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Operating Manual-4048A digital signal processor
Butterworth
Butterworth filters individually are always -3dB at the displayed crossover frequency and are used because
they have a "maximally flat" passband and sharpest transition to the stopband. When a Butterworth HPF and LPF of
the same crossover frequency are summed, the combined response is always +3dB. With 12dB per octave Butterworth
crossover filters, one of the outputs must be inverted or else the combined response will result in a large notch at the
crossover frequency.
Bessel
These filters, as implemented on the 4048A, are always -3dB at the displayed crossover frequency. Bessel
filters are used because they have a maximally flat group delay. Stated another way, Bessel filters have the most linear
phase response. When a Bessel HPF and LPF of the same crossover frequency are summed, the combined response is
+3dB for 12dB/oct and 18dB/oct Bessel filters, and -3dB for 24dB/oct Bessel filters. One of the outputs must be
inverted when using either 12dB/oct or 18dB/oct Bessel crossover filters or else the combined response will have a
large notch.
Linkwitz-Riley
The 12 dB/oct and 24dB/oct Linkwitz-Riley filters individually are always -6dB at the displayed crossover
frequency, however the 18dB/oct Linkwitz filters individually are always -3dB at the displayed crossover frequency.
The reason for this is that Linkwitz-Riley filters are defined in terms of performance criterion on the summing of two
adjacent crossover HPF and LPF filters, rather than defined in terms of the pole-zero characteristics of individual
filters. The 18dB/oct Linkwitz-Riley individually are 18dB/oct Butterworth filters in that they have Butterworth pole-
zero characteristics and also satisfy the criterion for Linkwitz-Riley filters.
When a Linkwitz-Riley HPF and LPF of the same displayed crossover frequency are summed, the combined
response is always flat. With 12dB/oct Linkwitz-Riley crossover filters, one of the outputs must be inverted or else the
combined response will have a large notch at the crossover frequency.