Talking Crossovers - Video 1 - Our Hearing | Frequency Response Graph | DIY Passive Crossover

This is video number 1 on the series "Talking Crossovers".
I started to record those videos after several of the comments asked about crossovers. Here I'm gonna share as much as I can about how those things work, why we use them and how do I develop and build them. At the end I hope to develop the crossovers for a specific speaker that I'm gonna design for this task, using Xsim computer software and others as necessary.
LINKS FROM PARTNERS
DOUGLAS BLAKE
Audio info Page - dbpages.ca
Downloads - dbpages.ca/xover/
NEIL BLANCHARD
www.nbdesigns....
I'm gonna start using Xsim Crossover software soon.
INTERESTING VIDOES ON FREQUENCY RESPONSE / CROSSOVERS
Speakerscott
• Passive Crossover Desi...
Audio Science Review
• Understanding Audio Fr...
Erin's Audio Corner
• What Is Frequency Resp...
James Zhan
• Don’t Be Fooled! How t...
Post your questions on the comment section we are gonna try and answer it all.
Thanks for watching!!!
- INSTAGRAM -
/ sonnoradesign
- CONNECT -
[e-mail]
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[@tonydelvecchio1431]

Great stuff I’ve watched several other videos without actually grasping the concepts. This is the best explanation I’ve seen so far please keep making videos.

[@sonnoradesign]

Thanks again Tony. I’ll keep it going.

[@robertdeatrick3391]

Thank you for the tutorial. You make a complicated subject easy to understand. That’s just what I need. You have to write in big block letters with crayon for me. 😅. Can t wait for the follow-up videos.

[@sonnoradesign]

Haha! Right! Thanks for the input Robert!

[@NeilBlanchard]

An important principle that is involved in many ways in audio electronics - is how a current flowing in a conductor forms a magnetic field around the conductor. And when you form a conductor (wire) into a coil, that magnetic field is stengthened - and is critical to several things along the audio chain. It is how a microphone works, and how a speaker works; and how a phono cartridge works. It is how a transformer works, and how an inductor coil in a crossover works. Knowing the so-called Right Hand Rule is important to understanding how coils (mic. speaker, inductor) work - if the current is flowing around the coil, you curl the fingers on your right hand in that direction, then your right thumb points in the direction the north pole of the magnetic field.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

Hey Neil! One little quibble... the right hand rule only works for DC. On an AC circuit like a speaker the poles will be flipping back and forth in step with the signal.

[@NeilBlanchard]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 Right - at any given moment in time, the magnetic field generated by one of the frequencies in the signal will follow the Right Hand Rule. And it does reverse direction twice per AC cycle. At all the frequencies that are in the music signal at a given moment. And as you know, this is how it impedes the higher frequencies from passing through the inductor coil.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@NeilBlanchard Yep, I do know how it works. But I don't think I've ever used the right hand rule on anything running on AC.

[@1980JPA]

Been excited for a new vid 😁. Thanks so much for covering crossovers. As a woodworker the actual construction of a speaker is no problem and I can be highly creative, but none of that matters if the crossover isn't correct. A vid (or series) containing a very simplified explanation of crossovers that covers all the way to how to create them has been badly needed on KZbin for a while. Thanks for tackling what can be a very confusing subject.

[@sonnoradesign]

Hey there! Thanks for watching JPA. It really is super intense haha. I’ll keep going soon.

[@turbo2092]

Thank you for this video, the simplification of a crossover at the end perfectly explained it. Looking forward to your coming videos regarding this so I can better understand the reasoning behind which capacitors and inductors are used and why. Keep it up!

[@sonnoradesign]

Thanks Turbo! I’m glad you liked it.

[@PhillioDoede]

Nice. I like relating it to instruments and real sound, I like where this is going.

[@sonnoradesign]

Thanks for the input Phillip!!

[@mikerhodes9198]

I can read a schematic and I can follow instructions of assembly and soldering is no issue but 'the why' of the selected components and design differences has escaped me for decades. I am so looking forward to this series and part 1 sets the stage. Thank you for taking the time to go over this.

