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Multi-tone Distortion

Characteristics:

 KLIPPEL R&D SystemKLIPPEL QC System

Relative multi-tone distortion

 MTONMTD

Distortion-noise-ratio

MTONMTD

A nonlinear system generates new spectral components which are not in the stimulus. In addition to harmonics, the fundamental components interact with each other and generate difference-tone and summed-tone components in the output signal which can easily be identified in a two-tone signal. Using a multi-tone stimulus, the number of distortion products rises quickly with the number of fundamental components, and order of the components can not be identified anymore. However, the multi-tone stimulus has similar properties like the pink noise, the organ tone or other audio signals, and the distortion can easily be separated from the fundamental components by using a FFT which is synchronous to the stimulus length.

KLIPPEL R&D SYSTEM (development)

Module

Comment
Multi-Tone Measurement (MTON)

MTON module provides an automatic multi-tone measurement sequence to reach the maximum SPL below a multi-tone distortion threshold. In addition, maximal compression and maximal increase of temperature of the voice coil can be defined to avoid the destruction of the device under test (DUT) during the measurement.

KLIPPEL QC SYSTEM

Module

Comment
Multi-Tone Distortion Task (MTD)

The Multi-Tone Distortion Task (MTD) is an add-on to the QC end-of-line test system. This module can be inserted as a test step (task) in any existing QC test. It is based on multi-tone test signals. The MTD is compliant to IEC 60268-21.

The figure above illustrates the interpretation of the multi-tone distortion measurement applied to a woofer system. The suspension generates distortion close to the resonance frequency fs. Force factor Bl(x) generates significant intermodulation througho
The figure above illustrates the interpretation of the multi-tone distortion measurement applied to a woofer system. The suspension generates distortion close to the resonance frequency fs. Force factor Bl(x) generates significant intermodulation throughout the audio band. The distortion generated by inductance nonlinearity L(x), L(i) and Doppler rise to higher frequencies.
The figure above shows the results of three different distortion measurements. The blue curve shows high values of harmonic distortion (THD in dB) at low frequencies where the displacement is high but decreases by 40 dB (below 1 %) at higher frequencies.
The figure above shows the results of three different distortion measurements. The blue curve shows high values of harmonic distortion (THD in dB) at low frequencies where the displacement is high but decreases by 40 dB (below 1 %) at higher frequencies. A two-tone stimulus with a constant bass tone at 50 Hz generates significant intermodulation of the second tone anywhere in the audio band. The multi-tone stimulus is distributed over the full audio band generating smaller voice coil peak displacement and less intermodulation than the critical two-tone signal, but the distortion level is still 20 dB above the harmonics.

Templates of KLIPPEL products

Name of the Template

Application

LPM multitone distortion SP1

Multi-tone distortion at high amplitudes (see Application Note AN 16) using standard current sensor 1

Diagnost. MIDRANGE Sp1

Comprehensive testing of midrange drivers with a resonance 30 Hz < fs < 200 Hz using standard current sensor 1

Diagnost. RUB&BUZZ Sp1

Batch of Rub & Buzz tests with increased voltage (applied to high power devices)

Diagnost. RUB & BUZZ Sp2

Batch of Rub & Buzz tests with increased voltage (applied to low power devices)

Diagnost. SUBWOOFER (Sp1)

Comprehensive testing of subwoofers with a resonance 10 Hz < fs < 70 Hz using standard current sensor 1

Diagnostics MICROSPEAKER Sp2

Comprehensive testing of microspeakers with a resonance 100 Hz < fs < 2 kHz using sensitive current sensor 2

Diagnostics TWEETER (Sp2)

Comprehensive testing of tweeters with a resonance 100 Hz < fs < 2 kHz using sensitive current sensor 2

Diagnostics VENTED BOX SP1

Comprehensive testing of vented box systems using standard current sensor 1

Diagnostics WOOFER (Sp1)

Comprehensive testing of subwoofers with a resonance 30 Hz < fs < 200 Hz using standard current sensor 1

Diagnostics WOOFER Sp1,2

Comprehensive testing of subwoofers with a resonance 30 Hz < fs < 200 Hz using current sensor 1 and 2

MTON Multitone @OUT1; IEC 60268-21 Multi-tone distortion according to IEC60268-21 measured at microphone signal using output OUT1
MTON Multitone @SP1; IEC 60268-21 Multi-tone distortion according to IEC60268-21 measured at microphone signal using output SP1

Standards

Audio Engineering Society
AES2 Recommended practice Specification of Loudspeaker Components Used in Professional Audio and Sound Reinforcement

International Electrotechnical Commission
IEC 60268-5 Sound System Equipment, Part 5: Loudspeakers

Papers and Preprints

W. Klippel, Tutorial “Loudspeaker Nonlinearities - Causes, Parameters, Symptoms,” J. of Audio Eng. Soc. 54, No. 10, pp. 907-939 (2006 Oct.).

E. Czerwinski, et al., “Multitone Testing of Sound System Components' Some Results and Conclusions, Part 2: Modeling and Application,” J. of Audio Eng. Soc. Volume 49, 2001 December, pp. 1181 – 1192.

S. Temme, et al., “A New Method for Measuring Distortion Using a Multitone Stimulus and Noncoherence,” J. of Audio Eng. Soc., Volume 56, 2008 March, pp. 176 – 188.

W. Klippel, “Nonlinear Large-Signal Behavior of Electrodynamic Loudspeakers at Low Frequencies,” J. of Audio Eng. Soc., Volume 40, pp. 483-496 (1992).

A. Voishvillo, “Graphing, Interpretation, and Comparison of Results of Loudspeaker Nonlinear Distortion Measurements,” J. of Audio Eng. Soc., Volume 52, No. 4, pp. 332-357, April 2004.

W. Klippel, “Prediction of Speaker Performance at High Amplitudes,” presented at 111th Convention of the Audio Eng. Soc., 2001 September 21–24, New York, NY, USA.