I'm working on my active speakers (line level crossover) and I'm not sure how to connect the woofers. I have 2 woofers in a single volume. Now I can do 2 things:
I can see advantages in both ways of working.
- connect the 2 woofers in parallel and drive them with a single amplifier
- drive each woofer with a dedicated amplifier.
I can see advantages in both ways of working.
One easy way to use two woofers is a 2.5 way. You could either use two amplifiers or just one, and an inductor in series with one woofer.
Although the point remains even with a 3.5 way, to give a direct answer to your question you can use the same amp if it is happy driving both at once at the necessary levels.
Maybe, but I do not want a 2.5 or 3.5 system.
At the moment it is a 3-way with 4 amplifiers. But I fear I'll have to go 4-way. I can have a 4-way with 4 amplifiers if I parallel the woofers or 5 amplifiers but then I need another amplifier box.
At the moment it is a 3-way with 4 amplifiers. But I fear I'll have to go 4-way. I can have a 4-way with 4 amplifiers if I parallel the woofers or 5 amplifiers but then I need another amplifier box.
Parallel is usually OK. What is the reason you don't already do it? Is the amplifier not capable?
I'm building the amplifiers so I can go both ways. The mid and tweeter are horns. So I'll have to drive the amp of the woofers even more if I put both in parallel. And I'd like to keep temperatures down.
Right now I'm making 2 amplifier racks with in each 4 amps (LM3886): 2x bass, 1x mid, 1x high. But I don't have space in them to put a fifth LM3886 in them if I go 4-way: 2x bass, 1x mid-low, 1x mid-high, 1x high. So I have to put the woofers in parallel or add another amplifier rack. In the last case I'd go for one with 4 amps driving the woofers and then 2 others with 3 amps for the rest. But it asks for a lot of space and materials.
So I'm curious what arguments could be found for either solution.
There are even other solutions possible like replacing one of the LM3886 by a LM1876 to drive both woofers. That would make it possible to add another amplifier without needing an extra rack. But it would need another pcb to be designed.
Or even put in a smaller amp for the tweeter. It is a horn so it wouldn't need a lot of power.
(writing these 2 alternative solutions made me think they make most sense...)
Right now I'm making 2 amplifier racks with in each 4 amps (LM3886): 2x bass, 1x mid, 1x high. But I don't have space in them to put a fifth LM3886 in them if I go 4-way: 2x bass, 1x mid-low, 1x mid-high, 1x high. So I have to put the woofers in parallel or add another amplifier rack. In the last case I'd go for one with 4 amps driving the woofers and then 2 others with 3 amps for the rest. But it asks for a lot of space and materials.
So I'm curious what arguments could be found for either solution.
There are even other solutions possible like replacing one of the LM3886 by a LM1876 to drive both woofers. That would make it possible to add another amplifier without needing an extra rack. But it would need another pcb to be designed.
Or even put in a smaller amp for the tweeter. It is a horn so it wouldn't need a lot of power.
(writing these 2 alternative solutions made me think they make most sense...)