[@sonnoradesign]

Thanks for the input Mike. I’ve been a little busy at work but video 2 is coming soon!! I hope haha

[@TheVTRainMan]

Amazing start to this series. I've watched several of your videos before now. They were all entertaining and informative. But, I always feel like I am missing something. I can tell already, that by the end of this series, I won't be. Very well done! Thanks so much for taking the time! It's going to be the best day ever! 🤟 Liked, subscribed and notifications are on!

[@sonnoradesign]

Thanks for sharing RainMan and for watching. I’m glad you liked and subscribed!

[@pedrogomezvazquez5606]

Una vez más, gracias por tus videos. Simplemente Impecable, expuesto de forma que los neófitos comprendamos los entresijos de los gráficos de respuesta de frecuencias. Espero impaciente el siguiente. Bravo!

[@sonnoradesign]

Gracias Pedro!! Ya estoy trabajando para el próximo vídeo!!!

[@PatParvum]

Super helpful starting from the basics. Nice touch with the guitar. Thanks. Looking forward to your next video 👍.

[@sonnoradesign]

Hey Pat!! Thanks for watching!!

[@middleearthltd]

Enjoyed this. Waiting for #2

[@sonnoradesign]

Yeah! Thanks my friend! It’s coming!!

[@kinsg8729]

Fantastic explanation 🙏 FROM INDIA

[@sonnoradesign]

Thanks my friend!!!

[@chevyimp5857]

Really appreciate the time and effort ou put into your videos.. thanks

[@sonnoradesign]

Thanks Chevy!! Hope I can get back soon!

[@johnlindley3622]

Great explanation looking forward to the next vid

[@sonnoradesign]

Hey John! Thanks for watching my friend!

[@raphysoucy83]

Amazing teacher!! 👍 Thank you!

[@sonnoradesign]

Thanks my friend!!

[@GabolovesPam]

This is the best day ever

[@sonnoradesign]

Woohoo! That’s right.

[@luizpustiglione1269]

Demorou para eu descobrir vc aqui. Mas seus vídeos são muito bons. Tentando encontrar informações para fazer os speakers da maneira que eu gosto. Sua banda também era ótima. Um grande abraço de Houston.

[@sonnoradesign]

Fala Luís! Que beleza! Haha. Bom que está por aqui. Vc mora em Houston então? Vamos com tudo! Valeu

[@vilelafelipe]

Greetings from Brazil! Thank you!! Awesome content.

[@sonnoradesign]

Valeu Felipe!! Vamo com tudo!

[@vilelafelipe]

@@sonnoradesign wtf! Brasileiro??

[@diyfullrangehifispeakers]

Hi great video my friend. You nailed the basics and didn't go too fast and assume you audience already know things. I learned about octaves and how they relate to frequencies. No one has done that. So thanks. Another key matter that others skip over is how a capacitor filters lf and how an inductor filters hf. Neil touches on that in his comment so I hope you touch on that in the next video. And short of using computer software is there a rule of thumb for selecting a capacitor and inductor as a first try. Not everyone has a DATS analyser to measure speaker parameters to use in the softwate. Keep up the good work. I look forward to your next class. ☮️🇦🇺

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

First, you should head into the description panel above, visit the Downloads link (We've set up a special files list for this series). Grab the the Samples file, unzip it and spend some time getting familiar with the pitch of various octaves, decades and the piano keyboard. You can also read more about this in my "What you are hearing" essay on the website link. The designer's "rule of thumb" you're looking for involves doing some pretty heavy math, manually calculating crossover frequencies, reactance and impedance to match your drivers by specifications. Not fun... let the software do it for you. The lesson plan we worked out will show you what each of the main parts does in an AC circuit in part 2. The goal has been to keep it very simple, no monster math or complex lessons in electronics. You don't actually need to know what a capacitive time constant or inductive sustain is all about to use them properly in a circuit. You really just need to understand their behaviour. (That is: it is far more helpful to know what they do than to know how they do it.) If you want to get a jump on that you can go to the downloads link install XSim (if you don't already have it) and then take Filters101. I created Filters101 as a demonstration of each of the basic filter types. With Filters101 loaded into XSim you can activate each filter separately by dragging a jumper resistor into position and observe the effects of the parts. You can also tamper with it by changing the part values and see the results immediately. That will give you about 50% of what you need to know to create a working crossover. The rest comes from knowing when and how to use each filter type.

