m

ACTIVE MINI SUBWOOFER frequencies ts also taken into account in

recordmg studtos.

Circuit description
Design by T. Giesberts The ctrcutt diagram of the electronics
part of the active subwoofers is shown in
Fig.4.
The correction filteris formed by ICld.
Most proprietary subwoofers require you to be weil-off and ICle. and ICIb. It is sub-dtvtded into two
strong: the first to be able to afford them and the second to be low-pass sections. The first. a third-order
able to litt them. The active unit presentedhere does not cost section constsung ofICld arid IC1c• has a
fixed cut-offfrequency. The second, based
the earth and can be moved readily even if you are not a on lCIb, has a cut-off frequency that can
trained weightlitter. Even so, its performance stands be vaned with PI' This arrangement makes
comparison with many a commercial unit. it possible to vary the frequency charac-
teristic (that Is. the amount ofbass) to a

A loudspeaker system that has be-

.n..come very popular over the paat
few years is a combtnation of a sub-
woofer and tWQ medium/high speak-
ers. Since human hearing is not (ar
hardly) directional as far as low fre-
quencies are concerned, ONE sub-
woofer suffices in most cases and this

o
may be situated below a settee or a

0.
table without its performance being
affected. Since the medium/high fre-
queney uruts are also farrly small, the
entire speaker system is ideal where
there is not much space Cf If you
dori't want your living roorn taken up
by the spaker system.

The drive unit

Ihe drive unit used in the prototype is Type
SPP-llO/8fromMonacor. Thedatasheet
of this unit gives cut-off frequencies combined with that of a 2litre enclosure small extent: this is shown forthe two ex-
(-3 dB potnts) of 50 Hz and 8000 Hz. The gtves an overall characteristic as shown treme positions of the potentiometer in
frequency charactertstic is shown in Fig. 1. in Fig. 3. Fig. 5. The output ofthe corection filter
A low cut-offfrequency of 50 Hz is fine In order to raise the low frequencres. is taken from ptn 7 oflCI and applied to
for good bass perfcrmance. However, this a 55 W power amplifier is provided. The the power amplifier via Cs.
requires an encIosure wtth a (specified) amplifier also corrects the frequency sen- The power amplifier consists of an in-
volume ofnot less than 5litres, whtch is sitivity of the human ear. Human hear- tegrated input stagc. IC1a, dnver stages
what we do not want to use for a MINI ing is much less sensitive to low fre- T2 and T3' and output stagce T4 and TS.
subwoofer. The present destgn uses a quencies than to medium and high fre- At the onset of a (sinusoidal) stgnal
volume of 2 litres. which shifts the low quencies. Thus, more sound press ure from ICI" the bases of both T2 and T3
cut-offfrequency tc 120 Hz. To brtngthis (read: amplifier power) is needed to en- areat zero volts. Durtng the positive half
back to about 50 Hz, a correction network sure that low frequencies sound as loud ofthe stgnal, T3is offand T2begins to con-
with a frequency charactertsttc shown as other. high er, frequencies. This re- duct when tts base-errutter potential rises
in Fig. 2 is used. This charactertsttc. duced scnsttivtty ofthe human ear to low above +0.6 V. During the negative half,
the roles are reversed: T2 is offand T3 be-
gins to conduct when its base-emitter
voltage drops below -0.6 V. The wave-
SPP~110/8

~1...
forms of the input stgnal and the poten-
se
'~Tl~ ~ .. " ~ tial developed across R21 are shown in
Fig. 6. The kinks in the voltage across
R21 show that stgnal is distorted to an ap-
1 11 1 1 h. preciable extent.
1/ I v~ This eross-over distortion is eltmt-
nated by the use of Tj . Since the degree
1 to which this transistor conducts is de-
termtned by the setting of P2, the tran-

N H. .00 .. .
-
936047)( -11
.~ sistor may be considered as a poten-
tiometer-see Fig. 7. This potentiometer
enables the bases ofT2and T3to be biased
wtth +0.6 Vand -0.6 Vrespectively. This
means that even in quiescent operation.
Fig. 1. Frequency characteIistic of the drive uniL that is. when tbere ts 00 input signat

ELEKTOR ELECTRONlCSJULY/AUGUST 1995

 MINI SUBWOOFER

dB

Galn
,,00~--~~~-4~~~H-----+-~--~~~+
··1/ . i 0
i./ _ ..
i
[dB] ....•....

.oof--·· -+/---+1
.•••..•. +-+.. ++M+-~ +--_+-+ ++++t1
)--tf.. -+-++-'H++
'~'f--
•••• •• j\-I~--+-
••••. ..++-.....
-+-.... f++H
.....

'.00 .1:.... ·30

·4.00

" '00
trequency [H:tJ -----+ .,..n;·13
.. 100 '00
Hz --+
500 1k

936047X -14

Fig. 2. Bccause the drive unit ts fitted in too small an en- Fig. 3. The lower frequencies attenuated by the box are
closure, the lower cut-off frequency shifts to about 120 Hz. amplified by a corrcction fllter.

