FINE X-over from Loudsoft

[cadman]

Hi has anybody seen this software looks good

FINE X-over

http://www.loudsoft.com/

does anybody have some reviews on this?

[JonMarsh]

I've been curious when this would be released, having seen their other products last year. It looks fairly capable for a 1.0 release. Now, don't take that as a slam, but consider how sofware development generally works.

Right off the bat my question would be whether it just supports ladder networks for each section (ala LspCAD 5) or if it is a true simulator capable of supporting complex series/parallel networks. LspCAD 6 will do the latter; little else will.

Then, there's LspCAD's support for level and impedance scaling for data files, so measurements from different systems or sources can be normalized and used together. Does this system model inputs for physical positioning and the change in off axis frequency response which is to some degree predictable as a function of driver radiating diameter? Does it model power response over a defined set of forward angles? Can it do predicted polar response on single and multiple driver sets with some accuracy? Does it do room position/boundary modeling for low frequency effects or baffle diffraction modeling? Do you see what I'm getting at? There's a lot of differences in capabilities that go beyond just importing a data set for on axis amplitude and impedance, and modeling parallel network ladder crossover networks and the on axis response using just the imported data magnitude and phase.

But it could be a good start. Developing a really comprehensive design package to compete with the many years of development behind LspCAD and Soundeasy would be a pretty daunting task. There's gotta be something extra, new, or not done by competitors to differentiate in the marketplace.

In comparison, go take a look at Gedlee's SPEAK, which sells for $300, has excellent power/directivity modeling, and waveguide and driver design support as well. Earl Geddes might be said to have a somewhat iconoclastic approach to audio design, but his focus on areas often neglected which have a major impact on perceived sound reproduction is refreshing.

Afterall, one might say, that if two speakers seem to measure very similarly, but don't sound the same, then you're probably not measuring the right things.

~Jon