You can build a high-pass crossover network using an electrolytic capacitor.
Current technologies used to build speakers work optimally over frequency ranges narrower than what the human ear can perceive. High-end speakers tend, therefore, to be able to reproduce only a subset of the audible spectrum with maximum fidelity. Crossover networks take the output of a sound system and filter some frequencies out before allowing the remaining frequencies to reach each speaker. Crossover networks can either filter out frequencies lower or higher than a threshold; networks of the first type are called "high-pass", while networks of the second type are called "low-pass". The main electronic components used in crossover networks are coils and capacitors. In particular, electrolytic capacitors are a popular choice due to their relatively high capacitances in a small form factor.
Instructions
1. Determine the threshold frequency F for the crossover network. The specific way of performing this step depends on the information made available by the manufacturer of the speakers. For example, if the manufacturer publishes a curve of distortion as a function of frequency, choose the lowest frequency at which distortion remains below 1%.
2. Find out the impedance M of the speakers. This information is typically made available by the manufacturer.
3. Compute the capacitance of the electrolytic capacitor you need to build the crossover network, by evaluating the following formula:
C = 1 / (2 x Pi x M x F)
4. Connect an electrolytic capacitor of capacitance C in series between the sound system output and the speakers. The crossover network customized to your system is now in place and ready to operate.
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