Listening and Crossover Tweaking

This Section Last Updated: 10-10-2005



I decided to start examining whether or not the 9K-20K region could be tamed a bit more. I don't want the crossover to be too complex. I want to keep it simple. The rise from 9K to 20K is what concerned me. It was almost a 5dB rise.

I also wanted to preserve the 6K-8K region. I don't want it to go any lower then it already was.

When i first started listening to the Olive with my powered subwoofer filling in the 140Hz and lower range i kept hearing break up around 8K-10K. I would run a sweep and everything was sounding good until it got into the 8-10K range. Once past this range everything was fine again.

My initial response was to blame the crossover and that 10-20K region. I thought it was pushing the driver past it's limits.

So i started lowering that range with a .10mH inductor and a .20mH inductor.




Crossover Number 1
Here is the measured crossover response (red) with Soundeasy's predicted response (black) for the original crossover.



Crossover Number 2
This is the response with a .10mH inductor after the RLC component. The inductor brings things down some.



Crossover Number 3
This is with a .20mH inductor. The inductor really brings the response down but also brings the 5K-10K range down much further then i wanted it to.

What i ended up figuring out is my break up that i kept hearing was from the driver mounting in the cabinet. I was going in the complete wrong direction by adjusting the crossover.

I had some rope caulk on hand that i use for sealing the driver in the cabinet. As soon as i added that the break up (vibration) was gone.

Now what i still have to decided is what crossover to use for the final product. I am going to use crossover 1 for right now. As i listen to it over time i might toss in the .1mH inductor that i used in crossover 2.

---[UPDATE]---
After listening for a while i have stuck with crossover number 1.


I have the parts on order to build the subwoofer that will go with the Olives. To give you a preview i will be using the Dayton sheilded 5.25" (295-300) driver in a vented .8ft^3 box aiming for an F3 of 36Hz. I will also be using the KG-3100 2.1 Media Amplifier (50W & 2x 25W) that Madisound sells. This unit will power both the Olives and the subwoofer.

Project Sections:
The Olives
1. Turn Baby Turn
2. Olive Tuning
3. Listening and Crossover Tweaking
4. Square vs. Round
5. Subwoofer
6. Olive Painting
7. Finished Project



All designs and original content posted on these pages are Copyright © 2006 Chad Gray, All Rights Reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced in any form without written or email consent from the author. These designs are free for non-commercial use.