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other. Thus, two woofers with the same frequency response will necessarily exhibit the same time (phase)
response. However, many crossover networks display non-minimum phase response, and will thereby alter the
phase response of the woofer in the speaker system.
Transient Response Effects
A speaker with poor transient response will store energy, releasing it after the initial musical transient has passed.
This causes a loss of detail and obscures important musical information. Also associated with poor transient
response is a narrow-band resonance, which can emphasize specific notes.
When listening for the low-frequency transient accuracy of a speaker, it will be useful to utilize a broad variety of
recordings. Try playing a rock or jazz group, and listen to the interplay between the drummer and the bassist. Is
it easy to distinguish the kick drum from the bass, or is there a blurring of low-frequency detail caused by the
speaker's time-smear?
To listen for narrow-band low frequency resonances, use a recording with the bass line played by a synthesizer.
As you listen to the bass line, are the individual notes of equal level, or are some of them more prominent than
others? Electronic instruments can be more useful for this test since acoustic instruments have resonances of their
own which can hide flaws in the speaker, unless you are intimately familiar with the instrument and the recording.
Similarly, an electric bass that has been recorded by miking its speaker/amplifier will exhibit the resonances of its
speakers, which are inevitably considerable, masking defects in the loudspeaker under evaluation.(6)
9.5 Conclusion
Most loudspeakers have been designed to perform well in the frequency domain when measured in an anechoic
test chamber. We have seen how this design paradigm produces audible bass distortion and exaggeration. While
these exaggerations may sometimes seem impressive in the short term, they quickly prove to be distracting from
the musical intentions of the composer. At Avalon Acoustics, we design all of our speakers to minimize
resonance and stored energy, thereby ensuring transient accuracy. As you listen to music on Avalon Acoustics
loudspeakers, your enjoyment of the music will grow as you hear the full measure of low-frequency detail,
without exaggeration, and come close to the heart of the artist's intent.
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6 There is a technique known as "direct injection" where the signal from an electric instrument is
connected directly from the amplifier to the recording console, bypassing the speakers. In this instance, an