(Uin = 0 V], a small current flows through of conduction. This arrangement ensures tentiometer so as to compensate for the
T2 and T3. If then a stgnal ts input, the that the DU tput signal shows no eross-over temperature dependence ofT 2-T5' Stnce
relevant transistor will switch on tmme distortion. Tl is also affected by the ambient tern-
diately. since it was already on the verge Transistor Tl ts used instead of a po- perature, lhe transistor varies the bias
toT2 and T3 in accordancewith
ternperature vartattons. Thts
in turn ensures that the qut-
escent current through the out-
put tranststors ts keptconstant.
es '"
56k2 The output ofthe power stages
is applied to the loudspeakervi.a
1DO~

a relay. This relay ts energtzed.

after a short delay when the
'" mains supply to the unit is
0'"-jfG!""..Ch!r,,;:;,,;J. ~,;;;"
Al R:I R4
...,h"l switched on, and denergrzed
immediately the supply ts
" switched off. Thts prevents an-
noying cltcks to be emitted by
the speaker.
The power supply forthe elec-
tronice ts stratghtforward anel

'"... 30V
tradittorial Isee Fig. 8). The
supply lines to the op amps
" + must be stabilized and thts ts
" '" effected by regulators lC2 and
IC3 in Ftg. 4.

Building the circuit

BDT88
The circuit ts intended to be
built on the prtnted-circurt board
in Fig. 9. Populate the board in
the tradtttonal way. starttng
with the wire bridges and fin-
ishing with capacitors C 17 and
ICl "Tl074
CIB·
Use solder Ups for connections

~f.~~
~'5V B0139 that carry large currents as

*~
shown in thecJose-up inFig. 10.
It ts also advisable to fit suit-
B0T87
able solder tags to the (heavy-

.M.
dutyl wirestothepowersupply
L--Ee15V e
RB1 E 'I2JQ37·AOOD5-Al01 IA
II36O<ITlt·15
30V
andloudspeaker.
The connections to PI must
be in screened cable to prevent
hum caused by stray Ilelds.
Sold er the screen of thte cable
Fig. 4. Circuit diagram of the active filter and power amplifier. to theearth point on the board.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS JULY/AUGUST 1995

 AUDIO & HI-FI

Use screened cable also for the link from

the input to the board and keep it as
........
"'ul .....
-: ~I
--
short as feasible.
~
When the board is finished (Fig. 11),
,B
41 ... Y

it must be mounted on to the aluminium

back cover of the enclosure as shown in
Fig. 11 and Fig. 13. The he at sink must
J be screwed on to this cover on the out-

f
side after a reetangular opening has been
made in the cover through which the
'.. .. .......
.. _"'~
~ ..
0 o
... ..
o
transistors protrude (since these must,
ofcourse, be screwed to the heat sink. Note
that they must be insulated from the heat
sink by means of ceramic washers and
heat conducting paste). Awiring diagram
Fig. 5. Overall frequency characteristics for the two extreme positions of PI' for the back cover assembly is grven in
Fig. 12. The deslgn is based on the use

f\ f\ f\ f\ f\
tT
Tr
1
o-__

V VVVV
U'n 2X_2~2VNA8~1~(8_0_VA~) ,

S ::.

'V :

··
··
Vo+----+J
..
c!§18

936047X - 20 30V
936047X·19

Fig. 6. Cross-over distortion is caused by Fig. 7. For clarity's sake, Fig. 8. The power supply must be
the base-emitter voltage threshold TI is replaced by a built separately since the board does
having to exceed a certain value. poten tiometer. not allow for it.

Fig. 9. Printed-circuit board for the active filter and power amplifier.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS JULY IAUGUST 1995

 ACTIVE MINI SUBWOOFER

Setting up
The setting up consists merely of ad-
justing lhe quiescent CUITent with PI'
This done by replacing fise F1 with an
ammeter. set to the mA range. Short -cir-
cutt the input ofthe amplifier and swttch
on the mains. Note the meter readtng. say.
x mA. Vary PI until the meter reads
(x+ 5) mA.

Usage
The subwoofer can be connected to the
left-hand or to the right -hand channel out-
put ofthe power amplifier. since record-
tngs are invariably made so that each
channel has the same bass frequencies
available. Anyone not enttrely happy
with Ws can use the auxiliary ctrcutt in
Fig. 17. The subwoofer must, of course,
be supplemented by two medium/high
frequency speakers as ShO\VT1 in Fig. 18.

