A DEQX-HD configuration provides
the same features mentioned earlier but utilises its active
crossover outputs. In order to achieve the ultimate performance from
any loudspeaker design, DEQX-HD corrects each driver individually.
It then combines the necessary time and frequency domain correction
with DEQX’s linear-phase
crossovers that can essentially eliminate the loss of resolution caused
by traditional passive and active crossovers:
We have been patient
with the performance of loudspeakers for a long time, when compared
to the performance of every other component in the audio chain. The
loudspeaker alone has kept the High Definition ‘Being
there’ experience elusive, even after heroic efforts and the
highest prices. Finally this experience is available reliably, and
affordably! The benefits of going to DEQX-HD’s active
architecture are extraordinary, because DEQX’s unique amplitude
and time correction are added to the advantages of going active! The
result is a raft of improvements that are necessary to provide the
HD listening experience!
Individual control over each driver: DEQX-HD’s active crossovers provide a signal to a separate amplifier
for each driver, such as a woofer and tweeter. The audio signal has
been reconstructed from its basic sine-wave
components to allow both frequency-response
(amplitude) and phase (time) correction to occur at thousands of
frequencies independently and simultaneously! This is the only way
that is possible to correct amplitude, time and phase differently for
thousands of frequencies simultaneously. DEQX_HD processing introduces
only 0.00001% distortion (-140dB) in the digital domain! By contrast, ‘passive’ crossovers
must separate and distribute amplified bass, mid and high
frequencies to their respective drivers, with no ability to compensate
for even the most gross errors and distortion that each driver introduces.
Reduced
high frequency distortion: DEQX-HD’s active crossovers
can provide far steeper slopes than normal passive,
active or digital crossovers to ensure frequencies are quarantined to where the drivers
behave best. Bass energy that causes tweeters to distort is withheld,
allowing the crossover frequency to be reduced so that its speed
and character matches the mid/bass driver’s at the crossover
frequency. resolution better matches the tweeter can provide more
highs at lower distortion than is possible from the mid/woofer.
Reduced mid-range distortion: We are used to hearing tweeters strain
to provide a significant degree of midrange frequencies, which passive
(shallow) crossovers force them to do, however reluctantly. A bass/mid
driver is deigned for mid-range however, so DEQX-HD can direct all
mid-range frequencies to it, while protecting it from distortion-causing
low-bass energy. Meanwhile, crossover-distortion such as comb-filtering
is audibly eliminated because drivers are precisely time-aligned
and interaction between drivers is over a very narrow frequency region
in any event if steep crossovers are used.
Reduced bass distortion: Good bass resolution requires minimizing
room reflections of bass energy and relieving low-bass energy from
smaller bass and mid-range drivers. DEQX-HD minimizes bass distortion
from drivers by directing all low-bass energy to the sub-woofer/s
or low bass drivers rather than forcing the smaller drivers to share
the load in the way that passive crossovers insist they must! DEQX
also facilitates the easy integration of one or two sub-woofers by
providing a high-pass, time aligned filter to the main speakers,
to relieve them of bass energy that can increase their distortion.
The use of two Subwoofers is advantageous because it allows higher
sub-main crossover frequencies and if room-corner loaded, they provide
more coherent bass that can be synchronized to main speakers placed
several feet in front of them, in both time and amplitude, minimizing
the need for complex room correction.
More natural dispersion: Naturally occurring sound from most musical instruments and even
voice tend to distribute all frequencies in all directions – omnidirectionally.
However speaker drivers only do this until their diameter causes
higher frequencies to ‘beam’ forward
only. A 6” mid/woofer increasingly beams frequencies forward
above about 2KHz, whereas a 1” tweeter remains omnidirectional
until its starts to beam noticeably above about 10KHz. DEQX-HD’s
steep linear-phase crossovers can be made to quarantines each drivers
output to where its dispersion remains similarly omnidirectional
to naturally occurring sound. This not only makes the speakers
sound more natural from anywhere in our listening room, but even
the sweet-spot will sound more realistic due to the more ‘expected’ room
reverberation contribution.
Accurate amplitude with frequency
balance: Only DEQX-HD active crossovers correct frequency-response
precisely at thousands of frequencies simultaneously.
Group delay
correction: In addition to perfect time alignment, only DEQX-HD
active also corrects the absolutely critical issues of timing
phase and group-delay differently for thousands of frequencies simultaneously.
Driver
isolation: Only DEQX-HD active additionally provides linear-phase filters
in the crossovers up to 300db/octave to isolate or minimise driver
interaction.
Affordable amplifiers: Only the most heroic amplifiers can
drive the ten-octave range of a passive speaker almost flawlessly,
so these tend to be extraordinarily expensive. DEQX-HD active allows
far simpler amplifiers to be chosen for what they do best. This is because
amplifiers used with DEQX-HD only need to operate perfectly over the
three to five octave range that each individual driver type requires.
They are also not asked to drive ‘reactive’ crossover
electronics found in passive speakers. This especially
reduces the dynamic and power related distortion and intermodulation
distortion that we hear, but traditional measurement
techniques don’t
measure.
Goes louder: Since DEQX-HD’s steeper crossovers quarantine
energy to the frequencies where each driver performs
best, it follows that distortion is usually lower compared to
passive configurations, meaning that volume levels can be increased,
sometimes dramatically, before equivalent distortion
sets in! This means less drivers, less cost, physically less intrusive
for better W.A.F. (Wife Acceptance Factor), and remembering
that DEQX-HD provides mono and stereo sub-woofer integration
that allow high resolution compact 2-way designs to
perform better than enormous audiophile floor standers…regardless
of price!
DEQX-HD takes active to its logical conclusion:
The PDC-2.6P and PDC-2.6 can both provide DEQX-HD crossovers for
up to 3-way speaker designs. A recommended configuration is 2-way main
speakers integrated with dual sub-woofers for coherent low bass in
the room. Its steep crossovers essentially eliminate crossover distortion
by providing steep slopes from 24dB/ocatave to 300dB/octave, with sub
to bass slopes of typically 60dB/oct and bass to tweeter slopes of
100dB/octave. The steepest slopes can be used when using drivers whose
sound character and dispersion characteristics are similar at the chosen
crossover frequency. Fortunately DEQX-HD makes this easier because
steep slopes also the lower crossover frequencies necessary to allow
this more transparent transition.
The difference between DEQXs High
Definition™ “being there” loudspeaker
performance and today’s passive speakers can be as dramatic
as the difference between standard definition (SD) TV and HDTV where
improvements are obvious to everyone! DEQX-HD Calibrated™ now
makes this affordable for every type of loudspeaker system.
DEQX is
used to provide the ultimate listening reference standard in some
of the worlds most prestigious mastering
studios Now
anyone can incorporate DEQX Calibrated™ and DEQX-HD Calibrated™ processing
to experience the most transparent and accurate listening experience
possible. |
