CAR & HOME AUDIO SOUND HANDBOOK 2006 Hints and advices for car sound builders using DLS amplifiers and speakers CONTENTS: Page 1 2-3 4-5 6-8 9 10 - 13 14 - 20 21 - 29 30 Introduction Formulas and facts Amplifier facts Passive crossover filters Cabling Installation Building speaker boxes Bass boxes examples Some useful tables DLS Svenska AB P.O. Box 13029, SE-402 51 Göteborg, Sweden Tel. +46 31 84 00 60 Fax +46 31 84 40 21 E-mail: info@dls.se www.dls.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION AMPLIFIER CLASSES We have made this handbook as a small help for thoose who want to do a first class car sound installation. This book advices the reader in matters concerning amplifier and speaker installation and wiring, passive crossovers, cable choice and different bass box constructions. Information about DLS products can also be found on our Internet WEB-site www.dls.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - FORMULAS AND FACTS FORMULAS MEASURE CONVERSION It´s easier to understand some parts in this book if you know some of the formulas on this page. They are also useful at many other occasions. The following relation between some units are useful to know of.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - FORMULAS AND FACTS DECIBEL - dB CONNECTING RESISTORS dB is a unit used to describe a realation. It´s used to describe an amplification as well as an attentuation. At an attentuation a minus sign is put before the figure. An amplification is the relation between the input and the output signal. In can be valid for voltage, current or power. When used for power amplification you must remember that current x voltage = power.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - AMPLIFIER FACTS A1 DLS ULTIMATE AMPLIFIERS A2 A3 A4 Number of channels 2 Power output in 4 ohm 2x45 W Power output in 2 ohm 2x80 W Power output in 1 ohm 2x120 W Mono bridge mode 4 ohm 1x160 W Mono bridge mode 2 ohm 1x240 W Mono bridge mode 1 ohm Mono sub channel, nom. power 4 ohm Mono sub channel, nom. power 2 ohm Mono sub channel, nom.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - AMPLIFIER FACTS DLS CLASSIC CA 22 CA 23 CA 31 CAT 31 CA 41 CA 51 R.M.S.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - PASSIVE X-OVER FILTERS CROSSOVERS CROSSOVER EXAMPLES: The ideal speaker, able reproduce all frequencies from lowest bass to highest treble, is not yet invented. Instead we have to use two or more speakers where each speaker is reproducing a part of the frequency range. To make this work the input signal to each speaker driver must contain only the frequencies it´s designed for. For this purpose we need crossover filters.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - PASSIVE X-OVER FILTERS PASSIVE 6 dB LOW-PASS PASSIVE 6 dB HIGH-PASS A 6 dB x-over filter has a 6 dB slope / octave. The output from an amplifier is only a quarter after falling with 6 dB. A 6dB filter is also called 1:st order filter. A common use for a 6 dB low-pass filter is for a subwoofer to stop frequencies over, as for example, 100 Hz. A 6 dB low-pass filter consists of a coil.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - PASSIVE X-OVER FILTERS PASSIVE 12 dB LOW-PASS PASSIVE 12 dB HIGH-PASS A 12 dB x-over filter has a 12 dB slope / octave. A 12 dB filter is a combination of a coil and a capacitor. It is also called 2:nd order filter. 12 dB low-pass filters are often used for subwoofers in order to stop frequencies over the x-over frequency, for example 100 Hz. A combination of a low- and high-pass filter is called a band-pass filter.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - THE CABLES THE CABLES - AN IMPORTANT LINK SKIN-EFFECT AND INDUCTANCE No chain is stronger than it´s weakest link ! It´s not unusual that people buy expensive amplifiers and speakers but forget the wiring. DLS have high quality cables for both amateurs and professional users. Cables made of oxygen free copper (OFC). Cables made of oxygen free copper will not oxidize as normal copper do. The oxidation increases the DC-resistance and as a result of this the voltage drop in the cable.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - INSTALLATION THE DC-FEED THE AMPLIFIER An extra amplifier should be installed in a place where it can be satisfactory cooled. Many amplifiers get very hot and need a good cooling. In some installations you might need one or two external cooling fans. First check if there are any cable mats or fuel pipes behind the place where you plan to mount the amplifier.
