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Active audio crossover. Why are crossovers needed in component speakers? Do You Really Need a Car Audio Crossover?

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Crossovers are called frequency separation filters for car acoustics. These filters separate the signal in multi-band speakers into low, mid and high frequencies. It is necessary to take into account before repairing or replacing the built-in crossover in the radio that this is one of the key components of the car audio system, along with the amplifier.

What is it and how does it work?

Due to their design features, car radio speakers are not capable of reproducing the full spectrum of frequencies. Cars are equipped with several speakers, each of which operates within a limited range. Crossover in music is a fundamental component of a multi-way audio system. Thanks to this part, speakers designed to reproduce high frequencies receive the signal intended for them.

If such a device were not present, the tweeters could receive the signal that is intended for the subwoofer. The more channels a device supports, the more speakers you can install.

The speaker and subwoofer crossover is made of 2 main components: a capacitor and an inductor. These simplest reactive elements differentiate the signal.

Varieties and features

Crossovers that are part of car audio systems are divided into 2 main categories: active and passive. The passive element is a more common variety that is more often found on sale. The passive device does not require additional power; it is easier and faster for the car owner to install it.


The disadvantage of this element is low quality. Due to the passive principle of operation, the device takes part of the filter energy to maintain its functionality.

In this case, the reactive elements of the device operating at the limit change the phase shift, which is why the user of the audio system cannot adjust the frequencies as accurately as possible.

Active elements do not have this drawback. They have a more complex internal structure, and due to this, streaming audio is better filtered. In addition to coils and capacitors, such devices contain additional semiconductors, but at the same time have more compact dimensions. Active elements are rarely sold as separate equipment, but are always installed in car amplifiers.

What is crossover car audio?— the most significant elements in high-quality car acoustics are considered to be a crossover and a sound power amplifier. Also, one of the most important factors for creating an ideal sound picture inside a car is the correct choice and qualified installation of these devices in the car, otherwise it will be very difficult to obtain high-quality sound.

Crossover

Basically, the device board, which consists of various filters to separate the incoming audio signal into frequencies, is housed in a small housing. For high frequencies, when tuning, they usually take a unit from 80 to 100 Hz, and for low frequencies, the bandpass RC filter is set from 2 to 6 kHz. There are two types of such devices - active and passive. p>

What is crossover car audio?— they differ from each other in that the active module is made of electronic elements, such as operational amplifiers, microcontrollers and others, which require supply voltage. A passive frequency separation device is assembled using components that do not require a power source. In addition, there is some peculiarity in the installation, for example: the active crossover is installed only in the input circuit of the amplifier, and the passive ones are located anywhere, both in front of the amplifier and after it, that is, in front of the dynamic radiator.

It is worth noting an important advantage of passive crossovers, such as its ability to differentiate audio signals for a three-way loudspeaker while using only two power amplifier channels. A negative point is the impossibility of setting up the device without modifying the circuit. The opposite is true for active crossovers; its controls and settings are located on the outside of the body, so this design solution provides maximum convenience when operating the device.

The disadvantage of an active frequency separation device is its relatively high price, the need for a power amplifier for each channel, as well as the existing possibility of distortion emanating from active components. What is crossover car audio?— the choice of crossover is made based on the parameters of the speaker system and the number of bands it has. As for the choice when purchasing and choosing the installation location, as well as fine-tuning it, in this case it would be more advisable to invite an experienced specialist so that there are no problems in the future.

Amplifier

There are times when, after purchasing even an expensive car radio, the amplifier in it turns out to be not of sufficient quality. Why does this happen? One of the important reasons is the small amount of space intended to accommodate the radio and, as a result, the inability to implement an amplifier with higher power in the system. Therefore, car owners who want to get a high-quality sound picture install an additional amplifier.

Amplifiers installed in a car come with one amplification channel (monoblock), two-channel (stereo), three-channel (stereo + another channel for a subwoofer), there are also four-channel ones designed to amplify sound in the front and rear speaker system. There are also amplifiers for five and six channels.

By what criteria should you choose a car amplifier?

What is crossover car audio?— the first thing you need to pay attention to when buying a device is the rated power, which should be approximately 15% less than the power of the speakers. If this dependence is ignored, the acoustics may simply “burn out” soon. Another important parameter is the total load resistance with which the device can effectively operate.

A complex of several amplifiers creates the conditions for their inclusion in a bridge circuit, in which the total output power increases in proportion to the connected amplifiers. Basically, this connection scheme is used for use in a subwoofer. The industry produces a large amount of amplification equipment with already integrated crossovers, but the use of external devices greatly simplifies the setup and maintenance of car speakers.

Installation specifics

The relatively small dimensions of the car amplifier allow it to be installed in various places in the cabin. One of these options is the lower part of the rear shelf, which can be secured there using self-tapping screws or in the space of the wing. When you assemble a subwoofer yourself or have it made to order, you create an excellent opportunity to immediately install an amplifier inside the housing. But it must be taken into account that it gets quite hot during operation, and therefore it is necessary to provide the amplifier with sufficient cooling.

