New Circuit Protection Devices For Loudspeaker Systems

24 DESIGN IDEAS The contents of this column are based solely on information supplied by the author and do not imply practical experience by Elektor Electronics. NEW CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICES FOR LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEMS by Derek Overton* A novel type of circuit-protection device is now available to protect loudspeaker systems from damage. Loudspeakers are generally designed and sold separately from amplifiers. Thus, mismatches may occur that can lead to damage. It should be noted that modern digital recordings often place additional burdens on an audio system. Speaker damage may result from a num- ber of factors, including the following. • High-power amplifiers may simply overdrive the speech coils with ex- cessive power on sustained programme material. • Digital recordings, with their ability to reproduce high-frequency sound, place an extra strain on tweeters. • Low-power amplifiers may be oper- ated in clipping mode, which causes an upward frequency shift of power into the tw...