result in lobing and tilting of the coverage pattern. Whatever sounds best, maybe.

    Phase response also varies with the mechanical alignment of the drivers.

    What's the manual say?

  3. #3
    Senior Seņor boputnam's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zilch
    You want to attempt to have all drivers operating in phase.
    That is not necessarily so.

    All drivers operating in the same band-pass should definately be in-phase. That is, all LF's the same, all MF's the same, etc.

    However, it is relatively common in 3-ways that the MF is out-of-phase with the LF and HF. And in two-ways, the HF is most commonly out-of-phase with the LF. The cancellation in the crossover area(s) can improve imaging. Depends on the slopes, and the sound you like.
    bo

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  4. #4
    smartpolo
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    Quote Originally Posted by boputnam
    That is not necessarily so.

    All drivers operating in the same band-pass should definately be in-phase. That is, all LF's the same, all MF's the same, etc.

    However, it is relatively common in 3-ways that the MF is out-of-phase with the LF and HF. And in two-ways, the HF is most commonly out-of-phase with the LF. The cancellation in the crossover area(s) can improve imaging. Depends on the slopes, and the sound you like.
    Hi Boputnam, so you mean there is no need to reverse the polarity of tweeter when using second order electronic crossover. Now I 'm confusing, why I need to reverse the polarity to get the stage when using passive 2nd order crossover?


  5. #5
    Senior Seņor boputnam's Avatar
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    Yea, or, No.

    Try it both ways - there will be an acoustic difference. There is really no "right" or "wrong". The only areas of the frequency spectrum that are impacted are in the zone of crossover. Outside of that, the tweet will be operating in a frequency range without any chance of cancellation.

    There are subtle differences in each approach. It's much like what Zilch was saying. Drivers working out-of-phase with moderate crossover slopes can sound much like divers running in-phase using very steep crossover slopes. Do some listening. It is quite subjective, unless you are trying to replicate someone else's engineering - then you should follow their design.
    bo

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  6. #6
    RIP 2011 Zilch's Avatar
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    "Note: If the crossover point lies above 2 kHz, reversing the polarity of the high frequency driver will create little (if any) perceptible difference in system performance. The "correct" polarity in such a case will be that which yields the most natural quality with a variety of program material."
    So sayeth the JBL 5235 Electronic Crossover operating manual....

  7. #7
    smartpolo
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zilch
    So sayeth the JBL 5235 Electronic Crossover operating manual....
    Anyway, my crossover point is 500Hz, I think the polarity is important.

  8. #8
    Senior Seņor boputnam's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zilch
    Note: If the crossover point lies above 2 kHz, reversing the polarity of the high frequency driver will create little (if any) perceptible difference in system performance. The "correct" polarity in such a case will be that which yields the most natural quality with a variety of program material

    So sayeth the JBL 5235 Electronic Crossover operating manual....
    bo

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  9. #9
    Dang. Amateur speakerdave's Avatar
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    At lower frequencies I believe connecting drivers with opposite polarites is done to reverse the effects of phase change in the crossovers. That is, it puts the drivers back in phase. The original version of Drew Daniels' system is a good example.

    David

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    Quote Originally Posted by smartpolo
    When I use the second order passive crossover, the polarity of tweeter is inversed to keep the sonic in phase.Anyway, do I also need to inverse the polarity of the tweeter when I use the second order electronics crossover?

    Besides, does the polarity is need to change with different slopes (18, 24db/octave, etc.)

    Thanks!
    An excellent set of articles:

    http://sound.westhost.com/articles.htm

  11. #11
    Administrator Robh3606's Avatar
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    "Anyway, my crossover point is 500Hz, I think the polarity is important."

    Yes at 500Hz it sure is. Do you have an RTA?? What you can do is set up the system in phase with a 12db network and set-up to get the deepest null on the display when you have as much cancelation as you can get reverse phase. At 500 Hz it going to be very obvious which is correct as the null will be plainly vissible.

    1 pole network is 90 degrees 6db Try Both

    2 pole network is 180 degrees 12db network Typically change phase

    3 pole network is 270 degrees 18db Try Both

    4 pole network is 360 degrees 24db Typically same phase with delay

    Rob

  12. #12
    Administrator Robh3606's Avatar
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    "Note: If the crossover point lies above 2 kHz, reversing the polarity of the high frequency driver will create little (if any) perceptible difference in system performance. The "correct" polarity in such a case will be that which yields the most natural quality with a variety of program material."

    Hello Zilch

    Yes you should go with sounds best however you can see destructive cancellation right in the 1-2K region easilly with your RTA. Most pa cabinets with driver spacing and horn lenghts I can understand why they say that but with close driver spacing and direct drivers I would definitely take a look at what's going on with an RTA as an example and watch for any nulls.

    Rob

  13. #13
    Senior Seņor boputnam's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by speakerdave
    At lower frequencies I believe connecting drivers with opposite polarites is done to reverse the effects of phase change in the crossovers. That is, it puts the drivers back in phase. The original version of Drew Daniels' system is a good example.
    That may be in that example.

    However, on many I have measured at the cone output(s) using the Galaxy "Cricket" the MF is often out-of-phase with the LF. Thus, my posts, above. It's handy to actually measure what is going on, but then to let your ears decide...

    http://www.galaxyaudio.com/CRICKET.html

    Get 'em here: http://www.northernsound.net/Sales/t...o/cricket.html
    Attached Images Attached Images  
    bo

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  14. #14
    Steve Gonzales
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    Great info!

    Quote Originally Posted by Ian Mackenzie
    An excellent set of articles:

    http://sound.westhost.com/articles.htm
    Thank you Ian, just what I was looking for.

  15. #15
    Senior Seņor boputnam's Avatar
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    Yup.

    'specially the one on Phase, Time and Distortion in Loudspeakers with the section on Phase Audibility.
    http://sound.westhost.com/ptd.htm

    That website has long provided good stuff.
    bo

    "Indeed, not!!"

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