WHAT IS SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE?
System architecture is simply the design strategy
used
to assemble the radio, speakers, and any
additional amplifiers in order to maximize the overall system performance. Is the system two-way
or three-way?
Are
the
crossovers passive or active?
Are the amplifiers being operated in bridge
mode or stereo mode? All of these questions are answered in the outline diagram of the system.
A completely passive system can often sound as good as a completely active one if care is taken
in the component choice, speaker location choice, and the final installation.
Rarely is a 4x20 watt receiver and four coaxial speakers going to provide an impressive
performance. By moving to some good component speakers for the mids and highs (“satellite
speakers”) and adding a separate subwooofer speaker, overall performance is areatlv improved.
Noted below are a couple of popular
systems that can tremendously
improve the performance but with reasonable cost and complexity.
ADD-ON
Changing to component speakers for the mids
and highs greatly improves the tonal quality
and imaging over simple factory speaker
installations. In most cases, the factory radio
with its 4x20 watts is adequate for these
components. Also, the factory radio may be
installed in a cosmetically non-removable
fashion so this approach
will solve many
installation problems.
Even with the addition of the component
speakers the sonic “impact” of a system is
often dictated by the low frequency response.
By adding a subwoofer and a basic 100 watt
amplifier the low
performance can now
offer the complementary ‘wow” effect of the
bass to the sonic accuracy of the component
speakers.
MULTI-CHANNEL HIGH POWER
Moving up to a 4x50 watt satellite channel
amplifier powering four sets of components
and a 2x100 watt subwoofer amplifier
powering 2 subwoofers can offer stunning
performance!
The increase in amplifier power helps reduce
“clipping” which yields a “cracking” type of
sound which can damage nearly any speaker
over time. The tonal accuracy of the system is
also often improved because the amplifiers
are no longer strained at high listening levels.
Passive X-over Receiver (4x20 W)
Amplifier (1x100 W)
Subwoofer
Tuner
Sub Amplifier (2x100
Subwoofers