Parts list
R1.RII=lOkQ
Fig. 10. Car -type flat connectors are ideal for use with large currents. R2-R4 = 16.9 kfl. 1%
RS' R7 = 10.0 kfl, 1%
I<ß. Rs = 56.2 kfl. 1%
of a toroidalmains transformer, whieh has types ofwood orwoodboard may be used. Rg. RiO= 7.50 kQ. 1%
the advantage of producing only a weak The eutting diagram for the various pan- R12, RI6 = 1 kQ
stray field.lt is fitted on to the bottom panel els is shown inFig. 15. The finished box. RI3 = 18 kfl
ofthe enclosure onee this has been com- ready forvarnishing or patnttng. is shown R14,R23 = 220 Q
pleted. in Fig. 16. When the drive u nit , finished RIS = 1.2 kQ
ampltfter and mains trarisformer have R17,RIS = 5.62 kQ, 1%
Enclosure been fitted. fill the box with with suit- R19' R20= 120 Q
able sound-damptng material. fit the alu- R21=47Q, 5W
The prototype enclosure is made from minium rear panel, and make sure that R22= 150fl,5W
10 mm thickchipboard, which is streng the box is made airiight (use a proprietary PI = 5 kD.. linear, stereo potentiometer
and easy to work with. However, other sealing compound). P2 = 1 kfl preset

Capacitors:
CI =270nF
C2 = 1 pF, 63 V, polypropylene
C3 = 18 nF
C4 = 680 nF
Cs, Cl!' CI2 = 100 nF
C6= 120nF
C7 = 56 nF
Cs = 330 nF
C9 = 22 pF
CIO = 100 j.lF, 10 V, radial
C13. Cl4 = 10 ).lF,25 V. radial
CIS. CI6 = 220 nF
C17. CIS = 10.000 p F, 35 V, radial for
board mounting
CI9 = 100 p F, 40 V. radial

Semiconductors:
01, O2 = IN4002
Tl, T2 = B0139
T3 = B0140
T4 = BOT88
Ts = BOT87

Integrated circuits:
ICI = TL074
IC2 = 7815
IC3=7915

Fig. 11. Ftrushed prototype board. Miscellaneous:

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICSJULY/AUGUST 1995

AUDIO & HI-FI

Fig. 12. Wirtng diagram of the mini

subwoofer.

\
\
'\ 0

\.

Fig. 13. One stage in the construction

of the subwoofer ...

Fig. 14. The completed electronics

,
part of the subwoofers.
,
,
thiekn8SS'" lOmm , o 0

, ,,
~,------- -- --,. ·0
122
allumlnlum reer panel
17611122t3mm
i
vlew Ä-A 0100
L _

,,-- -- -- --- - - - ---

150

936047X - 22

Fig. 15. Construction diagram of the enclosure for the subwoofer. Fig. 16. The 'bare' enclosure.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS JULY/AUGUST 1995

 Please mention ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS when contacting advertisers m
LOW COST DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
ECALcomprises a versatile relocatable assembler with The PC based ECAL hardware emulator is fully
integral editor which runs about ten times faster than integrated with the assembler. Connection is made to
typical assemblers. Support includes 4, 8, 16 & 32 bit the target through the eprom socket so a single pod
processor farnilies including can support an processors.
75X, 6502, 6809, 68HC05/ll, Facilities include windows for
8031/51,H8-300,78K,PICs, ST6 the inspection or change of
& Z80/180,68000, 80C196, H8- registers or memory. You can
500 & Z280. even watch your prograrn
executing at source level!
ECAL is either available for a
Download time is about two
single processor farnily or alJ
seconds!
farnilies.
Pods can be daisy-chained for
Single processor version ~295 16/32 bit systems.
Multiprocessor version .... ~395
Applications include software
development, hardware
Overseas debug, test and, finally,
distributors teaching about micro-
required controllers in education.
ECALemulator H75
OEMJlLtd.,
7 & 7A Brook Lane, Ouantity discounts 01
Warsash, up '0
50% malre ECJU.
Southampton S03J 9FH
TeJ:OJ489 57J300 . - . .
so~areideallOr
education.
Fax: OJ489 885853

Re] = relay 24 V. 1100 n, p], F2=fuse 1A washers (TO-220)

1 make contact Mains transformer, e.g. ILP 310 15: Heat conducnng paste as needed
Ls1:= drive u nf t, Monacor SPPlIO/B or 2x22 V/l.81 A Audio input plug
equtvalent Mains entry plug with integral 19360471
Heat sink (T1-T5), <1.5 K W-] fuseholder and switch
e.g. SK71/75 SA' Soldering pins and lugs as needed

Five ceramic
audioplug

walkman

/output
headphone
i 2x 4k7
inplug

mlnt- jackplug
L_J}. .....:JIlCJ-:,
-
10
&ubwoofer

audloplug
, _ _-_.L1l.,-~r-

936047)(· 23

Fig, 17. The completed box wtth electronics

fltted. Fig. 18. How to connect the subwoofer to the sound output.

ELEKTORELECTRONICS JULY/AUGUST ]995