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autoformer and polarity


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Does selecting different taps on an autoformer in a "universal type network" effect midrange driver polarity, or does this stay constant regardless of tap selection? I would like to better understand this. are the combinations using the 0 tap more optimal in any way? has anyone done any testing in this regard?

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I worded my question poorly I guess, what I am wondering is if the taps effect phase relationship in the network in some way causing the midrange to go out of phase with the other drivers. Do some tap combinations sound or measure better than others in anyones experience.

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"I worded my question poorly I guess, what I am wondering is if the taps effect phase relationship in the network in some way causing the midrange to go out of phase with the other drivers."

No.

" Do some tap combinations sound or measure better than others in anyones experience."

Yes, but it is specific to the actual drivers used, and the room.

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Does selecting different taps on an autoformer in a "universal type network" effect midrange driver polarity, or does this stay constant regardless of tap selection? I would like to better understand this. are the combinations using the 0 tap more optimal in any way? has anyone done any testing in this regard?

Yeah I too want to make sure I understand this. Depending on which lead from the midrange driver goes to which tap it is possible to invert the phase of the signal to the driver, is it not?

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LOL!!! You guys are real funny sometimes, in short the autoformer is used to attenuate the mid driver. The phasing stays the same unless you connect the wires backwards!!!

Just remember, phase and polarity are different things. Phase can shift slightly, polarity is 180 degrees or 0 degrees.

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In ALK's "white" paper for his ESNs he states "The phase of the squawker needs to be determined by trial". He mentions a dip of 6db when wired one way, and reversing the wires corrected it.

On all the ESNs I have built and used, including what I am using today, the squawker had to be reverse phased in order to get the max output. It's a simple test to figure it out.

I have no idea about the universal network though.

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Interesting read on the ESN. I may give that at try.

Regarding the Universal network. The crossover to the Mid driver is 2nd order Butterworth, which results in a 180 degree phase shift. The outputs to the Mid drivers are reversed to correct this. The autoformer is part of this filter, but has no affect on phase.

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LOL!!! You guys are real funny sometimes, in short the autoformer is used to attenuate the mid driver. The phasing stays the same unless you connect the wires backwards!!!

Just remember, phase and polarity are different things. Phase can shift slightly, polarity is 180 degrees or 0 degrees.
Sorry I should have said polarity.
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Interesting read on the ESN. I may give that at try.

Regarding the Universal network. The crossover to the Mid driver is 2nd order Butterworth, which results in a 180 degree phase shift. The outputs to the Mid drivers are reversed to correct this. The autoformer is part of this filter, but has no affect on phase.

Is there some way of knowing this for sure?
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It is a difficult thing to answer. Generally we are talking about the phase relation of the actual acoustic output of the two drivers at the crossover point.

All roll-off and roll-up amplitudes are accompanied by phase changes. The overall slopes in acoustic outputs (and phase) are caused by the crossover and the natural roll-off and roll-up of the drivers and the horns themselves.

In phase issues, you also have to consider the effect of relative delay in the length of horns or just plain old offset of the driver voice coils.

The combination of these factors is why it is very difficult to predict the extent to which acoustic outputs of the drivers will have some phase difference and how much.

I built a two way horn system and there was a dip at the crossover point when the overall wiring was wired in phase (it did use an auto transformer). Reversing the mid solved it.

The effect of the autotransformer tap depend on how the crossover is designed. Changing the tap changes the electrical impedance presented to components upstream such as the cap which feeds the autotransformer. Therefore the crossover point will change and therefore the magnitude and phase of the signal at the original crossover point.

WMcD

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Thats more info than anyone would had bargained for. I was joshed a couple times there. It was straight got a twist kept twisted and twisting again with eyes shut then untwisted exactly 4 times the second untwist eyes open and then was ready to go..maybe 5 times then 6 then ready

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