SOUND HANDBOOK 2000 Hints and advices for car sound builders using DLS / GENESIS amplifiers and DLS speakers CONTENTS: Page 1 2-3 4 5-7 8 - 10 11 12 - 15 16 - 22 23 - 29 30 - 36 37 Introduction Formulas and facts Speaker facts Amplifier data Passive crossover filters The cables Installation Amplifier wiring examples Speaker boxes Bass boxes for DLS subwoofers 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 - SPEAKER FACTS PARAMETERS DLS SPEAKERS Model DLS DLS DLS DLS DLS DLS DLS DLS DLS DLS DLS C4/P4 C5/P5 C6/P6 PS4 PS5 PS6 425 slimline 426 slimline 428 962 960 DLS R4/RC4 DLS R4 Al-cone DLS R5 Al-cone DLS R6 Al-cone R8/RC8 R36 4" element R36 6" element T20 tweeter RC 1 tweeter RC1 from 8-98 U 2,5 mid U4 bass U5 bass U5 bass from 8-98 U6 bass U6 bass from 7-96 U6 bass from 9-98 UC5 bass UC6 bass UX5 UX6 UW 10 DLS W108/108C DLS W110/110C DLS W112/112C DLS W108B DLS W110B DLS W112B DLS W310
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - AMPLIFIER DATA TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS GENESIS AMPLIFIERS, series 3. GENESIS Stereo 60 Stereo 100 Dual Mono Continuous power output watts RMS, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0,1% distortion Four Channel Nom. power in 4Ω Typ. power in 4 Ω Nom. power in 2 Ω Typ. power in 2 Ω Nom. power, 4 Ω bridge Typ.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - AMPLIFIER DATA TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS GENESIS AMPLIFIERS, series 2 AMPLIFIERS IN CLASS AB: GENESIS B-40 SM-60 SM-100 Continuous power output watts RMS, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0,1% Nom. power in 4Ω 2 x 20 W 2 x 30 W 2 x 50 W Typical power in 4 Ω 2 x 30 W 2 x 45 W 2 x 75 W Nom. power in 2 Ω 2 x 40 W 2 x 60 W 2 x 80 W Typical power in 2 Ω 2 x 50 W 2 x 80 W 2 x 110 W Bridge mode 4Ω nom.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - DLS AMPLIFIER SPECIFICATIONS TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONES OF DLS AMPLIFIERS MODEL DS 100/Reference 100 DQ 200/Reference 200 Number of channels 2 Mode AB RMS output power at 13,5 VDC, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, max 0,1% THD: 4 ohm nominal power 2 x 50 Watts 4 ohm max effekt 2 x 65 Watts 2 ohm max effekt 2 x 100 Watts Bryggkoppling 4 ohm 220 Watts 4 AB THD S/N ratio, A-weighted Damping factor Input impedance Input sensitivity Filter highpass Filter lowpass * Can be switched in/out Filter slope Fu
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - PASSIVE X-OVER FILTERS CROSSOVER FILTERS CROSSOVER EXAMPLES: The ideal speaker element that can 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 adapted to a part of the frequency range. To make this work the input signal to each speaker element 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 INSTALLATION THE CABLES As we have said before the cables are very important. In the table on page 5 you find recommended areas for the DC-feed for different amplifiers. The ground wire must have the same area as the +-wire. Connect the ground wire as close as possible to the amplifier. Connect all units in the system to the same ground point to avoid interference.