DLS SOUND HANBOOK - INSTALLATION SPEAKER INSTALLATION An important part of the installation is of course the speakers. How they are installed varies from car to car and depends upon the possibilities in each type. The factory pre-made installation holes are not always ideal for other types of speakers than original. We will give you some hints of what to think of when installing speakers. ORIGINAL INSTALLATION The easiest way to install a speaker in a car is to use the factory pre-made holes.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - INSTALLATION KICK-PANELS Another installation alternative giving a good sound image is the kick-panel. It´s placed down on the floor in front of the door on both sides. It can contain the whole system with bass, midrange and tweeter or a bass and midrange with the tweeter installed on the dashboard. The best places for the speakers must be tested out in the respective car.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - INSTALLATION DLS IN MULTIMODE HAT-RACK MOUNTING The best sound stage for front seat listeners is achieved with door- or kick-panel mounting. In competition cars the front system combined with rear subwoofers are often the only speakers. Sometimes they are combined with a pair of small 4" or 5,25" speakers in the back used as "rear fill". These rear fill speakers are connected with x-overs giving a reproduction from 1-2 kHz and up.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - SPEAKER BOXES WHY DO WE NEED SPEAKER BOXES? VENTED BOXES A Hi-Fi speaker for home use is always mounted in a box to reproduce the best possible sound. Traditional mounting in cars are in a door side or in the hat rack, this is a simple baffle mounting. You can of course achieve a better sound in your car by using suitable speaker boxes. In a correct adapted box the sound is improved and the power handling capacity increases.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK SPEAKER BOXES SPEAKER CONSTRUCTION BANDPASS BOXES In all bandpass boxes the speakers are hidden inside the box, all sound is coming out through the ports. There are different types of bandpass boxes and they have in common that they are a bit more difficult to build. suspension speaker cone chassie voice coil magnet BOX DESCRIPTION Mechanical orders for speaker boxes: 1:th order Speaker in free air. Not in practical use, the speaker is acoustically shortened.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - SPEAKER BOXES 7:th order bandpass box Speaker mounted in a vented box playing into another vented box. All ports going out. What is valid for 6:th order boxes is also valid for 7:th order boxes. The difference is that this box gives a 6 - 10 dB peak at the tuned frequencies. 8:th order bandpass box Speaker mounted in a vented box playing into another vented box with all ports playing into a third vented box.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - SPEAKER BOXES SPEAKER LOADS SPEAKER CONNECTION Most car audio speakers have a 4 ohm impedance. DLS CLASSIC and Reference amplifiers can handle loads down to 2 ohm on each stereo channel. DLS ULTIMATE amplifiers can handle loads down to 1 ohm. If you are using more than one driver they must be connected in a way so the impedance still is 4 ohm when connected to a CLASSIC amplifier in bridge mode.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE Installing car sound can sometimes cause problems. If you are not satisfied with the sound you could have made something wrong. Some typical problems are described below with hints for solving them. 1. Problem: Poor bass reproduction despite of a correctly designed bass box. - Start with phase reversing the subwoofer to see if this helps.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - SPEAKER BOXES BASS BOXES IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARS 1. SMALL CARS LIKE VW GOLF, PEUGOT 306 AND SIMILAR In this car type the bass box should be mounted with both speaker and port directed backwards. Alternatively booth speaker and port can be directed upwards. This way of mounting is valid also for halfcombi car types. 2.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - SPEAKER BOXES SOME ADVICES FROM DOCTOR "BACKE" When building a bass box the following are very important: The box must be very steady and completely airtight. Use 22 mm particle board or 19 mm MDFboard. The particle board has a self resonant frequency of 14 Hz while the MDF has a resonant frequency of approx. 400 Hz. Its important to stabilize the box inside with some braces, especially the boxes made of MDF could cause "PLONK"-sounds if it´s not sufficiently braced.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - BASS BOXES BASS BOXES FOR OLDER SUBWOOFERS Some bass box examples for old DLS subwoofers SPEAKER & TYPE OF BOX: DLS 5508: Music: Normal Vented box Port DLS 5508A: Music: Normal Vented box Port CAR TYPE: SEDAN/SMALL 23 liters 3" x 22 cm 20 liters 3" x 22 cm DLS 5310 / 5510: Music: Normal Sealed box 35 liters Vented box 35 liters Port, vented box 3" x 14 cm DLS 5310A: Music: Normal Vented box Port DLS 5310B: Music: Normal Vented box Port DLS 5512A: Music: Normal Vented box Port DLS
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR DLS CLASSIC SUBWOOFERS W108B Size Impedance Nom. power (RMS) Freq. range Sensitivity Voice coil diameter Voice coil height Re Voice coil inductance, 1 kHz BL product X-max Suspension compliance CMS SD- Effective piston area Resonant freq.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR DLS CLASSIC SUBWOOFERS OA10 Size Impedance Nom. power (RMS) Freq. range Sensitivity Voice coil diameter Voice coil height Re Voice coil inductance, 1 kHz BL product X-max Suspension compliance CMS SD- Effective piston area Resonant freq.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR DLS REFERENCE SUBWOOFERS Size Impedance Nom. power (RMS) Freq. range Sensitivity Voice coil diameter Voice coil height Re Voice coil inductance, 1 kHz BL product X-max Suspension compliance CMS SD- Effective piston area Resonant freq.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR DLS REFERENCE SUBWOOFERS Size Impedance Nom. power (RMS) Freq. range Sensitivity Voice coil diameter Voice coil height Re Voice coil inductance, 1 kHz BL product X-max Suspension compliance CMS SD- Effective piston area Resonant freq.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR DLS ULTIMATE SUBWOOFERS Revised data for UR10 valid from production date 2003-07-01. Revised data for UR12 valid from production date 2003-12-01 UR10 UR12 Size 25 cm (10") Impedance 2 x 4 ohm Nom. power (RMS) 400 W (max 700) Freq.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR DLS ULTIMATE SUBWOOFERS SP12 SP15 Size 30 cm (12") Impedance 2 x 2 ohm Nom. power (RMS) 500 W (max 800) Maxiumum power for SPL use 1200 W Freq. range 20 Hz- 2 kHz Sensitivity 97,3 dB Voice coil diameter 75 mm (3”) Voice coil height 32 mm (1,26”) Re 1,27 ohm* Voice coil inductance, 1 kHz 0,52 mH BL product 8,73 X-max +-12 mm (0,47”) Suspension compliance CMS 344 SD- Effective piston area 452,3 cm2 Resonant freq.
Technical specifications for DLS ULTIMATE Iridium 10 Iridium 10 Size Impedance Nom.
Technical specifications for DLS ULTIMATE Nobelium 10 Size Impedance Nom.
RECOMMENDED ENCLOSURES FOR Nobelium10, 12 and 15 VENTED ENCLOSURES F3 = approximative lower frequency for vented boxes in Hz. Often called F-3 dB point = the point where the power is 50% lower. Fb = Box resonant frequency RUNNING-IN PERIOD Allow the speaker to play for at least 15-20 hours. After this time the performance is correct.
SOME USEFUL TABLES TABLE 1: Shows the relation between power increase and SPL measured 1 mtr in front of the speaker at three different speaker sensitivities.
