How does Tweeter Attenuator actually work?

Chrisk-K · #1 02-28-2011, 02:06 PM

Does it control the overall volume of the tweeter itself? Or does it control the amount of audio signal going to the tweeter (in this case the tweeter is always 100% on)?

billfitzmaurice · #2 02-28-2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisk-K

Does it control the overall volume of the tweeter itself? Or does it control the amount of audio signal going to the tweeter (in this case the tweeter is always 100% on)?

It burns off power as heat.

BurningSkies · #3 02-28-2011, 02:40 PM

To add to what Bill is saying, its almost always a resistive load between source and speaker. If its not an adjustable attenuator, then you have a network of resistors in series with the speaker as well as some in parallel to ground.

If you have a knob for adjustment, you'll have a potentiometer in the place of the resistors.

Chrisk-K · #4 02-28-2011, 03:42 PM

I'm talking about a tweeter adjustment knob. Is it like a volume knob?

BurningSkies · #5 02-28-2011, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisk-K

I'm talking about a tweeter adjustment knob. Is it like a volume knob?

Give or take...

...but actually it is the reverse of a volume knob. Because your cab doesn't have power on its own, any controls on it are passive, meaning that you can attenuate, but you can't boost.