KLIPPEL KCS User manual

R&D SYSTEM USER’S GUIDE
KCS Monitor
K l i p p e l G m b H
July 23, 2021
Copyright © 2000-2021 Klippel GmbH
Mendelssohnallee 30, 01309 Dresden, Germany
www.klippel.de

Klippel R&D System Contents
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I
Contents
1KCS Monitor Tutorial.............................................................................................. 1
1.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Requirements ..................................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Tutorial 1 –Starting KCS..................................................................................................... 2
1.4 Tutorial 2 - Viewing data .................................................................................................... 3
1.5 Tutorial 3 –Switching Control Modes................................................................................ 4
1.6 Tutorial 4 –Alignment and Equalization ............................................................................ 5
1.7 Tutorial 5 –Protection and Limiter .................................................................................... 7
1.7.1 Short Theory.............................................................................................................. 7
1.7.2 How to Setup Protection and Limiter ....................................................................... 8
1.7.3 Protection with separate ANC input channel ......................................................... 10
2KCS Monitor Reference ........................................................................................ 13
2.1 KCS Setup Parameters...................................................................................................... 13
2.2 Result Windows................................................................................................................ 15
2.2.1 Nonlinear Curves..................................................................................................... 15
2.2.2 x(t) Displacement .................................................................................................... 15
2.2.3 u(t) Voltage, i(t) Current.......................................................................................... 16
2.2.4 ∆Tv(t)Temperature, P(t) Power ............................................................................... 17
2.2.5 fs(t) Resonance Frequency...................................................................................... 18
2.2.6 Distortion Components........................................................................................... 18
2.2.7 Z(f,x=0) Impedance Magnitude............................................................................... 19
2.2.8 Protection................................................................................................................ 19
2.2.9 H(f) Sound Pressure................................................................................................. 20
2.2.10 Linear Speaker Parameters ..................................................................................... 21
2.2.11 State ........................................................................................................................ 22
2.2.12 Setup ....................................................................................................................... 23
2.3 Alignment ......................................................................................................................... 23
2.4 Hardware Connection ...................................................................................................... 25
2.4.1 Klippel Analyzer 3.................................................................................................... 25
2.4.2 Nuvoton Audio Development Platform .................................................................. 26
2.5 Things you should never do.............................................................................................. 27
2.6 Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................... 28
2.6.1 Message Boxes........................................................................................................ 28
2.6.2 Selected warning messages .................................................................................... 28
2.6.3 Other Issues............................................................................................................. 29
3Index ................................................................................................................... 31

Klippel R&D System KCS Monitor Tutorial
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1KCS Monitor Tutorial
1.1 Introduction
Klippel Controlled Sound is an adaptive software solution featuring nonlinear speaker control, active
speaker protection, linear and nonlinear distortion reduction, automatic system alignment and much
more. KCS Monitor is a software module running in the Klippel dB-Lab framework which is used for
evaluating this technology. It allows to communicate with a supported KCS hardware platform and is
used to both set up the KCS real-time processing software and to read comprehensive diagnostics
information from it.
For running the KCS Monitor initial data for the particular speaker under test is required. Find
information about creating initial data in [KCS2] Manual KCS-ID Parameter Identification.
Initial Identification
KCS-ID
Initial Parameter
Creation
Lab KCS Server
KCS Evaluation
KCS Monitor
zip file
kdbx File
Overview KCS landscape
Two versions of KCS Monitor are available:
KCS Monitor
KCS Monitor Pro
The standard KCS Monitor module does not require a hardware dongle and supports all KCS
hardware platforms except the Klippel Analyzer 3 (KA3). For evaluating KCS on the KA3, if advanced
customizations for the KCS setup are needed or long-term tests have to be performed, the KCS
Monitor Pro module has to be used.
1.2 Requirements
Klippel dB-Lab version >= 210.918
KCS Monitor operation comprising initial data (received from the KCS Server, Klippel GmbH
or a Klippel partner company)
KCS hardware platform
Nuvoton A6 version >= 3.00 (only NAD - Nuvoton Audio Development platform)

