| I've heard the question asked many times | | | | unit or equalizer and your amplifiers. Your |
| before, 'Do I really need a crossover?' | | | | electronic crossover sends the proper |
| Without wasting any time I quickly answer, | | | | frequency ranges to each amplifier. Some |
| 'Yes you do'. Whether it's a passive | | | | people run three separate amps: one for bass, |
| crossover or an active crossover, your car | | | | one for mids and the other for highs. |
| audio system will never sound good without a | | | | |
| crossover. I want to make myself very clear | | | | Active crossovers are almost infinitely |
| here, so before you get confused let's talk | | | | adjustable. You can vary the crossover points |
| about what a car audio crossover is and why | | | | and adjust the level of separate speakers to |
| you need one. | | | | achieve the best overall sound in your |
| | | | vehicle. |
| A crossover is a filtering device which | | | | |
| limits the frequencies that reach a speaker. | | | | If you're serious about sound you must have a |
| It splits a music signal into separate | | | | car audio crossover. Otherwise your system |
| frequency ranges and sends them to speakers | | | | will sound terrible. Oh what a mess it will |
| that are designed to best reproduce each | | | | be when your subwoofer and mid-range speakers |
| frequency range. For instance, only high | | | | duplicate many of the same frequencies! How |
| frequencies would be sent to your tweeters, | | | | about when your mid-range speaker attempts to |
| midrange to your mid range speakers, and lows | | | | put out high notes that your tweeters are |
| to your subwoofer. | | | | supposed to handle. Can you bear such grief? |
| | | | I can't. |
| The passive crossover is very common. It's | | | | |
| basically a capacitor or coil installed on | | | | And this is just the beginning of your sorrow |
| the speaker leads between amplifier and | | | | and pain. Since low frequencies are being |
| speaker that stops certain frequencies from | | | | sent to your tweeters there will be |
| reaching a speaker. It's relatively | | | | distortion. As a result of this distortion |
| inexpensive and easy to install. | | | | your tweeters will be destroyed. Loud bass |
| | | | will eventually destroy your mid-range |
| But for your car stereo system to perform | | | | speakers as well. Now you've got to start |
| better and be efficient, you need an active | | | | from scratch and buy a new set of speakers, |
| crossover, also referred to as an electronic | | | | all because you started on the wrong footing. |
| crossover. It is installed between your head | | | | |