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