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  1. #26
    Shostakovich fan Feanor's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Anderson
    ...
    Can someone tell me what is the precise definition of "crossover frequency"? I understand what it means generally, but what is it exactly?
    ...
    Do the signals from the two sources always sum linearly? If so, then when the sub and the satellites have two different slopes, it's impossible to pick a crossover frequency that gives a flat response, correct?
    There are various crossover "alignments" which others can better explain than I can. However roughly speaking the crossover is where the signal is -3 decibels. The slopes are generally defined in terms of decibels per octave of attenuation; these a discussed in terms of "orders" of crossover:
    • 1st order: 6dB/octave
    • 2nd order: 12dB/octave
    • 3rd order: 18dB/octave
    • 4th order: 24dB/octave
    • and so on ...
    No, the two sources don't necessarily sum linearly. It depends on the phase shift that is induced by the crossover. Active crossovers, which we have mostly been talking about, are designed to avoid the phase shift, (or so I understand -- I'm no engineer).

    But all passive crossovers, (like the one inside the MMG), induce phase shift. Again, it relates to the "order". Each order induces a 90 degree difference in phase between the low and high pass signals. Hence a 2nd order crossover induces a 180 degree phase difference between the two -- which leads to complete cancellation at the crossover point In this case the remedy is to invert the polarity of one of the drivers

  2. #27
    Forum Regular Mike Anderson's Avatar
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    ^^ OK, I get it, thanks for taking the time to explain this to me.

    Speaking of phase, I had assumed that as long as I kept my subwoofer perfectly aligned with the MMGs, I wouldn't have to worry about phase on the subwooofer, and just set it to zero. Is that incorrect?

  3. #28
    Shostakovich fan Feanor's Avatar
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    Should be OK

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Anderson
    ^^ OK, I get it, thanks for taking the time to explain this to me.

    Speaking of phase, I had assumed that as long as I kept my subwoofer perfectly aligned with the MMGs, I wouldn't have to worry about phase on the subwooofer, and just set it to zero. Is that incorrect?
    The sub and MMGs should have no problem with phase if the fronts of the speakers line up within 1/4 of a wave length around the crossover point. At 80Hz that's 3.5 feet and more at lower frequencies, so it's not too difficult.

  4. #29
    Forum Regular Mike Anderson's Avatar
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    ^^ That's what I had assumed (deduced?), thanks for the confirmation, and for your other advice.

    I find this forum an invaluable resource -- my gratitude goes to you all for making it so.

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