In order to install an acoustic system in your car without incurring very high costs, the smartest thing to do would be to take coaxial or broadband speakers, installing them in regular places in the car, and use amplifier built into the car radio. In the future, if necessary, the installed audio system can be upgraded by adding an active subwoofer made in its own housing.

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A crossover is a device designed to divide the sound signal supplied from the radio into separate bands. This device is used not only with full-range speakers, but also with special ones - subwoofers, midwoofers and tweeters. You should understand why a crossover is needed in car audio to achieve better and more natural sound.

Kinds

These devices for car acoustics are divided into two types: active and passive. In the first case, the accessory is equipped with an amplifier. This allows for more efficient audio stripping and adds the ability to adjust the crossover frequency, sensitivity and slope. Active separators are rarely produced as independent devices, most often being part of power amplifiers for car audio.

Passive crossovers are the simplest and most common. Such a device consists of several filters, which include coils and capacitors. The former delay high frequencies, the latter suppress low frequencies. To improve efficiency, coils and capacitors are combined into circuits. A passive splitter has one input and two or three outputs. Each speaker is connected to its own terminals. The radio is connected directly to the input of the separating device.

Based on the number of bands divided, crossovers are divided into two-way and three-way. In the first case, the device separates low and high frequencies, which are fed to the woofer and tweeter, respectively. Three-band devices also additionally highlight the mid-frequency band. It is fed to special speakers called midwoofers. One of the important advantages of a passive separator is that it does not require additional power. It is possible to adjust the sound characteristics using switches.

Connection instructions

A passive crossover for car audio is connected as follows:

  1. Speakers are purchased and installed.
  2. The output wires for the speakers from the radio are connected to the input terminals of the device.
  3. The speakers are connected using speaker cables to the corresponding terminals of the device, which may be designated Wf (for a full-range speaker), Sw (for a subwoofer), Mw (for a midwoofer) and Tw (for a tweeter).

For an experienced person, installing a speaker system is a simple task. But for a beginner, everything is difficult here. To properly install acoustics, you need to know what elements are needed and why they are needed. One such element is a crossover for acoustics.

Functional focus

A crossover is equipment that is an element of the speaker system. The main role is to distribute the required frequency range for the installed speaker. The acoustics are manufactured only for the specified frequency range. Therefore, if the signal is transmitted to speakers outside this range, the sound will be distorted.

For example, if you transmit a low frequency to the receiver, the sound will be distorted. If the frequency is very high, then this threatens with distorted sound and broken equipment, because it is not able to withstand such a level.

To perform high-frequency sounds, speakers are used that can transmit them. Speaker systems transmitting low frequencies operate separately. It is better if these speakers are placed separately from each other in the car. Mid-frequency sounds are sent to mid-range speakers.

Music will sound high quality when the sound is transmitted strictly to a specific speaker. This job is done by a crossover for acoustics.

Design

It looks simple, consists of 2 filters working according to the scheme. If the distribution frequency is 1000 Hz, then one of the filters will begin to select frequencies less than this value. The other, on the contrary, distributes them over 1000 Hz. The names of these filters are as follows:

  1. Low pass. Operates at low rates (up to 1000 Hz).
  2. High pass. Operates with high performance (more than 1000 Hz).

This is a diagram of the functioning of a two-way crossover. There are three-way speakers on the acoustic market. They also have an additional filter that distributes the average frequencies (range 600-1000 Hz).

The higher the number of sound frequency distributions and their transmission to speakers for a specific purpose, the better the sound in the car.

Characteristic

The crossover consists of an inductor and a capacitor. The cost of the product depends on the number of parts and their properties. It is these simple elements that can easily process waves of different frequencies.

The capacitor selects and separates high-frequency sounds, and the inductor is aimed at acting on low frequencies. This is a simple but effective design.

Equipment options

There are 2 types of crossover.

  1. Passive equipment. This option is used most often. This element does not require separate power to operate. Because of this, installation of the system is faster and easier. But the quality does not always remain at a good level. During operation, the crossover takes part of the energy to work, which causes a phase shift. These changes may affect the operation of all equipment.
  2. Active. It has a complex design, but at the same time audio frequencies are filtered better than in a passive one. The device consists of several coils, capacitors and semiconductors. This design is often added to amplifiers.

Advantages and disadvantages

What is better to choose when installing acoustics? Let's consider the advantages and disadvantages.

Crossover(English) crossover or x-over, literally: 1) crossing, intersection; 2) signal spectrum separator).

Crossover in electronics - a separation filter (usually audio frequencies, for example, a filter for a multi-band acoustic system). Crossover is a class of special filters created specifically for use in various audio equipment, for example, Hi-Fi. Typically, dynamic heads (speakers, loudspeakers) used in audio systems are not capable of reproducing the entire spectrum of sound frequencies without distortion. Thus, a crossover allows you to divide the frequency spectrum into separate frequency ranges (bands), which can then be played by an appropriate speaker designed for this range (band) without distortion.

Another application of crossovers is multi-band signal processing, where each group can be processed separately using dynamic, effect and psychoacoustic processors (compression, limiting, de-essing, distortion, bass enhancement, exciting, noise reductions, echo, delaying, etc.)