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1.3 Tutorial 1 –Starting KCS
Hardware Setup
Setup the KCS target hardware platform for KCS on-line processing.
KCS running on KA3: See section 2.4.1. Make sure that your audio source is connected to the
IN1/2 XLR plug
KCS running on NAD: Refer to section 2.4.2/0or the NAD Quick Start Guide provided by
Nuvoton. Make sure that the output audio device on your PC is set to Nuvoton Audio
Development Platform.
KCS running on Klippel APE Evaluation Board: see corresponding user manual.
Open Initial KCS data
Initial KCS data comprising speaker and target platform parameters is required to start KCS:
Use the KCS-ID module (KA3 device required) and download the according KCS Monitor
operation from the KCS Server (see [KCS2] Manual KCS-ID Parameter Identification)
If you are using a NAD board as KCS target platform and you have received a reference
speaker together with the hardware, initial KCS data for this speaker is provided by Nuvoton
Open the Klippel dB-Lab database comprising the KCS Monitor operation holding the initial KCS data
belonging to your speaker.
Upload KCS Data to the Hardware Device
Property page of KCS Monitor
Open the KCS Monitor’s property page by right-clicking on the operation Properties or marking
the operation and press [Alt]+[Return].
For KCS platforms connected via a serial port (e.g. NAD), press Scan Connected Devices to update the
available COM ports.
Within the properties window, press ‘Connect to Device’ to synchronize the KCS setup of software
module and hardware. Refer to 2.6.1 in case of any issues.

Klippel R&D System KCS Monitor Tutorial
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Starting KCS on-line processing
Start the KCS real-time processing by pressing in the toolbar. This will start the audio output and
the collection of diagnostic data. In case any errors or warnings appear, see section 2.6.
Play Audio
You can now verify that everything is connected correctly by playing music or other audio signals.
Note: The main benefits of KCS are experienced at high voice coil excursion. Apply a bass boost
(alignment) for achieving best bass performance and for driving the speaker to its physical limits (see
1.6).
While playing audio signals, you can observe loudspeaker states and parameters (see 1.4), evaluate
KCS performance by switching KCS on and off (see 1.5) and perform measurements (see guidelines in
[KCS4] KCS Evaluation Tutorials). If any issues occur, see 2.6.
Stopping KCS on-line processing
The KCS Monitor operation can be terminated by pressing the green check mark in the toolbar. After
finishing, a message box ‘Terminate KCS on-line Processing?’ pops up which allows you to run the
KCS on-line processing in standalone mode without a PC connection.
1.4 Tutorial 2 - Viewing data
KCS continuously monitors loudspeaker parameters and compensates the effects of ageing, fatigue,
temperature changes and humidity. During the execution of KCS Monitor, diagnostic data such as
time-variant loudspeaker parameters and states are constantly uploaded from the KCS hardware
platform.

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KCS Monitor Tutorial Klippel R&D System
Default Windows of KCS Monitor Standard carrying diagnostic data
The default windows and most important on-line diagnostic information shall be introduced here.
Find more detailed documentation about the results in 2.2.
1. Force Factor Bl(X) –Force factor Bl over the entire displacement range covered during the
last second (black curve) and covering the whole identified working range [-xmax,xmax] (red
curve).
2. Voice Coil Displacement –The green curves represent the predicted maximum positive and
negative peak displacement. The pink curve indicates the voice coil’s rest position which
should be close to zero if the DC Stabilization is turned on. In case the KA3 is used, peak and
bottom laser signals are displayed here as well. The fat red curves shows the current
excursion limit Xprot used by the mechanical protection system.
3. Voltage and Current –Peak and RMS voltage and current.
4. Voice Coil Temperature and Electrical Power –Voice coil temperature (based on both
measurement and simulation) and measured electrical power.
5. Protection –This window shows the degree of activation of the thermal (G cu - red) and
mechanical (G cx - green) protection systems.
6. State Table –This table shows important state information and warnings of the KCS
processing. Buttons for switching KCS on and off are available in this window (see next
section for more explanations).
GENERAL INFORMATION: Time Cursor
In all windows where the x-axis denotes the measurement time, a bold black time cursor is located
at the far right. This time cursor can be dragged using the mouse or be moved by clicking into the
chart while holding [Ctrl].
When you move the time cursor you see the other windows getting updated to reflect the state of
the device under test (DUT) at the selected time. This allows to review all the recorded history data
and parameter variances over time.
1.5 Tutorial 3 –Switching Control Modes
KCS can be switched on and off using the according buttons in the State window during
runtime. See descriptions below
KCS ON (Nonlinear Control): Full Nonlinear Control with active protection, distortion compensation,
linear and nonlinear inductance compensation and voice coil stabilization. System alignment is
applied.
KCS OFF+EQ (Equalization only): No mechanical protection and no nonlinear distortion
compensation. Time-variant parameters and the linear inductance are compensated. System
alignment is applied.
KCS OFF (Bypass Control): No alignment, no mechanical protection and no distortion compensation.
The thermal protection is still active.

