From Edison’s gramophone to modern hi-fi, audio technology has developed by leaps and bounds. Today, we can enjoy unprecedented sound quality through a wide range of audio equipment, and all this brings us to the crossover. So what is the speaker crossover? Why is it so important? I believe that after reading this piece of article, you will have a basic understanding of how a crossover works, what it is, how it is classified and how it is used.
What is A Speaker Crossover?
A crossover is a component in audio equipment that identifies the frequency bands of audio signals and divides them into treble, midrange and bass parts according to their frequency ranges, and then transmits these different frequency bands to specialised loudspeaker units such as tweeters, midrange loudspeakers, and bass loudspeakers. This technology allows each speaker unit to do its own job.
How Many Types of Crossovers are There?
Active Crossover
The active crossover requires an external power supply (e.g. 12V power supply, ground, etc.) to support its operation and is installed between the amplifier and the sound source, i.e.it passes through the crossover before the signal enters the amplifier .
Pros and Cons
An active crossover precisely controls the frequency range of each speaker. Mixing can be avoided as it will crossover the signal before it enters the amplifier.Because of the crossover, there is less amplification of unnecessary signals, which optimizes the efficiency of the amplifier. However, it requires the installation of additional power and earthing connections, which not only adds to the cost but also complicates the installation. And it requires separate amplifiers and crossovers, which not only lead to higher costs, but also take up more space.
Passive Crossover
The passive crossover does not require an external power supply, it uses passive components such as inductors and capacitors to carry out the act of crossover.Passive crossovers are usually installed after the amplifier, i.e. directly between the speakers and the amplifier.
Pros and Cons
A passive crossovers have no external power supply, so they cost less and are easy to install, making them ideal for users who don’t have a lot of money or have simple requirements.Because it can be connected directly between the amplifier and the speakers, there is no need to connect any additional equipment.However, since it crossovers the signal only after it passes through the amplified signal, this results in crossover of unwanted signals as well, and this redundancy then tends to waste power and reduce efficiency.In addition, the adjustability of a passive crossover is limited and it cannot provide delicate audio adjustments. It may perform poorly if the user is looking for high sound quality.
Importance of Crossover
To Optimise Sound Performance
The crossover sends the treble, mid-range and bass signals separately to each speaker unit, eliminating the distortion caused by mixing frequencies. For example, high-frequency signals are sent to the tweeter, mid-frequency signals are sent to the mid-range unit and low-frequency signals are sent to the bass unit.This creates a more even soundstage and better sound reproduction.
To Meet Individual Needs
Everyone has a different appetite for sound quality: some people have a preference for crisp highs, others prefer earth-shattering lows, and still others seek smooth mids. Adjusting the crossover allows the listener to customize the sound quality to their personal taste.
To Boost System Efficiency
The crossover is like a traffic cop, diverting cars so they go their own way and focus on themselves. Vehicles here also refer to the various frequency bands.When each speaker component is responsible for its own frequency band, audio operation is organised so that efficiency is increased.
The speaker crossover is an important part of the sound system, it not only optimises the sound quality and makes the speakers perform better, but also extends their service life.Whether you are a beginner or an audiophile, this article will give you a simple understanding of the principle and role of the crossover. We hope that this article will help you to understand the mystery of the crossover better!