EM Acoustics MSE-118 Quake horn loaded subwoofer - Manual (Page 8)

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MSE-118 Quake User Manual
www.emacoustics.co.uk
Delay Times
Quake is a long horn subwoofer, and as such the drive unit is effectively sitting some distance behind the
enclosure when thinking in time. To compensate for this, your system delays should delay your mid/high
enclosures back to line up with the Quakes, otherwise the response from the system will be muddy and incoherent.
Exact delay times will vary depending on the product being used with the Quakes, and the physical orientation.
Time alignment is relatively easy to check using your ears, however for exact alignment a software package such
as SMAART or RoomTools will show whether the Quakes are properly aligned with your mid/high enclosures.
The physical delay time for a Quake due to the horn length is 7.97 milliseconds. This time needs to be applied to
your system controller, and if using a bi or tri-amplified mid/high system, it will need to be added to the delay
times for the mid high that are already in place if such times exist. Please note that the actual delay time required
to line Quakes up with your chosen mid/high system will vary depending on the low pass filter frequency and slope
used with the Quake. A frequency generator can help to line your system up properly at the crossover point.
Testing in various configurations and using your ears is the key aspect here – as Quake is so flexible and has so
much headroom you can experiment with delay to create the sound you want.