Ashly Electronic Amplifier none User Manual
Page 32
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SUMMARY
The ultimate goal of a sound system is the faithful reproduction of music and
speech without additional coloration. Having departed from the ideal single
speaker approch, we now have a number of variables which will influence the
overall
sound,
including
the
crossover,
amplifiers,
time
and
phase
errors
which
result
from
having
spatially
displaced
drivers,
and
the
individual
personalities
of
various
kinds
of
speakers
reproducing
overlapping
frequencies; an aluminum diaphram compression driver coupled to a fiberglass
horn will sound different than a paper cone woofer, even though both may be
reproducing the same frequency. Also, each speaker can be expected to have
significant
variations
in
its
frequency
response,
even
within
its
flattest
range. The summed acoustic response of a loudspeaker system therefore becomes
a function of the crossover, the amplifiers, the loudspeakers, and the room in
which it's all used. Of these, the loudspeakers and room acoustics remain, by
far, the greatest sources of error in typical installations.
We have given rough guidelines for setting up multiple loudspeakers, but
sometimes
even
the
most
minimal
attempts
at
speaker
alignment
will
be
difficult
to
implement.
For
example,
in
a
touring
sound
system,
first
consideration may have to be given to setting up the speaker stack in such a
way that it doesn't fall over or get in the way of a lighting truss, rather
than to optimum phase alignment. It's worthwhile to keep a sense of humor
when theorizing about the "perfect" speaker installation; the variables can be
overwhelini ng.
There is no "best" approach to sound reproduction, since every application
demands something unique from a system. A two-way passive system can sound
great, and a 7-way multiamplified system can also sound great. It's probably
true, however, that an unskilled operator can create more havoc with a complex
system than with a simple one, so the value of simplicity should not be
di smissed.
Just as there is no single best approach to sound reinforcement, there is no
single
best
crossover
characteristic
which
is
best
for
all
applications.
A
parametric-type
crossover,
offering
control
of
crossover
frequency,
filter
damping, and output levels, ensures enough flexibility to meet changing system
requi rements.
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