FIRTEC™.
Finite Impuls Response Technology.
“KS AUDIO is the only manufacturer that measures all its loudspeaker systems individually and corrects the impulse-response to perfection.”
To ensure the best possible equalization of the whole system, the FIR filter works on both tweeter and bass (complete filter) – including therefore, the transition band between both. The measurements required to adjust the FIRTEC coefficient take place on the complete speaker system, including crossover set-up of the drivers, so that the corrections include the complete geometry of the system.
KS Audio measures each speaker system individually and then calibrates it. The room in which the speaker(s) are located can also be taken into account in the measurement.
This means that any particularities of the room can be taken into account when configuring the FIRTEC equalizer. Adjustments can also easily be made via the remote software.
The factory default settings of the FIRTEC filter result from measurements in an acoustically inert room where-by each individual (!) driver is calibrated. Thus, all manufacturing tolerances are already compensated in the calibration.
Of course, the perfect impulse reproduction is supported by all utilized drivers.
Normal situation.
No speaker system has a perfect impulse response.
Electronics such as crossovers, eq but also the amplifier itself influence the impulse response. Even more important are the speaker components where the used materials influence the sound, but also for example the mass inertia of speakers and their ringing. Another factor that should not be underestimated is the enclosure of the loudspeaker, which has a great influence on deviations in impulse behaviour.
No matter how well the system is designed, these physical facts cannot be ignored.
With KS AUDIO FIRTEC™.
By measuring the impulse of the entire loudspeaker system in an anechoic chamber, it is possible to compare the result of this measurement with the source impulse. All differences between the result of this measurement and the source are then compensated by means of FIR.
This ensures that the impulse behaviour of the speaker system including the FIR correction is 1:1 with the impulse behaviour of the source.
Only KS AUDIO does this for each individual speaker system and does not use an average correction.
Translating this to a Line Array for example, every other brand calculates the entire array based on average values while each speaker does not meet those average values. Exactly, therefore, an erroneous correction occurs. However, KS AUDIO can precisely define the behaviour of the Line Array because all elements behave identically. At KS AUDIO a Line Array correction is therefore an optimal sum of a quantity of correctly defined elements.
Why FIRTEC™ stands out.
KS AUDIO - FIRTEC™ (FIR time filter TEChnology): for a time-correct, phase-linear and tonally correct reproduction. The digital signal processor (DSP) programmed in the FPGA works with a model of the physical properties of the loudspeaker, including the chassis and cabinet used.
The parameters of the model are determined by real measurements of every individual finished loudspeaker. Accordingly, they also take into account all tolerances of the components used, such as the chassis, electronics or amplifier, or even the acoustic phenomena at the cabinet edges.
The special feature of this FIRTEC technology is that both the amplitude frequency response and the phase response are linearised.
In other words, the FIRTEC™ process reproduces the music tonally uncoloured, by means that. all frequency ranges are reproduced equally.
In addition, it is reproduced in its correct time structure, i.e. exactly as it was recorded. Thanks to the use of FIRTEC™ all KS AUDIO loudspeakers currently have a constant phase response over the entire frequency range, free of latency, which is unique in the world of cone loudspeakers.
