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BSS FDS-366T features new filter technology


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Introduced by BSS Audio in late 2003, the FDS-366T sports an entirely new generation of audio filters that already has the audio industry perked at attention. The two filter types for the FDS-366T are designed around the Australian Whiseworks - Neville Thiele Method filters and BSS Audio are the first pro audio manufacturer to embrace the new technology. These filters are comparable to Linkwitz-Riley 36dB/oct and 48db/oct, but with improved performance and steeper roll-off slopes of 36dB and 52dB per octave respectively.
Like the Linkwitz-Riley topology, it maintains zero phase difference between adjacent bands throughout the crossover region and therefore no polar pattern shift occurs as frequencies move through the crossover region. It maintains a flat magnitude response when acoustically summed.
The main advantage of the greater roll-off slope is that loudspeaker designers should be able to open up the bandwidths of drivers and get more efficiency over the frequency range. Most setups that use Linkwitz-Riley crossovers could be substituted by the Whiseworks - NTM filters. It should not be necessary to readjust any other settings, although speaker manufacturers and other high-tech users may be able to further optimize crossover frequencies when using the new filters.
"The electrical summation between bands with the new filters is razor flat, I couldn't believe what I was seeing," said Martin "Ferrit" Rowe of Promix/Electrotec (Las Vegas). "They allowed me to put more power to the devices without fear of overload or over-excursion. Once adjusted, sounds better than standard filters. The system seemed louder and clearer. We were setting off alarms in the car park!"
In the UK, Britannia Row's Jerry Wing commented " These filters are the biggest step forward in digital cross-over technology since Linkwitz-Riley. Significantly lower distortion artifacts, increased clarity, greater projection coupled with a closer tighter sound are among the benefits of using these new filters."
The FDS-366T builds upon the audiophile features of the original 366, in that the high-performance 96kHz sample rate combined with 24 bit A/D/A conversion yields greater than 114dB dynamic range. AES/EBU digital input, Alignment Assistant, Automatic phase compensation and 3 inputs/6 outputs round out this tour sound power tool.
Recently, the FDS-366 has been the FOH processing of choice on tour with Audio Analysts, Adlib Audio, Britannia Row, On Stage Audio, Promix/Electrotec and many other leading tour sound companies.
Existing FDS-366 owners can upgrade to V2.0 by registering their units on the BSS Audio website.
Jerry Wing of Britannia Row
Andy Dockerty of Adlib Sound
©  11/2003 pro-music-news

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