[@diyfullrangehifispeakers]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 thanks douglas I'll dive in.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@diyfullrangehifispeakers Best of luck with it. Crossovers are simple, blunt, devices... but even 20 years into it, I still learn new tricks all the time.

[@sonnoradesign]

Thank you my friend! I hope o can keep adding cause it’s hard to find clear info on crossovers. Yes, not everyone has DATs so we have to go over how to start your own crossover reading schematics, or using someone else’s measurements. I’ll go over it! Thanks for the input!!

[@pavelzemanek6071]

Greetings from Czech republic! Also thanks for really nice content and the way how you handle it , step by step from basis. What I would like to ask you is to explain difference in serial and paralel crossowers and calculation of the values for capacitors and coils in serial connection. Thanks!👍

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

I'm sure Bernardo plans to cover Parallel and Series crossovers in an upcoming installment. It's something best done with images... which we can't do in the comments. As for the part values in a series crossover: Taking the standard 2 way design with a woofer and tweeter in series, a coil (L) across the tweeter and a capacitor (C) across the woofer as an example... 1) Choose your crossover frequency (F) to be low enough to avoid cone breakup in the woofer but high enough that you're not putting undue stress on the tweeter. This will be determined from the specs for the drivers you are using. 2) The crossover occurs when the impedance of the capacitor (Xc) is equal to the impedance of the woofer and the impedance of the coil (Xl) is equal to the impedance of the tweeter. With 8 ohm drivers that means Xc = Xl = 8. 3) This forms two 4 ohm impedances in series still giving you 8 ohms overall. It also means that the output from the woofer and tweeter at the crossover point will be equal, but 3db less than maximum, which when summed gives you an even frequency response. 2 * pi == 6.28 for these calclulations. The Calculation for C is 1 / (6.28 * F * Xc) producing an answer in farads. Mulitiply by 1,000,000 to get MicroFarads. The calculation for L is Xl / (6.28 * F) producing an answer in henries. Multiply by 1,000,000 to get an answer in MicroHenries. So if you're shooting for a 2,000hz crossover with 8 ohm drivers... C = 1 / (6.28 * 2000 * 8) * 1,000,000 == 9.95 uf L = 8 / (6.28 X 2000) * 1,000,000 == 636 uh This of course is not "cut and dry". It is, at best, a starting point from which you can adjust values up and down to get the response you seek. To get the more complex -- massively more complex -- math that takes driver characteristics into account, you will find yourself getting far fewer headaches doing this by modelling in XSim.

[@sonnoradesign]

Hey there mate! Sure. It’s gonna come soon. We gonna work on parallel for now but series later on.

[@JR-ho5qm]

Fantastic so far! I have watched and read a bit on crossovers, but it still mostly lands over my head. I’m thinking your video series will definitely help me understand crossovers and Frequency response better thanks!

[@sonnoradesign]

Thanks for watching JR! I hope it keeps helping.

[@kurtmeer]

thanks for posting!! you got me started!!!!

[@sonnoradesign]

Thank you Kurt!!

[@gerardpastorelli4389]

As usual my friend Perfect Tks for sharing.

[@sonnoradesign]

Hey Gerard!! How’s it going? Thanks again my friend!

[@gerardpastorelli4389]

@@sonnoradesign Brainstorming my new project with Morel drivers.

[@sonnoradesign]

Wow!! Sounds like fun!

[@hitnorcal]

So helpful

[@sonnoradesign]

Glad you think so! Thanks my friend.

[@04EbonyLTD]

This is a very useful video. I knew about the different notes on the scale, but didn't understand octaves until now. Looking forward to the next installment, as I would like to build at least one set of speakers myself.

[@sonnoradesign]

That’s right! Let’s make those speakers!

[@cristhianpuert]

Great work! 🎉

[@sonnoradesign]

Thanks Christian!

[@TomZelickman]

I've been waiting for this series for a while now... Thank you for doing this! Hope all is well there.

