Giovanni Bianchi

Linkwitz Loudspeaker Equalizer 1) Elettric Diagram

2) Analysis The voltage transfer ratio of the circuit is given by the ratio between the tranfer admittance of the two RC networks consisting of the components (R1, R1, C1, R3, C2) and (R5, R5, C3, R3, C2) respectively. That assertion bases on the presence of the operational amplifier, which provides a virtual ground at the inverting input. The voltage transfer ratio is then
T( s ) V out V in I 1 V out . V in I 2

(1)
1

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Giovanni Bianchi

where

I1 V in 1

2. R 1 R 1. C 1 2

R 2 . C 2. s R 2. C 2 . s

2 2 R 1 . C 1. C 2 . s R 1 . R 2 . C 1. C 2

.s

. 1 2. R 1 2

(2)

I2 V out 1

2. R 3 R 3. C 3 2

R 2 . C 2. s R 2. C 2 . s

2 2 R 3 . C 3. C 2. s R 3 . R 2. C 3 . C 2

. 1 2. R 3 . s2

(3)

Note the simmetry between the expressions (2) and (3). The latter derives from the first by swapping R1, C1 with R3, C3 and vice versa. The transfer function (1), can be then rewritten as
1 T( s ) 1 2. R 1 2. R 3 R 2 . C 2. s R 2 . C 2. s R 1 C 1. C 2. s 1 . 2 2 R 3 . C 3. C 2. s 1
2. 2

R 3. C 3 2 R 1. C 1 2

R 2. C 2 . s R 2. C 2 . s

R 3 . R 2. C 3 . C 2 2 .R .C .C R1 2 1 2 2

. s2 . . s2

R3 R1

(4)

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Giovanni Bianchi

2) Synthesis The network theory states that the two transfer admittances (2) and (3) have one pair real distinct poles and one pair of complex conjugates zeroes, as the two networks are passive RC. Thus, the second (first) factor of the function (4) is a second-order rational real function with distinct real poles and zeroes (complex-conjugate poles and zeroes pairs). The second factor into a simple constant, by imposing that the transfer admittances (2) and (3) have the same poles. Under that condition, the function (4) would simplify to
R3 1 . R1 1 2. R 1 2. R 3 R 2 . C 2. s R 2 . C 2. s
2 2 R 1 . C 1. C 2. s 2 2 R 3 . C 3. C 2. s

T eq( s )

(5)

Equatting the second degree coefficients of the denominators of the functions (2) and (3) gives the condition
C3 R1 R3 .C

(6)

Moreover, the condition (6) also implies the equality between the first-degree coefficients of the denominators of the functions (2) and (3), and consequently, the required identity between the poles of those functions. Given that, equation (4) simplifies into
1 T( s ) T eq( s ) 1 2. R 1 2. R 3 R 2 . C 2. s R 2 . C 2. s
2 2 R 1 . C 1. C 2. s R 3 . 2 2 R 3 . C 3. C 2. s R 1

(7)

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Giovanni Bianchi

Substituting expression (6) into (7), we get

2. R 1 . C 2. s R 2 . C 2. s
2 2 R 1 . C 1. C 2 . s R . 3 2 R 3 . R 1 . C 1 . C 2. s R 1

1 T( s ) T eq( s ) 1

R2 2. R 3

(8)

Now, our circuit works as equalizer for the low-frequency response of a closed-box loudspeaker, if the function T(s) has the form
1 1 . s Q ap ap 1 1 . s Q0 s ap s 0 0
2 2

1 T( s ) 1

R2 2. R 3

2. R 1 . C 2. s R 2 . C 2. s

2 2 R 1 . C 1. C 2. s R . 3 2 R 3 . R 1 . C 1. C 2 . s R 1

ap 0

(9)

where ap=2fap and Qap are the angular resonant frequency and the quality factor, respectively, of the closed-box loudspeaker 0=2f0 and Q0 are the angular resonant frequency and the quality factor, respectively, of the closed-box loudspeaker, after equalization. The first condition to impose is the equality between the two multiplying coefficients, i.e.
R 3 ap R1 0
2

and therefore
ap 0
2

R3

.R

(10)

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Giovanni Bianchi

Eliminating the variable R3, by means of the expression (10) gives

1 1 . s Q ap ap 1 1 . s Q0 0 s ap s 0
2 2

1 1 2.

R2
2

2. R 1 . C 2. s 1 R 2 . C 2. s

2 2 R 1 . C 1 . C 2. s

ap 0

.R

ap 0

(11)

.R

2. . . 2 1 C1 C2 s

The equality between the second-degree coefficients of the numerators (11) implies
C1 1 ap . R 1 2. C 2
2

(12)

After eliminating C1, by expression (12), the equality (11) becomes

1 R2 ap 0
2

2. R 1 . C 2. s

1 . 2 s ap
2

1 . s Q ap ap 1 1 . s Q0 0

s ap s 0
2

(13)

2.

