Building a two-way active loudspeaker with the PWR-ICE125
In this application note, we will show you how to design and build your own DSP-controlled active loudspeaker with the miniDSP ICE-PWR125 DSP plate amplifier. Note that a similar project could be built using the PWR-ICE250 if additional power is required.
- What you will need
- 1. Select the speaker drivers
- 2. Design and build the enclosures
- 3. Get connected
- 4. Configure the amplifiers
- 5. Develop the crossover
- 6. Configure the second speaker
- What's next?
What you will need [Top]
- Two ICE-PWR125 plate amps OR two PWR-ICE250
- A set of loudspeaker drivers (see text below).
- Ability to run acoustic measurements. You will need a measurement program such as Room EQ Wizard (REW) and measurement hardware such as the UMIK-1.
- Optionally, a microphone stand with boom arm (the UMIK-1 is supplied with a small stand that can be rested on a table or the back of a sofa.)
1. Select the speaker drivers [Top]
If you are starting from scratch, you will need to select the drivers for your speakers. You can use drivers rated at 4 ohms or 8 ohms — 4 ohm drivers will provide greater power output from the amplifier but for most applications it's not critical. For a small two-way loudspeaker, a 5" or 6.5" woofer and a 1" dome tweeter are common choices. Or, you might like to try a larger "pro" style or "Econowave" speaker with a 12" woofer and a horn tweeter. Peruse the online forums to see what others are using and to ask for recommendations for your particular project.
It may also be possible for you to convert an existing speaker from passive to DSP active. In this case, you will need to remove the internal crossover and binding posts and re-cut the enclosure to fit the plate amp.
2. Design and build the enclosures [Top]
If you are building your own enclosure, you will need to design it to suit the woofer you have chosen. The most important factor is the internal volume and, if it's a ported box, the size and length of the port. Fortunately, there are a number of free programs that do the complex math for this based on the Thiele-Small parameters of the woofer. For example, a popular Excel-based program is Unibox.
Once designed, you will need to build the enclosure. You can search online for advice on building speaker boxes, or ask on your favorite online forum. When building the enclosure, you may wish to build a separate sub-enclosure for the plate amplifier. A rebate for the amplifier is optional, but does result in a neater finish.
The drivers will need to be connected to the leads from the amplifier. A convenient way to do this for most drivers is to solder push-fit terminals onto the leads. Or, you can solder directly to the terminals on each driver.
3. Get connected [Top]
Once the speakers are assembled, make the connections to the amplifiers:
- Power, via the supplied IEC cable
- Ethernet, to your local area network, using the supplied Ethernet cable
- Audio, using either analog RCA, analog XLR, or digital XLR
If using digital input, a normal S/PDIF (RCA/coax) digital source can be connected with an RCA to XLR adapter cable. Alternatively, a transformer adapter such the Canare BCJ-XP-TRB with a BNC-RCA adapter can be used. If you have an AES/EBU digital source (pro balanced connection), then an XLR-XLR cable is used. To connect the second speaker, simply connect an XLR-XLR cable from the digital output of the first amp to the digital input of the second amp.
Note that, even if your audio connection is digital, you may need to use analog connections to hook the amplifier input to your measuring system. If you do, make sure to disconnect any digital sources and the link cable while doing your measurements.
Finally, the Ethernet connection is only needed for configuring the amplifiers, and is not needed for normal operation. Once everything has been configured to your satisfaction, the Ethernet cable can be disconnected.
4. Configure the amplifiers [Top]
Double-click on the PWR_ICE2_1x2 application to run it. After a short time, you should see the two amplifiers appear in the "Device Tree".
Initially, the amplifiers will have generic names but you can rename them so that you know which is which. Click on one of the amps in the Device tree and wait for it to load. Then click on the entry box next to Now connected to:, type in the desired name for that amp, and press Return. You will get a message saying that you need to reboot the amplifier - turn the amplifier off and back on again, and it will reappear in the Device Tree with the new name.
