DC offset affect on biamped speakers

daly2k · 2nd July 2006, 12:12 PM

I need some feedback on the following issue. I just finished a line array speaker project that was designed to be eventually bi-amped. I plan to use my Aleph 1.2's for the tweeters and my Pass/tharagard A-75 for the mid bass. I have 12-5" ribbon tweeters and 12-5" eton mid bass drivers and I am currently using a crossover pt of 2600hz at 24db. I want to get a digital DEQX system to help with room problems and then use a digital crossover set pt at 96db anywhere from 21-- to --3000hz depending on the sound.

The question is that for the tweeter array I currently have capacitors in the crossover that block DC from the amps on turn on or the usual dc offset. My aleph's offset is less than 50mv and my pass A75 is less than 20mv after warm up. My speaker drivers are series-parallel connected to give me 6.2 ohms. When biamping the amps will be hooked up directly to the speaker drivers with no crossover protection as it is now infront of the amps. Using the equation of V=IA, I get .050v/6ohms=.008ma. With 12 tweeters sharing the load does anyone think I should put a cap in front of the tweeters for protection from DC offset. I am not worried about the midbass drivers as they can take the abuse but with Fountex ribbon tweeters at $100 a pop, I am a bit nervous. I will install fuses in my Alephs for short circuit protection and my A-75 already output fuses. thanks for any advice. dave

harryeng · 3rd July 2006, 10:35 AM

Hi dave,

I do not longer own a DEQX anymore, (building a MOX) but when you look in the Yahoo group for owners, you will find a lot of best practices.

One of the best practices is to use a capacitor as protection for your tweeters. A lot can go wrong! The capacitor not only protects against DC, but will also help the DEQX. The lowpass will also reduce the calculation time, leaving more room in delay functionality. (You will understand this when you get your DEQX)

Greetings, Harry

daly2k · 3rd July 2006, 12:48 PM

Harry, thanks for your help, I will look up DEQX in Yahoo and read some of the information. I am thinking to use a 2500uf computer grade cap with a PP bypass for protection. dave

Nelson Pass · 3rd July 2006, 06:59 PM

My experience is that you can put significant DC on drivers
without too many problems, so I set the offset as low as
possible and sleep soundly at night.

BTW, I bought a much of 4 inch drivers on a clearance from
Parts Express and ran them with with a .6 amp DC bias, and
they actually measured lower distortion

2nd July 2006, 12:12 PM	#1
daly2k diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2005	DC offset affect on biamped speakers I need some feedback on the following issue. I just finished a line array speaker project that was designed to be eventually bi-amped. I plan to use my Aleph 1.2's for the tweeters and my Pass/tharagard A-75 for the mid bass. I have 12-5" ribbon tweeters and 12-5" eton mid bass drivers and I am currently using a crossover pt of 2600hz at 24db. I want to get a digital DEQX system to help with room problems and then use a digital crossover set pt at 96db anywhere from 21-- to --3000hz depending on the sound. The question is that for the tweeter array I currently have capacitors in the crossover that block DC from the amps on turn on or the usual dc offset. My aleph's offset is less than 50mv and my pass A75 is less than 20mv after warm up. My speaker drivers are series-parallel connected to give me 6.2 ohms. When biamping the amps will be hooked up directly to the speaker drivers with no crossover protection as it is now infront of the amps. Using the equation of V=IA, I get .050v/6ohms=.008ma. With 12 tweeters sharing the load does anyone think I should put a cap in front of the tweeters for protection from DC offset. I am not worried about the midbass drivers as they can take the abuse but with Fountex ribbon tweeters at $100 a pop, I am a bit nervous. I will install fuses in my Alephs for short circuit protection and my A-75 already output fuses. thanks for any advice. dave

3rd July 2006, 12:48 PM	#3
daly2k diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2005	dc offset Harry, thanks for your help, I will look up DEQX in Yahoo and read some of the information. I am thinking to use a 2500uf computer grade cap with a PP bypass for protection. dave

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3rd July 2006, 10:35 AM	#2
harryeng diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Roosendaal	Hi dave, I do not longer own a DEQX anymore, (building a MOX) but when you look in the Yahoo group for owners, you will find a lot of best practices. One of the best practices is to use a capacitor as protection for your tweeters. A lot can go wrong! The capacitor not only protects against DC, but will also help the DEQX. The lowpass will also reduce the calculation time, leaving more room in delay functionality. (You will understand this when you get your DEQX) Greetings, Harry

3rd July 2006, 06:59 PM	#4
Nelson Pass The one and only Join Date: Mar 2001	My experience is that you can put significant DC on drivers without too many problems, so I set the offset as low as possible and sleep soundly at night. BTW, I bought a much of 4 inch drivers on a clearance from Parts Express and ran them with with a .6 amp DC bias, and they actually measured lower distortion