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RE: Just out of curiosity... why would I not start with the bass/mid?

68.103.9.72

Ron Oehlert

In Reply to: RE: Just out of curiosity... why would I not start with the bass/mid? posted by bruce.warren on November 30, 2007 at 02:08:05

Simply becuase those capacitors are in parallel with the woofer voice coil = the signal to voice coil does not pass thru them therefore they will have little effect on the sound produced by the voice coil. The tweeter capacitors DO pass signal direct to the tweeter voice coil however, that is WHY you should replace these 1st (if replacing any). Capacitors block low frequencys & pass high frequencies. Inductors (coils) pass low frequencies & block high frequencies. In the woofer filter circut, the inductor passes low frequncies to the woofer, blocking higher frequencies, & the additional capacitor siphons off those higher frequencies the inductor missed. In the tweeter circut, capacitors block dangerous low frequencies from the fragile tweeter & additional inductors siphon off low freqencies that make it thru those capacitors. Since no series crossover part cuts off frequencies abruptly like a brick wall, the additional parallel components are helpful in blocking unwanted frequencies. DO not damage the original parts in the event you do not care for the new voicing different parts will impart; in that way you can return to the original sound by putting the original parts back in. Exchanging crossover parts will not nor cannot increase sensitivity (more responsive @ lower Volume).

Edits: 11/30/07 11/30/07

Follow Ups:

That may make intuitive sense, but it's wrong. - h_h 18:10:52 12/02/07 (0)
The signal at any moment is an instantaneous voltage, and it's affected just as much by the component that it appears across as any component that it passes through. The capacitor and inductor pair in either the high or low pass section of a second order crossover form a frequency dependent voltage divider. There is no isolation of the components' effects; they work together as a unit which determines the signal that appears at the driver.

If you can replace the electrolytic with a non-electrolytic, that generally will improve the sound.
Thanks! So then, any benefit at all by addressing the bass/mid? - bruce.warren 09:59:36 12/02/07 (0)
Thank you for that helpful explanation. Pardon my ignorance, but if this is the case, why would I change out the capacitor at all in the bass/mid end of the crossover unit? It sounds like it would have no significant effect.

For example: if I try a set of caps in the tweeter section and really like the results (increase in texture/low level detail, transients), what, IF ANY changes might I hear by then changing the cap in the bass/mid section?
Oh, just to be picky.... - The Real Dick Hertz 16:33:30 11/30/07 (0)
Changing the woofer inductor to one with less resistance will increase sensitivity to some degree. Unfortunately it will change the crossover point for the woofer as well.

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