While you're there, set both amplifiers for either analog or digital input, depending on how you have them connected. And set one for left channel input, and the other for right channel input. Note that, for a two-way speaker, the Amplifier mode selector must be set to Stereo.
5. Develop the crossover [Top]
The equalization and crossover is done in the two output channel sections to the right of the main screen. We will use Channel 1 for the woofer and Channel 2 for the tweeter - you can provide each channel with individual names by clicking on the default "Output 1" and "Output 2" text and typing over it.
There are two main parts to developing a DSP crossover. The first is to equalize each driver individually, to a flat response, using the PEQ block in each output channel. The second is to add the crossover filter using the Xover block of each channel. The procedures are described in detail in the following app notes:
6. Configure the second speaker [Top]
Once you are happy with the crossover and equalization for the first speaker, you will need to configure the second speaker. The simplest way to do this is to first save the configuration to a file:
Then, in the Device Tree, click on the other amplifier, and load the configuration file into it. You will then need to change the channel selection button back to the correct channel. Then set the two speakers up in their normal positions in your listening room and listen to the results of your work!
What's next? [Top]
Loudspeaker design is not a simple "straight line" process. You can continue to tweak the EQ and crossovers on your speakers over time. And here are some more advanced things that you can also try:
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Measure room acoustics with your DSP speakers in it. You can use the input PEQ block of each amplifier to add EQ for room acoustics. See the app note Acoustic measurement with the UMIK-1 and REW.
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Build a subwoofer. A third PWR-ICE125/250 amplifier can be used to power a subwoofer that will integrate into a complete DSP-controlled system. See the app note Building a DSP-controlled subwoofer with the PWR-ICE125.
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Linearize the phase of your complete system. This can be done with a miniDSP OpenDRC-DI or OpenDRC-AN. For more information, see the app note The rePhase FIR tool.
Related Products - PWR-ICE series
Building a DSP-controlled subwoofer with the PWR-ICE125
In this application note, we will show you how to design and build your own DSP-controlled subwoofer with the miniDSP PWR-ICE125 DSP plate amplifier. Note that a similar project could be built with the PWR-ICE250 if added power is required.
- What you will need
- 1. Select the subwoofer driver
- 2. Design and build the enclosure
- 3. Get connected
- 4. Configure the amplifiers
- 5. Measure and equalize the subwoofer
- What's next?
What you will need [Top]
- One ICE-PWR125 plate amp OR PWR-ICE250
- A subwoofer driver (see text below).
- Ability to run acoustic measurements. You will need a measurement program such as Room EQ Wizard (REW) and measurement hardware such as the UMIK-1.
- Optionally, a microphone stand with boom arm (the UMIK-1 is supplied with a small stand that can be rested on a table or the back of a sofa.)
1. Select the subwoofer driver [Top]
If you are building your DSP-controlled subwoofer from scratch, you will need to select the driver. There are dozens if not hundreds of good quality subwoofer drivers available for DIY use ranging in size from 6" to 21", but drivers in the 10-15" range are typically a good match for the PWR-ICE125. For higher rating, we'd recommend you to select the PWR-ICE250. It can be used with a 4 ohm driver, but if it will be driven hard or in a pro sound application, an 8 ohm driver is recommended.
It may also be possible for you to convert an existing subwoofer, either from a passive configuration (external amplifier) or to replace an existing plate amplifier. In this case, you will need to remove the internal amplifier or binding posts and modify the enclosure to fit the miniDSP plate amp.
2. Design and build the enclosure [Top]
If you are building your own enclosure, you will need to design it for the subwoofer driver you have chosen. The most important factor is the internal volume and, if it's a ported box, the size and length of the port. Fortunately, there are a number of free programs that do the complex math for this based on the Thiele-Small parameters of the woofer. For example, a popular Excel-based program is Unibox.