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 MULTIMODE CONNECTION This is an example of a typical multimode connetion with a front system and a subwoofer. 12 dB passive high- and low-pass filters are used in combination with the original filters used for the front system. All speakers have an impedance of 4 ohms. The 10 mH coils can be spared. Change to 200 µF capacitors instead of 300 µF.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - AMPLIFIER WIRING EXAMPLES Example 2. System with a front system and a multimode connected subwoofer. AMPLIFIER WIRING EXAMPLES Example 1. Basic wiring with one or two speaker pairs.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - AMPLIFIER WIRING EXAMPLES Example 3. System with a front and a rear system, and a multimode connected sub. Example 4. System with a 4-channel amplifier, front and rear system and subwoofer. This system can be used together with most GENESIS 2-channel amplifiers if 12 dB highpass crossovers are used to both front and rear systems and subwoofer. Both front and rear speakers are 2-way systems. The impedance of the subwoofer is 4 ohms.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - AMPLIFIER WIRING EXAMPLES Example 5: System with separate amplifiers for front and rear system with fader. Separate amplifier for the subwoofers. This system with three amplifiers and a filter box gives you many possibilities to adjust and balance the sound in your car so that every speaker plays at the wanted level. This is an advantage compared to multimode connected systems. It´s also possible to use mid-bass speakers with a passive crossover.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - AMPLIFIER WIRING EXAMPLES Example 6: System with separate amplifiers, one for the front system and one for the subwoofers. The rear system is fed directly from the car stereo.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - AMPLIFIER WIRING EXAMPLES Example 7: System with a 4-channel amplifier, front and rear system, subwoofers and a center channel speaker. In this system you can use DLS DQ/Ref 200, GENESIS Q-100X, Q-200X, Compact Four or Four Channel. All these amplifiers have built-in electronic crossovers. A center-channel speaker is connected i multimode. The center-channel level can be adjusted with a variable resistor.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - GENESIS WIRING EXAMPLES Example 9: System with P-300X, 5-channel amplifier with a front 2-way system with active crossover and a subwoofer. A single line input is often enough in this application. Tweeters L+ Ch1 If you want to balance the front/rear level you must add a line-in to the sub input on channel 5.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - GENESIS WIRING EXAMPLES Example 9: System with GENESIS Five Channel, 5 channel amplifier with a front 3-way system with active x-over. (Not for P-300X). All other wiring examples can be found in the owners manual for Five Channel. The diagram shows the connection of a 3-way system, DLS U36 or similar, where tweeter and midrange speakers are connected to ch 1-2, midbasses to ch 3-4, and subwoofers to ch 5 (not shown). Passive crossover is used between tweeter and midrange.
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.
SPEAKER LOADS Most car audio speakers have a 4 ohm impedance. DLS amplifiers can be loaded down to 2 ohm on each stereo channel. In mono bridge mode operation the speaker load must never be less than 4 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 the amplifier. When you run the amplifier in mono bridge mode it sees a 4 ohm load as 2 ohm. On page 4 you find different speaker wiring examples.
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, OPEL KADETT, PEUGOT 205 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 DLS-BOX COMPUTER PROGRAM A speaker box can be calculated either by hand or with the help of a computer program. DLS-BOX 2000 is a program that easily helps you design your own box to your DLS speakers. You choose speaker, box type, car-type and music type and the program calculates the correct box volume. The program is developed in cooperation with Backes ljudbyggeri in Ekerö. "Dr.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - BASS BOXES BASS BOXES FOR OLDER SUBS Some bass box examples for older DLS subwoofers SPEAKER & TYPE OF BOX: CAR TYPE: SEDAN/SMALL STATION WAGON DLS 5508: Music: Normal Vented box Port 23 liters 3" x 22 cm 26 liters 3" x 21 cm DLS 5508A: Music: Normal Vented box Port 20 liters 3" x 22 cm 23 liters 3" x 21 cm DLS 5310 / 5510: Music: Normal Sealed box 35 liters Vented box 35 liters Port, vented box 3" x 14 cm 41 liters 39 liters 3" x 14 cm DLS 5310A: Music: Normal Vented box P
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - BASS BOX EXAMPLES W 108 / 108C Vented box Sealed box The port length in all examples is for a 3” (75 mm) outer diameter.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - BASS BOX EXAMPLES W 108B Vented box Sealed box The port length in all examples is for a 3” (75 mm) outer diameter.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - BASS BOX EXAMPLES W 310 Vented box Sealed box The port length in all examples is for a 3” (75 mm) outer diameter.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - BASS BOX EXAMPLES W 510C Vented box Sealed box The port length in all examples is for a 3” (75 mm) outer diameter.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - BASS BOX EXAMPLES W 610 Vented box Sealed box The port length in all examples is for a 3” (75 mm) outer diameter.
DLS SOUND HANDBOOK - BASS BOX EXAMPLES MW 10 Vented box Sealed box The port length in all examples is for a 3” (75 mm) outer diameter.
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.
