CAT Amplifiers and Loudspeakers Flashcards
6 cards from real CAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CAT Amplifiers and Loudspeakers flashcards as text
What does the term 'power compression' describe in a loudspeaker?
Answer: Reduction in output sensitivity as the voice coil heats under sustained power
Power compression occurs as the voice coil heats up and its DC resistance increases, reducing current flow and therefore acoustic output for the same input voltage.
Which protection circuit in a power amplifier prevents high-frequency oscillation from destroying the output transistors?
Answer: Zobel network (snubber) on the output
A Zobel network (RC snubber) is placed across the output to damp high-frequency parasitic oscillations that can arise from reactive speaker loads and output inductance.
When calculating total system impedance for speakers wired in parallel, which formula applies to two 8 Ω speakers?
Answer: (8 × 8) / (8 + 8) = 4 Ω
Two equal impedance speakers in parallel follow the product-over-sum rule: (Z1 × Z2)/(Z1 + Z2) = 64/16 = 4 Ω.
What does 'headroom' mean in the context of power amplifier selection?
Answer: The difference in dB between the amplifier's continuous rating and its peak capability
Headroom refers to the extra dynamic power an amplifier can deliver for brief transients above its continuous rated output, typically expressed in dB.
What is the primary advantage of using a coaxial loudspeaker driver?
Answer: The high- and low-frequency drivers share the same acoustic center, improving off-axis coherence
A coaxial driver positions the tweeter at the center of the woofer cone so both elements radiate from the same point, improving time alignment and coherence especially at the crossover frequency.
What does a DSP-based loudspeaker management system allow a technician to do that passive crossovers cannot?
Answer: Independently adjust time alignment, EQ, limiting, and crossover for each driver in real time
A DSP processor provides full digital control over each driver path including delay (time alignment), parametric EQ, high/low-pass crossovers, and limiters, all adjustable without hardware changes.