Once designed, you will need to build the enclosure. You can search online for advice on building subwoofer boxes or ask on your favorite online forum. When building the enclosure, we recommend that for most applications, a separate sub-enclosure be built for the plate amplifier, and this sub-enclosure have air-flow vents above and below the amplifier for maximum cooling.
For subwoofer use, the PWR-ICE125/250 is run in BTL (bridge-tied load) mode. This means that both channels of the amplifier are used to power the one subwoofer driver, so the two red wires from the amplifier must be connected to the subwoofer terminals. The two black leads can be cut, insulated with electrical tape, or a pointed tool used to remove the center two pins from the 4-way connector that plugs into the amp.
3. Get connected [Top]
Once the subwoofer is assembled, make the connections to the amplifier:
- Power, via the supplied IEC cable
- Ethernet, to your local area network, using the supplied Ethernet cable
- Audio, using either analog RCA, analog XLR, or digital XLR
For use in a conventional two-channel system, the subwoofer amplifier will take its audio signal from both left and right stereo channels. For analog input, use Y-splitters and connect both left and right channels to the subwoofer inputs. If connecting to an A/V receiver or preamp with a Sub Out connection, only a single cable is needed.
For digital input, a normal S/PDIF (RCA/coax) digital source can be connected with an RCA to XLR adapter cable. Alternatively, a transformer adapter such the Canare BCJ-XP-TRB with a BNC-RCA adapter can be used. If you have an AES/EBU digital source (pro balanced connection), then an XLR-XLR cable is used. Note that, even if your audio connection is digital, you may need to use analog connections to hook the amplifier input to your measuring system. If you do, make sure to disconnect any digital sources while doing your measurements.
Finally, the Ethernet connection is only needed for configuring the amplifier and is not needed for normal operation. Once everything has been configured to your satisfaction, the Ethernet cable can be disconnected.
4. Configure the amplifier [Top]
Double-click on the PWR_ICE2_1x2 application to run it. After a short time, you should see the amplifier appear in the "Device Tree" under "Ethernet Device." To rename it, click on the amp in the Device tree and wait for it to load. Then click on the entry box next to Now connected to:, type in the desired name for that amp, and press Return. You will get a message saying that you need to reboot the amplifier - turn the amplifier off and back on again, and it will reappear in the Device Tree with the new name.
If the subwoofer is being driven from a dedicated subwoofer signal, such as the Sub output from an A/V receiver or A/V preamp, select the analog input that you connected to above. If the subwoofer is being integrated into a two-channel system and you connected both left and right input channels, select "Mixed L&R."
Also select analog or digital input, depending on whether you have connected an analog or digital source. Finally, you must make sure to set the Amplifier mode to "BTL." This will reconfigure the DSP to drive the power amplifier as a single channel.
5. Measure and equalize the subwoofer [Top]
With the subwoofer in position in the room, you can now measure its response! Use one of the following app notes to get started with measurements:
Equalization can be done in either of the PEQ blocks, using the Auto-EQ function of REW. Make sure to set the Equalizer type in REW to "MiniDSP-96k," as the PWR-ICE125/250 runs at 96 kHz. See the following app note for details on how to use the Auto-EQ function (with the change of equaliser type as just noted):
You can use the Xover block to add a low pass filter, to remove all but subwoofer frequencies. This will be necessary if integrating into a two-channel system, and may or may not be helpful if integrating into a home theater system. You can also add a high pass filter at any frequency down to 10 Hz to remove extreme low frequencies, which can help to protect the driver from over-excursion if you have built a ported subwoofer.
What's next? [Top]
Once you have your subwoofer set up and working to your satisfaction, there are still lots of things you can do! Here are some ideas:
- Experiment with positioning. The location of a subwoofer in the room can have a dramatic effect on the measured response.
- Build another one! Using more than one subwoofer can help to even out room modes, as well as increase levels and headroom.
- Use a Linkwitz transform to extend its low end response (applies to sealed subwoofers only). For more information, see the app note Linkwitz Transform.