All-Pass filters.

An all-pass filter is an electronic circuit that passes all frequencies equally, but changes
the time/phase relationship between different frequencies. It does this by varying its
propagation delay with frequency. Generally, the filter is classified by the frequency at
which the phase shift crosses 90.

The all-pass filter is different to an electronic delay because:

-Electronic delay introduces the same amount of delay to all frequencies (pure delay)

-All-pass introduces delay only to a limited range of frequencies

-All-pass delay is not equal to the limited range of frequencies but changes per
frequency (group delay)

As well as the order in simple HPF and LPF (like Butterworth and Linkwitz-Riley) is
classified in multiples of 6dB/octave,

1st order = 6dB/octave, with 45 phase shift at cut frequency

2nd order = 12dB/octave, with 90 phase shift at cut frequency
3rd order = 18dB/octave, with 135 phase shift at cut frequency
4th order=24dB/octave, with 180 phase shift at cut frequency

The order of an all-pass filter is classified in multiples of 90 phase shift

1st order = 90 phase shift at the all-pass frequency

2nd order = 180 phase shift at the all-pass frequency
A 1st order All-Pass filter at 1kHz:
-will not produce phase shift at 20kHz
-will produce 90 phase shift at 1kHz
-will produce 180 phase shift at 20Hz

1st order All-Pass Filter @ 1kHz (90 @ 1kHz)

As the image show, the 1st order all-pass filter depolarize the lower range of
frequencies.

Is it possible to change the Frequency of the 1st order All-Pass Filter.

The next image shows it at 250Hz (red color), 1kHz (green color), 4kHz (blue color).

Note that in the 3 examples the phase shift in the selected frequency (250Hz, or 1kHz,
or 4kHz) is 90.
A 2nd order All-Pass filter at 1kHz:
-will not produce phase shift at 20kHz
-will produce 180 phase shift at 1kHz
-will not produce phase shift at 20Hz

2nd order All-Pass Filter @ 1kHz (180 @ 1kHz)

As the image show, the 2nd order all-pass filter maintain the same polarity in the lower
range of frequencies.

Is it possible to change the Frequency of the 2nd order All-Pass Filter.

The next image shows it at 250Hz (red color), 1kHz (green color), 4kHz (blue color).

Note that in the 3 examples the phase shift in the selected frequency (250Hz, or 1kHz,
or 4kHz) is 180.
An additional parameter in an All-Pass filter circuit is the Bandwidth or Q (the range
of frequencies around the 90 in 1st order, or 180 in 2nd order affected by the phase
shift).

The next image shows a 2nd order All-Pass Filter @ 1kHz with Q modification.
Q=0.5 (red color), Q=1 (green color), Q=2 (brown color), Q=4 (blue color).

The greater the bandwidth (or lower the Q), there will be more frequencies with phase
shift variation.
The lower the bandwidth (or greater the Q), there will be less frequencies with phase
shift variation.
An example of 4 All-Pass filters (2nd order) in one channel.

The editable parameter are Frequency and Q

The reason for using All-Pass Filters is to minimize phase differences when combining
different speaker systems.

When the phase difference is in the range between 120 to 180 the combined result is
loss of power.

But when the phase difference is less than 120 the combined result will produce
additional power.

An All-Pass Filter is in other words a Phase Equalizer or a Group Delay

Compensator

The next series of graphics show a practical example of the problem and the
implementation of a solution:
Green color trace is System A
Red color trace is System B
System B exhibit more phase shift, and the area of frequencies in which the phase
difference is between 150 to 180 is from 250Hz to 500Hz

Combined response of System A and System B show loss of power between 250Hz to
500Hz (Maximum cancel at 300Hz)
Green color trace is System A
Red color trace is System B
Blue color trace is the electronic channel (without processing)

Green color trace is System A

Red color trace is System B
Blue color trace is the electronic channel after the use of a 2nd order all-pass filter in
287Hz with a Q of 1 (this will shift the phase of the System A in order to match the
phase trace of System B)
Green color trace is System A
Red color trace is System B
Blue color trace is System B after the use of the all-pass filter (note that the blue trace
and red trace are very similar in the phase response)

Brown color trace is System A with the all-pass filter

Red color trace is System B
Blue color trace is the combined response of System A (with all-pass) and System B
Blue color trace the combined response of System A (with all-pass) and System B
Brown color trace is Combined response of System A (without all-pass) and System B
Note the strong improvement in the combined response when the phase response of
each system match