Ultimate analogue tone control or an audiophool overkill? :)

[csom]

Seems I am obsessed with active amplifiers due to their amazing sound quality. That day I found a new 3 way active X-over post on construyasuvideorockola.com
Construcción de un crossover activo de tres vias
It has independent frequency and volume controls for individual outputs.
I decided to give it a try as I had all the components in my inventory.
I was eager to test it quickly and I added the 3 outputs to a summing amplifier ( again built using the circuit designed by costuyasuvideorockola.com. )
http://construyasuvideorockola.com/proy_sumador.php
I am using this arrangement as a tone control for the time being for testing.
It is giving an awesome result as a tone control module. ( I have no scope etc. to measure but my ears are more than happy with the performance )
I tested with NE5532 and got excellent result. But for some reason this has a start up problem with NE5532. But once started it's working impeccably.
And with the recommended Op-amps, the circuit is working very nicely.

Just wanted to share with you all.
Please feel free to give your precious experienced opinion regarding this arrangement, its pros and cons, the dreamy side and the seamy side.
Thank you all.

 

[csom]

Ok. Here is an update that I want to share with you all who are interested in this project.

I just put the whole thing in a metal cabinet and tested the module with a DIY Stereo amp built using TDA2050.
I'm getting very deep bass, dynamic mid, and superb high and that with two cheap passive 3 way car speakers in not very grammatically built sealed enclosures.

If you are planning to discard your old speakers and thinking about a serious and costly upgrade, think again before spending a fortune. Give this module a try first.

It's very easy and very cheap if you can make PCBs in your bedroom lab just like me. And you can find most of the components in your inventory like TLO82, TLO72, C4558 op-amps, 7812 regulator ,7912 regulator and the value of the resistors and capacitors are common too.

I am quite sure that you will re-discover your existing STEREO speaker system with this tone control module and fall in love with them again.

Go ahead and build it! I highly recommend it.

 

[csom]

I added the output of the module to my DIY Stereo LM3886 amp ( built using Mr Mile's circuit, "Apex Gainclone" ) and I'm really enjoying the sound!

Here is some more information on the connection procedure in the 3d representation of the module.

 

[csom]

A block diagram of the module.

 

[sreten]

Hi,

There are much simpler ways of making shelving EQ.

rgds, sreten.

 

[csom]

Hi,

There are much simpler ways of making shelving EQ.

rgds, sreten.

Thank you Sreten for your input.

I have some questions here.

I personally built several DIY Equalizers earlier and posted here.

a) http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/atta...ic-line-eq-preamps-ml3-first-set-complete.jpg

b) http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/atta...2v-battery-powered-mini-boombox-3-band-eq.jpg

c) http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/atta...64806-mic-line-eq-preamps-yiroshis-design.jpg

d) http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/atta...zer-sos-eq-perf-board-except-buffer-stage.jpg

e) http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/atta...c-equalizer-sos-4-caps-added-eq-prototype.jpg

f) http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/atta...5-band-equalizer-need-help-5-band-eq-made.jpg

But this one is just brilliant and outperformed all. So I wanted to share with all. I waited for more than one month to get comments. But unfortunately none except you did so.
And I got 2 votes in favour of this arrangement too.
So I thought it's good to proceed with this.

I agree there are many simpler ways of making a Shelving EQ. But is there any Ready to build project for an average DIYer/hobbist except this one?
Next, how effective are they performance wise? Many a time those posts miss a much needed listening impression.

Though some offer very professional circuit diagrams on their website, they don't post the PCB layouts or a befitting PSU for the circuit due to many reasons. So they are either incomplete or use not easily available components. Moreover, making a PCB from those circuits is really a pain and prone to be problematic without proper skill thus lead to utter frustration in many cases. I experienced this before.

I hope you have looked into the circuit diagrams of this EQ. Kindly give it a second look. Isn't it a simple design?

I recommended this project to newcomers because of the following reasons.

1. It's a very low cost project. It won't hurt their pockets much.

2. The design is tested and will definitely work.

3. The PCB layout is very neatly done and can be housed easily in a metal enclosure.

4. The website Construyasuvideorockola.com is really and exceptionally well documented both with text and video for even absolute newcomers. And as an added bonus, they provide the trouble shooting part too.

5.The effect obtained by using this module is truly unique. I am amazed at its performance. As far as my memory scans the past, I read a post here about the performance of a 3 Way active crossover network. The Poster said in a light hearted spirit that he heard an 3 way active speaker system and it sounded to him like a very good passive X-over system. But now I realize he was right. This module sound extremely well even with a passive speaker system.

Ok, enough prattling on my part. I would like to request you to kindly simulate the arrangement posted here, and if possible build it yourself and please do post your review after that. And I am 100% confident that your review will contain at least one "WOW".

Thank you.

 

[csom]

Usually it's very difficult to record a video of the actual performance of a tone control module especially with a cheap cell phone camera.
The tonal changes are not perceptible to the viewer in most of the cases.

But here in this video you can clearly feel the difference when the Low, Mid and High control pots are being operated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEroGJpsvUo

 

[Michael Bean]

What order filters does that active crossover have? I suspect they may be 2nd order, and if so, summing the outputs that way won't work, you end up with deep nulls at the crossover frequencies.

Mike

 

[csom]

What order filters does that active crossover have? I suspect they may be 2nd order, and if so, summing the outputs that way won't work, you end up with deep nulls at the crossover frequencies.

Mike

Hi Mike,
Thank you for your response.

I quickly gave a second look at the original documentation.
And you are right.
It is a second order one.

Though I tested the summing module with my satisfaction but you have better experience/expertise than I have.

I will re-check again for the nulls if there is any and report you back.

I needed your this post immediately after creating this thread. But, well, better late than never.

Thanks again.

 

[mrklancer]

Seems I am obsessed with active amplifiers due to their amazing sound quality. That day I found a new 3 way active X-over post on construyasuvideorockola.com
Construcción de un crossover activo de tres vias
It has independent frequency and volume controls for individual outputs.
I decided to give it a try as I had all the components in my inventory.
I was eager to test it quickly and I added the 3 outputs to a summing amplifier ( again built using the circuit designed by costuyasuvideorockola.com. )
http://construyasuvideorockola.com/proy_sumador.php
I am using this arrangement as a tone control for the time being for testing.
It is giving an awesome result as a tone control module. ( I have no scope etc. to measure but my ears are more than happy with the performance )
I tested with NE5532 and got excellent result. But for some reason this has a start up problem with NE5532. But once started it's working impeccably.
And with the recommended Op-amps, the circuit is working very nicely.

Just wanted to share with you all.
Please feel free to give your precious experienced opinion regarding this arrangement, its pros and cons, the dreamy side and the seamy side.
Thank you all.

Hi.. could you post the full circuit diagram pls