Active vs Passive comparison from Seas - The Toy

rstillin

I thought this was an interesting read about a new kit that is offered as a passive and active design. I've always been curious about what distortion measurements might look like between active and passive versions of the same speaker.

https://www.seas.no/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=639:seas-toy-kit&catid=66:seas-diy-kits&Itemid=345

traw

They also had active and passive 'solution' for the tpcd woofer and tweeter combo (Lucid), but they didnt publish any write up of the passive - it was in the download zip that had suite of measurements (in their lucid cab) and vcad xover design. I have that combo - bass was nicer on the active implementation. Was also interesting how the coax version has 35hz fs vs the 40hz fs of the tpcd woofer i have.

I notice they made active and passive both at around 2k point. In Lucid active was at 3.3k and passive at 2.2k.

I was tempted for hot minute to unload my set and pick up the coax when was on minor discount at Madisound beginning of black friday - couldnt stomach $ burn. But I recall mentions of other improvements in the tcpd's tweeter motor, above my understanding, that would guess probably not in the compact coax tweet - I dunno really, just makes me sleep better heh.

dcibel

Those filters aren't even remotely similar.

Wolf

That is what I said when I looked at the link... apples to oranges.

Steve_Lee

I don't think they are meant to be a direct comparison but rather just examples of what can be achieved with either method.

Clearly, more can be accomplished with DSP . . . from a technical stand-point.

Concerning HD and Passive VS Active - you trade a lower HD for D/A conversion hiss, IME. YMMV.

tktran

Some is going to build and like one of the other and exclaim "I like the X better"

This is what perpetuates the active or passive crossover is better or worse myth- not even attempting to replicate the transfer function...

@Steve_Lee

The DAC conversion hiss or distortion is something we can finally hear/share with FSAF... if we want to test what our DA/AD is doing to our music.

Steve_Lee

"@Steve_Lee
The DAC conversion hiss or distortion is something we can finally hear/share with FSAF... if we want to test what our DA/AD is doing to our music."

Then all we need is to create a copy the ^ FSAF audio file/track, invert its polarity and mix it with the master rendering.

Voila!

Reduced HD AND . . . no more D/A hiss!

Making music is fun . . .