Damping

This refers to the reduction in physical energy or resonance by losses. Damping may be intentional or unintentional but can always be seen as a loss. It occurs in mechanical and electrical and other systems. Damping is measured in terms of Q. The following rules apply to loudspeakers: 1. If damping is low (high Q), low frequencies are dispersed more strongly but bass signals fade slowly. 2. If damping is high (low Q) bass reproduction will be more powerful but the frequency response will fade earlier. With loudspeakers we differentiate between four kinds of damping: 1. Rms: The driver's mechanical losses, in kg/s 2. Ql: The system's Q at (Fb), due to absorption losses in the cabinet 3. Qes: The system's Q at resonance (Fs), due to electrical losses in the loudspeaker 4. Qec: The driver's Q at resonance (Fc), due to electrical losses in the crossover