Klippel R&D System KCS Monitor Tutorial
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Attention: The transducer can be destroyed in KCS OFF modes as the mechanical protection system
is switched off! When switching to these modes from KCS ON mode, make sure that the mechanical
protection system is not active.
1.6 Tutorial 4 –Alignment and Equalization
This tutorial describes how to tune the small signal response of the KCS speaker system.
Equalizer
(e.g. A6)
Audio Signal
KCS Audio Path
Alignment Protection Output Limiter
f0 alignment
type
Linearization
The automatic alignment feature of KCS allows to tune the low frequency response of the system to
a desired transfer function with defined cut-off frequency f0and filter type (such as Butterworth or
Chebychev). Due to the adaptive compensation of time-varying speaker parameters, this transfer
function will be maintained over the whole lifetime of the transducer. The Alignment is used to
apply a bass boost to a sealed box system shifting the cut-off frequency 1-2 octaves below
the system resonance frequency fc
match an arbitrary speaker to a given sealed or vented box enclosure and achieve your
desired transfer behavior
reduce voice coil excursion below cut-off frequency / subsonic filter
Any additional equalization can be applied before the KCS processing, e.g. using Nuvoton’s A6 tool
(NAD platform only).
Alignment Transfer Functions. Applying alignment sealed box (left) and a passive radiator box system (right). The green
curves represent the target response.
Tips and Requirements for Setting Alignments
Boosting low frequencies leads to large gains in the alignment filters. To avoid clipping, the
input signal must be attenuated by the maximum alignment filter gain manually if the NAD
evaluation board is used to avoid clipping.
Lowering the cut-off frequency by more than two octaves (sealed systems) or far below
port/enclosure resonance (vented/passive radiator systems) is not recommended due to the
potentially drastic increase of peak voltage and displacement demands.

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KCS Monitor Tutorial Klippel R&D System
To prevent low-frequency content from producing displacement and power consumption
without significant sound pressure contribution, it is highly recommended to select at least a
4th (sealed box) or 6th (vented/passive radiator) order alignment.
Find more detailed information and theory about the alignment filters under 2.3.
How to set an Alignment –Workflow
1. Connect the KCS hardware and open the KCS Monitor operation including initial data for the
particular speaker. Connect to the device (see 1.3) to be able to change KCS setup
parameters on the KCS Monitor’s property page. KCS must not be running on the device yet.
2. Choose a desired transfer behavior (e.g. Butterworth 6th order) and a low cut-off frequency
(e.g. half of the system resonance frequency found in the window Linear Speaker
Parameters). You can see the desired transfer function by
a. (NAD platform) opening the window Sound Pressure Hpfar(f).
b. (other platforms) pressing the Calculate Alignment button in the KCS Monitor’s
property page. A new operation is created which comprises the according transfer
function.
3. (NAD platform only) Compensate the alignment gain to avoid clipping:
a. Start the Nuvoton A6 tool.
b. In A6, connect to the device via Communication UART (Mutex). Select the same
COM port as set in the KCS Monitor.
c. Go to the Limiter category and set the limiter gain in the A6-Tool to compensate for
the alignment gain
4. Run the KCS Monitor operation and start playing music and/or test signals.
Equalization
After the alignment is applied, the overall frequency response can be adjusted by using the A6 tool
or other external tuning software running on the PC or on another hardware. It is recommended to
use the Klippel QC system for measuring the frequency response, see document [KCS4] KCS
Evaluation Tutorials.