Car Audio Crossovers

Crossovers are an intricate part of car audio and any audio system. Because there isn’t a driver capable of playing from 20Hz to 20Khz, we need crossovers. Yes, there are extended range speakers in the market capable of playing an extensive frequency band, around 80hz to about 18Khz but a TRUE 20 to 20! The best way to reproduce a 20 to 20 spectrum is by choosing an array of drivers specializing in narrower frequency ranges. The most efficient way to accomplish this is to break the 20 -20 spectrum into three sections – bass, mid, treble. Accuracy can be significantly improved when you break this up into four, five, or even six sections: bass, mid-bass, midrange, treble or sub-bass, bass, mid-bass midrange, and treble. The role of the crossover is to assign the frequency range each drive is most proficient playing. This can be done electronically in the signal path before it gets to the amplifier or passively (meaning it has no power) after the signal leaves the amplifier.

Every sound system must have a crossover. Think of a crossover as a filter that blocks unwanted frequencies to a speaker or group of speakers. That way, tweeters, woofers, and subwoofers get high, mid, and low frequencies, respectively. An external or dedicated crossover is ideal in a high-performance or competition system. While audiophiles prefer passive crossovers, those who lack the technical knowledge and assets to the measuring equipment required to properly design a passive crossover, an electronic crossover is always a better choice! And while many amplifiers do have build-in electronic crossover, more often than not, investing in an external dedicated crossover is well worth it.