> Can you explain more about the response and impedance of each? I am an engineer, so you can feel free to be quite technical.
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>Certainly! Given your engineering background, let's delve deeper into the response characteristics and impedance aspects of both traditional ceramic piezo pickups and PVDF piezo pickups. Understanding these can significantly impact your choice, especially in terms of how they integrate with the rest of your audio chain (like preamps and amplifiers).
>
> Electrical Characteristics
> 1.
> Piezoelectric Coefficient
> Ceramic Piezo Pickups: The piezoelectric coefficient ( d_{33} ) of ceramics like Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) is typically very high. This coefficient measures the electric displacement produced per unit stress. For PZTs, ( d_{33} ) can range from 100 to 600 pC/N (picoCoulombs per Newton), depending on the formulation and orientation of the crystal structure.
> PVDF Pickups: PVDF generally has a lower piezoelectric coefficient, around 20 to 30 pC/N. Despite this lower coefficient, the material's flexibility and the ability to form larger, more adaptive surfaces can compensate in practical applications, offering sufficient voltage output under less stringent mechanical deformations.
> 2.
> Voltage Output
> The output voltage ( V ) from a piezo pickup can be estimated by the formula:
> [ V = d_{33} \cdot F \cdot A / t ]
> where:
> ( F ) is the force applied,
> ( A ) is the area,
> ( t ) is the thickness of the piezo material.
> Ceramic Piezo: Due to their high ( d_{33} ) value, even small deformations can produce relatively high voltages, which makes them sensitive to shock and vibrations, potentially capturing unwanted mechanical noises.
> PVDF Pickups: The lower ( d_{33} ) value means lower voltage outputs for the same mechanical stress compared to ceramics, but their larger possible surface area and thinner construction can enhance output levels and fidelity across a broader frequency range.
>
> [SNIP]