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- Speaker Pro (DOS). Written by Visaton,
a free version is available for
personal use. The latest English version is 6.0, although a 7.0 version
is available in German. Quite capable for designing complete systems and
passive crossovers. The full commercial packages are: English 6.0 - $24,
and German 7.0 - $91.
- Calsod Standard (DOS). A complex
and powerful modeling package with optimization capability. The optimization
capability is unique in low-cost packages. Available from
Old Colony Sound Lab for $70.
- WinSpeakerz (Win32)/
MacApeakerz (Mac). A comprehensive
design tool with outstanding graphics and an easy to use and learn user
interface. Models a variety of sealed, vented, and bandpass enclosures. Models
box effects for a variety of different-shaped boxes. Models a variety of
passive crossover network topologies. Large (>1000) driver database
included. A great value, both versions cost $129 from the
True Audio web site.
*Recommended*
- LspCAD (Win32). An excellent
tool for designing sealed, vented, and bandpass enclosures, and 1- to 4-way
active or passive filters. The system includes a network optimizer as well.
LspCAD is sold by the same people who produce the outstanding LAUD measurement
and testing software, allowing easy import of LAUD data into LspCAD. The
current release of LspCAD comes in three versions: Lite ($50), Standard
($129), and Professional ($495). Note that the standard version costs the
same as WinSpeakerz. LspCAD lacks a few of WinSpeakerz' features, but adds
others - most significantly its optimizer. The newest feature to be
added to LspCAD Professional is a significant step in crossover design,
aural-emulation. This allows the user to hear the crossover you are
simulating on the screen. It emulates what you are doing with a DSP crossover
and plays your music in mono or stereo from a 2, 4 or 8 channel sound card.
Distributed in North America by
Liberty Instruments and
Phil's Audio, or go directly to the
LspCAD web site.
*Highly recommended*
- BassBox Pro/X*over Pro (Win32)
by Harris Technologies. Although
available separately, these should be purchased together for a powerful system
design suite. BassBox Pro can model the same enclosure types as WinSpeakerz or
LspCAD plus passive radiator, aperiodic systems, and Bessel arrays. The
capabilities of X*over Pro are likewise similar to Winspeakerz and LspCAD,
except that there is no optimizer and baffle step correction must be done
manually. Like WinSpeakerz/MacSpeakerz, this package is strong on graphics and
ease of use features, and is regularly updated with new and significant
features. The package price is $199. In addition to buying directly from Harris
Technologies, BassBox Pro/X*over Pro are also sold by
Lambda Acoustics and
Street Soundz
*Recommended*
- Calsod Professional (DOS). With
all the features of Calsod Standard (see above), Calsod professional adds more
options designed to appeal to professional designers. Available from
Old Colony Sound Lab for $269.
*Recommended*
- SoundEasy V 7.00 by Bodzio Software
(Win32). Very powerful, but with a bit of a learning curve (but not as much so as
Speak, listed below), SoundEasy automates the design of complete systems
in both the frequency and time domains. Notably, it can handle up to 5-way
designs and can produce polar plots for tilted drivers or off-axis response.
Also notably, it includes a crossover optimizer. SoundEasy appears to have
been following the lead of LspCAD and offers most (all?) of the features of
LspCAD Pro at less than half the price. Available from
E-Speakers and
Old Colony Sound Lab for $225.
*Highly recommended*
- Speak (Win32) by
GedLee Associates.
This defines the entry-level of professional quality CAE tools. Unlike other
packages, Speak is based on Finite Element Analysis (FAE) techniques rather
than Thiele-Small small signal parameters. This is a quite new package, with
a daunting number of features to learn before you can fully exploit its
capabilities. Potentially the most powerful package available, its $300 price
includes Dr. Earl Geddes' Audio Transducers textbook and a
complete printed manual. *Recommended*
- LEAP 5 (Win32) by
LinearX Systems. The most complete,
powerful, complex, and expensive package currently, there's almost nothing
you can't do with LEAP. Complex and designed working pros, the learning curve
is steep. Despite Speak's potential and lower price, LEAP remains the
standard for a while against which others are judged. LEAP is sold as a
complete package for $1495. It's also available with either the enclosure or
crossover design modules, but not both, for $795. *Highly
recommended*
- Calsod Professional (DOS). With
all the features of Calsod Standard (see above), Calsod professional adds more
options designed to appeal to professional designers. Available from
Old Colony Sound Lab for $269.
*Recommended*
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