[@sonnoradesign]

What’s up Tom?? I’m glad it’s working. Crossovers finally!

[@fepemi]

Gracias Bernardo por la información. Creo que será la mejor serie de videos sobre Crossover de KZbin. Saludos

[@sonnoradesign]

Much as gracias!!

[@earlfenwick]

Ok, I am glad to know the difference between coils and capacitors. I guess our resistors will throw us a curve next time?

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

Resistors are simple attenuation, they exhbit a constant value at all frequencies. Capacitors are frequency dependent, their resistance lowers as frequency increases. Coils are also frequency dependent, their resistance increases as frequency increases. Pretty simple, really.

[@sonnoradesign]

That’s right!! Doug just nailed it!

[@daiblaze1396]

Nailed it ! Interesting and entertaining. Can't wait for next part.

[@sonnoradesign]

Yeah! Thanks for watching. It’s coming soon!

[@lamarevans8881]

Great start! Thanks for putting this together.

[@sonnoradesign]

Good to hear!! Thanks mate!

[@3limin4torZockt]

Helping a lot!

[@sonnoradesign]

Thanks a lot my friend

[@-martintheengineer-7465]

👍

[@sonnoradesign]

Thanks for watching!!

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

For those who might be interested in a bit of "ear training" check the Downloads link in the description panel. The file called "Samples" is a series of pure tone sound samples showing octave, decade and piano markers used in audio design. You should be able to play them on any media player.

[@jobbagyferi]

Could you make a video about the process of testing? When the box is ready. Do you connect the speakers without crossover to find out hot it behaves in the box one by one? Or directly with the crossover and measure that way? Or both?

[@sonnoradesign]

Hey there! Yes I have to measure the drivers in the box first and get the frd and zma files, then I go to the crossover software!

[@genehammond7239]

👍👍

[@sonnoradesign]

Thanks for watching!!

[@dBtje1980]

Hey my friend. I Hope you are fine there. I miss your videos.

[@sonnoradesign]

Hey there my friend! I miss it too. I’ve been working too much but there is new stuff coming soon!!! Thanks

[@carlosameno7956]

Hello!!!! sorry for the language! I live in Brazil! Your explanation is very good, you have know-how. There is no option for a tower box here, it is expensive, I would like to make one to listen to Pink Floyd classics, using two SB Acoustics SB16PFCR25-4 6" and a tweeter, what do you think?

[@sonnoradesign]

Fala Carlos. Sou brasileiro também! Sim, SB acoustics é muito bom, fiquei surpreso quando ouvi a primeira vez. Da uma olhada no vídeo ta Transmission Line, MLTL-6 com SB muito bom. Valeu

[@carlosameno7956]

Olá my friend! Hahaha! Fico feliz em saber. Vou olhar sim. Sabe como é, aqui no Brasil não tem como construir nada, o governo corrupto da qui tá levando o país cada dia pior, mais imposto na importação etc... Aqui não se acha um subwoofer e twitter de qualidade com preço bom, pelo contrário má qualidade e preço exorbitante. Assim que der quero visitar um amigo na Polônia...

[@sonnoradesign]

@@carlosameno7956eu sei bem como é. Com o dólar a 5 fica dureza mesmo. Qua do eu sai daí ainda dava para comprar falantes, dólar estava 2 para 1. Na Europa tem o Soundimports que tem todo o material que eu uso aqui. Is caras são bem legais!!!

[@carlosameno7956]

​@@sonnoradesign obrigado! CHR Tower Speakers é top demais, ocupa menos espaço, vou tentar fazer uma, para ouvir os clássicos de Pink Floyd.

[@sonnoradesign]

Beleza!! Qualquer dúvida me chama!!

[@user-fd1505]

Вы очень круто делайте. Я хочу стать вашим учеником. Меня зовут Денис, Я из России, хотелось чтобы меня обучили и также продавать в России как бюджет так и vip класс

[@sonnoradesign]

Hey Denis. E mail me at [e-mail] let’s see what can we do! Hehe

[@user-fd1505]

Есть ли у вас telegram или WhatsApp?

[@sonnoradesign]

I don’t use those. Send me a email [e-mail]