Hi All,
In active crossover Hi-Fi systems each loudspeaker element is individually powered by its own discrete amplifier. What would the likelihood be of cross-talking between them via their respective cables ?
Should the cables be kept some distance apart or can they be routed together from amplifier to speaker ?
Would love to get some commentaries/ideas on this.
In active crossover Hi-Fi systems each loudspeaker element is individually powered by its own discrete amplifier. What would the likelihood be of cross-talking between them via their respective cables ?
Should the cables be kept some distance apart or can they be routed together from amplifier to speaker ?
Would love to get some commentaries/ideas on this.
Hi Gerry
I never took any precautions regarding distance etc in active systems so far. But I also have to admit that I didn't actually listen for potential issues yet.
BUT: What I would fefinitley avoid is the use of a common return conductor. This would definitely lead to cross-coupling. In other words use a "complete" cable (i.e. consisting of two wires) for each amp/driver interconnection.
Regards
Charles
I never took any precautions regarding distance etc in active systems so far. But I also have to admit that I didn't actually listen for potential issues yet.
BUT: What I would fefinitley avoid is the use of a common return conductor. This would definitely lead to cross-coupling. In other words use a "complete" cable (i.e. consisting of two wires) for each amp/driver interconnection.
Regards
Charles
I think that crosstalk would likely be more significant within the active crossover network. And many active speakers/monitors (with inbuilt X-over and amplification) have all circuitry on the same circuit board. Surely that's where crosstalk is more significant than between speaker cables.
Think the low impedance in interconnected amp/speaker is so low that cross talk is close to non existing, biggest issue is high capacitive speaker cables picking up hf and sends it to amp feedback
I would twist the two wires to each driver separately, and keep the pairs a few inches apart,
to avoid magnetic coupling. There won't be significant capacitive interaction.
to avoid magnetic coupling. There won't be significant capacitive interaction.
I routinely use this for 4-ways... Penn Elcom High Grade Speaker Cable 8 x 2.5mm 06013008 PennElcomOnline.com
Cross talk concerns are utter nonsense imho
Cross talk concerns are utter nonsense imho
Charles,
Sharing a common "-" connector between two amp channels was common practice for many sound companies in the "old days". No audible cross-coupling issues ever were apparent between mid/high units (1200Hz-5kHz/5Hz-20kHz) using cable lengths in excess of 40 meters.
With the "-" not shared between channels on many amplifiers now, that practice would not be advisable.
As Mark pointed out, use of four pairs in a single speaker wire is routine for high power audio use. Although these cable types have a spiral wind, the pairs are generally not individually twisted as would be needed to avoid noise and cross-talk at microphone levels.
Use of 19 (or more) conductor wire for flown systems with lengths in excess of 40 meters is still frequent, though the location of amplification within speaker boxes avoids the damping factor problems associated with those long runs.
Art
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Hi Art
I do also use speakons and multi core cables without problems. And I wouldn't mind a common connector but I don't like the use of common conductors for active multiway.
Regards
Charles
I do also use speakons and multi core cables without problems. And I wouldn't mind a common connector but I don't like the use of common conductors for active multiway.
Regards
Charles
On the output side, amp to speaker, you are talking about less than 8 ohms impedance. For one set of wires to interfere noticeably with another you'd have to tape them together and blast in a few hundred watts of power... so no, that's not an issue.
On the input sides, as long as everything is either shielded cables or balanced audio, it's unlikely you would get significant crosstalk from less than a couple of hundred feet of cable, again taped tightly together. ... That's why we shield things... so this doesn't happen.
Frankly, I'd say you can label this a non-issue and proceed to enjoy the day.