.R

R 2 . C 2. s

1 . 2 s 2 0

The first-order coefficients of the two denominators (13) must be equal, thus
0
2 2 . C 2 . ap . R 1 . Q 0 2 0 . Q 0. C 2

R2

(14)

Elimination of R2, (13) into

further transforms the identity

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Giovanni Bianchi
2 2 . C 2 . ap . R 1 . Q 0

2. R 1

0 . Q 0. C 2 1 1 . s Q0 0 s 0
2

.C .s 2

s ap

1 . s Q ap ap 1 1 . s Q0 0

s ap s 0
2

(15)

The last coefficient to equate is the first-degree at the numerator, which gives
1 R1 Q0 0 . Q ap ap . 0 . 1 . 2 2 ap 0 Q 0 2 C 2

(16)

3) Computation of the component values 3.1) Natural parameters of the closed-box mounted loudspeaker
ap 2 . . 165 Q ap 2.5

3.2) Final parameters, after equalization (The equalized quality factor Q0 has to be within the limits Qap0/ap and Qapap/0, otherwise some of the equalizer components take negative values)
0 0 ap 2 . . 50 ap 0

.Q

ap = 0.758

Q0

0.9

.Q

ap = 8.25

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Giovanni Bianchi

3-dB high-pass cutoff frequency, frequency peak, and value of the peak itself for the equalized response
1 f 3dB 8. Q 0
4

4. Q 0 2. Q 0

2 2. Q 0 0 . 2.

f 3dB = 41.473

f peak

2. Q 0 2. Q 0
2

1 2.

f peak = 80.822

T peak.dB

10. log

4. Q 0 4. Q 0
2

T peak.dB = 0.688

3.3) Fix a convenient value for C2 and compute the remaining values by means of the expressions (10), (12), (14), (16).
C2 0.1. 10
6

1 R1

Q0 0 . Q ap ap . 0 . 1 . 2 2 ap 0 Q 0 2 C 2
2 2 . C 2 . ap . R 1 . Q 0 2 0 . Q 0. C 2

R 1 = 1.593 10

R2

R 2 = 672.309

R3

ap 0

.R

R 3 = 1.735 10

C1

1 ap . R 1 C 2 R1 R3
2 2.

C 1 = 3.666 10

C3

.C

C 3 = 3.367 10

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Giovanni Bianchi

4) Loudspeaker response before and after the equalization

k

0 .. 200

fk

200 10. 100

sk

j . 2 . . fk

Loudspeaker transfer function

s T ap( s ) 1 ap 1 . s Q ap ap s ap
2 2

G_apk

20. log T ap sk

Loudspeaker transfer function

1 T eq( s ) 1 1 . s Q ap ap 1 . s Q0 0 s ap s 0
2 2 2

ap 0

G_eqk

20. log T eq sk

Equalizer transfer function

T ap_eq( s ) T ap( s ) . T eq( s ) G_ap_eqk 20. log T ap_eq sk

Linkwitz.MCD

Giovanni Bianchi Loudspeaker and Equalizer responses

30 24 18 G_ap_eqk Amplitude, dB G_eqk G_ap k 10. log( 0.5 ) 6 T peak.dB 12 18 24 30 10 100 fk , fk , fk , f 3dB , f peak Frequency, Hz 1 103 12 6 0

Natural loudspeaker Equalizer Equalized loudspeaker 3-dB high-pass frequency Response peak

Linkwitz.MCD

Giovanni Bianchi

5) Alternative synthesis formulae Next substitution of he expressions (10), (12), (14), (16) allow to express all the component values as functions only of the natural and equalized loudspeaker parameters, plus C2.
C2 0.1. 10
6

1 R1

Q0 0 . Q ap ap . 0 . 1 . 2 2 ap 0 Q 0 2 C 2 ap. Q 0 Q ap. 0
2 2

R2

Q ap. ap ap

. 1 0 .Q 0 C 2

Q0

R3

Q ap 1. 0 . ap . 1 2 2 2 Q0 C2 ap 0 4 . ap
2 ap . 1 2

C1

2 2

.
2

Q0 0

2 2

.C

Q0 0 . Q ap ap
2

C3

2 . ap ap ap Q0

0 0

2 2

.C

Q ap

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Giovanni Bianchi

6) Physical passive component realization Approximate realization of the passive components of the equalizer by series and/or parallel of two standard-value elements. Import the standard value lists
STANDARD READPRN( STANDARD )

The standard series identifier NSERIES can assume the values 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 192, which identify the standard series E6 to E192, respectively Nummer of decades below unity: Nummer of decades above ten:
Ndecades_Below_1 Ndecades_Above_10 1 6

The functions ZZ(ZX,NSERIES) [ZY(ZX,NSERIES)] returns a three-element vector: the first standard value, the second standard value, and the resulting value; the used formulae apply to series impedances (like R, C) or parallel admittance (like C) [parallel R, C or series C].

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Giovanni Bianchi

Z Y Z X , N SERIES

for k 0 .. N SERIES log j Valuesk KK 0 N SERIES 6 log( 2 )

1 . STANDARDk , j 100

for j 0 .. Ndecades_Below_1 for k 0 .. N SERIES ZZKK KK Valuesk. 10 KK 1 1

j j

1
Ndecades_Below_1

for j 0 .. Ndecades_Above_10 for k 0 .. N SERIES ZZKK KK KK KK 1 10

Ndecades_Above_10 2

Valuesk. 10 KK 1

MinError

for k 0 .. KK for j 0 .. KK Error ZX ZZk. ZZj ZZk ZZj

if Error < MinError Zopt 0 Zopt 1 ZZk ZZj Error ZZ . ZZ

k

MinError Zopt 2 for k 0 .. KK Error ZX

ZZk ZZk

ZZj

if Error < MinError Zopt0 Zopt1 Zopt2 Zopt ZZk 0 Error

MinError

ZZk

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Giovanni Bianchi

Z Z Z X , N SERIES

for k 0 .. N SERIES log j Valuesk KK 0 N SERIES 6 log( 2 )

1 . STANDARDk , j 100

for j 0 .. Ndecades_Below_1 for k 0 .. N SERIES ZZKK KK

j Valuesk. 10

1
Ndecades_Below_1

KK

1 1

for j 0 .. Ndecades_Above_10 for k 0 .. N SERIES ZZKK KK KK KK 1 10

Ndecades_Above_10 2 j Valuesk. 10

KK

MinError

for k 0 .. KK for j 0 .. KK Error ZX ZZk ZZj Error ZZj ZZk ZZk ZZk ZZj

if Error < MinError Zopt0 Zopt1 Zopt2 for k 0 .. KK Error ZX

MinError

if Error < MinError Zopt0 Zopt1 Zopt2 Zopt ZZk 0 Error

MinError

ZZk

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Giovanni Bianchi

6.1) Realization of the resistors with two E12 elements in parallel

R1 R2 R3 Z Y R 1 , 12 Z Y R 2 , 12 Z Y R 3 , 12 R 1A R 2A R 3A R10 R20 R30 R 1B R 2B R 3B R11 R21 R31 R 10 R 20 R 30 R12 R22 R32

R 1 = 1.593 10 R 2 = 672.309 R 3 = 1.735 10

R 1A = 2700 R 2A = 680

R 1B = 3900 R 2B = 56000 R 3B = 8.2 10

4

R 10 = 1595.455 R 20 = 671.842 R 30 = 1.735 10

4

R 3A = 22000

6.2) Realization of the capacitors with two E6 elements in parallel

C 1.nF C 1 . 10
9

C1

Z Z C 1.nF , 6

C 1A.nF

C10

C 1B.nF

C11

C 10

C12. 10

C 2.nF C 3.nF

C 2 . 10 C 3 . 10

C2

Z Z C 2.nF , 6 Z Z C 3.nF , 6

C 2A.nF C 3A.nF

C20 C30

C 2B.nF C 3B.nF

C21 C31

C 20 C 30

C22. 10 C32. 10

C3

6.3) Theoretical and realized values:

R 1 = 1.593 10 R 2 = 672.309 R 3 = 1.735 10
4 3

R 1A = 2.7 10 R 2A = 680 R 3A = 2.2 10

R 1B = 3.9 10 R 2B = 5.6 10

R 3B = 8.2 10

C 1.nF = 3666.4 C 2.nF = 100 C 3.nF = 336.678 Linkwitz.MCD

C 1A.nF = 1500 C 2A.nF = 100 C 3A.nF = 6.8

C 1B.nF = 2200 C 2B.nF = 0 C 3B.nF = 330

C 1 = 3.666 10 C 2 = 1 10
7

C 10 = 3.7 10 C 20 = 1 10
7

C 3 = 3.367 10

C 30 = 3.368 10

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Giovanni Bianchi

6.4) Equalizer transfer function T0(s) as resulting from the approximate realization
T 00 R 30 R 10 1 T 01( s ) 1 2 . R 10 2 . R 30 R 20 . C 20. s R 20 . C 20. s
2 2 R 10 . C 10. C 20. s 2 2 R 30 . C 30. C 20. s

1 T 02( s ) 1

R 30. C 30 2 R 10. C 10 2

R 20. C 20 . s R 20. C 20 . s

R 30. R 20. C 30. C 20 2 .R .C .C R 10 20 10 20 2

. s2 . s2

T 0( s )

T 00. T 01( s ) . T 02( s )

Deviation of the equalizer response from the teoretical value

dB( s ) 20. log T 0( s ) T eq( s ) _dB dB sk min( _dB ) = 0.199 max( _dB ) = 0.07

Equalized loudspeaker response with the physical components

G_eq_0k G_eqk _dB
k

G_ap_eq_0k

G_ap_eqk

_dB

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Giovanni Bianchi Loudspeaker and Equalizer responses

30 24 18 G_ap_eqk Amplitude, dB G_eqk G_apk G_ap_eq_0 k G_eq_0k 12 6 0 6 12 18 24 30 10 100 fk Frequency, Hz 1 103

Natural loudspeaker Equalizer Equalized loudspeaker Equalized loudspeaker with real values Equalizer with physical values

Physical equalizer amplitude error

0.1

Amplitude, dB

_dBk

0.05

0.2 10

100 fk Frequency, Hz

1 103

Segni, 02 May 2009. Giovanni Bianchi

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