Crossover for acoustics - what is it and what is it intended for

When installing a modern stereo system in the car owner must choose the right crossover. This choice is quite simple if you know and understand what it is and what it is intended for, and also in what system this device will work. So, let's figure out what a crossover is for acoustics.

Characteristics, purpose

A crossover is a special equipment in the set of an acoustic system, the main function of which is to prepare the right frequency range for each speaker. As you know, any speaker system is designed for a specific range of operating frequencies. The output of a signal feeding to the speaker beyond the limits of the range can lead to distortion of the sound. So, if you give the speaker a frequency that is too low for it, then the sound picture turns out to be distorted. If the frequency is too high, the owner of the system will be able to face not only a distorted sound, but also the failure of a high-frequency dynamo. The latter simply can not withstand such a mode of operation.

In normal conditions, the function of high-frequency speakers is the reproduction of sounds only at high frequencies. Low-frequency speakers work separately. Sometimes installed even in different places in the cabin. The same goes for middle frequency sounds. They are only fed to a midrange speaker.

Therefore, for qualitative reproduction of music tracks in a car, it is necessary to allocate certain frequencies and submit them strictly to specific dynamics. To do this, you need a crossover for acoustics.

How it works

The design of the device is quite simple. These are two frequency filters, working according to the following principle. So, when the separation frequency is 1000 Hz, one of the two filters will allocate frequencies that are lower than this. The second filter will work with the frequency band above the mark. Filters have their names. Low-pass is designed to work with low frequencies up to 1000 Hz. High Pass will only process the frequency in the range above 1000 Hz.

On this principle, two-band devices function. However, in today's market there is a three-way crossover. The main difference here is another filter, capable of processing medium frequencies in the range from 600 to 1000 Hz.

More channels of filtering the audio frequency and feeding them to the corresponding dynamics of these frequencies leads to a better sound in the car's interior.

Technical features of crossovers

Most modern instruments are inductors and capacitors. Depending on the number and quality of manufacturing of these elements, the cost of the product is formed.

Why does the crossover for acoustics include a capacitor and a coil? These are the most simple jet parts. They are inexpensive to handle various audio frequencies. The capacitor can extract and process a high frequency, while the inductor operates at low frequencies. Manufacturers competently use these properties and make constructively simple, but quite effective devices.

The number of reactive parts affects the bit depth of the filters: 1 - one element is used, 2 - two elements. Depending on the number of reactive parts, as well as crossover circuits, the system filters in different ways those frequencies that are not suitable for specific channels. It can be assumed that the more reactive elements in the circuit, the better the crossovers of the speakers will filter the signal. The filtering schemes have a certain characteristic. This is the so-called "steep slope." In other words, it's sensitivity. Depending on the level of the "steepness of decline", all products on the market can be divided into models of the first, second, third and fourth class.

Active and passive equipment

Passive crossover for acoustics is the most common solution. It can often be found on the modern market. As the name implies, this device does not need additional power to operate. Therefore, the owner of the car will be much faster and easier to perform the installation of sound equipment. The disadvantage of this group of devices is that simplicity is not always a guarantee of quality.

Due to the passive scheme, the system takes a portion of the energy to ensure the operation of the filter. At the same time, reactive parts change the phase shift. Naturally, this is by far not the most serious flaw. However, it will not work as finely as possible to perform frequency correction. This lack has no active crossover. The fact is that despite the more complex design, the audio stream in them is filtered much better. Due to the presence in the circuit not only of several coils and capacitors, but also semiconductors, developers create high-quality devices with more compact dimensions. An active crossover is rarely seen as a separate module. However, in any amplifier there are such active filters.

How to configure the device correctly?

In order to get the best quality sound in the car, it is necessary to choose the right frequency, in which all unnecessary will be cut off. In the case of an active device designed for three bands, two cut-off points must be found. The first will denote a face in the range between low and middle frequencies. The second is the difference between medium and high frequency.

How correctly to calculate by own hands?

Calculating the crossover for acoustics is an important process. Still no manufacturer could produce an ideal acoustic system, which could reproduce sound in a different range. For low frequencies, subwoofers are used. Medium-frequency speakers are used for medium. But when the whole complex starts to sound, then some confusion may arise. That's why you need a crossover in acoustics - so that a signal of a certain frequency only goes to a particular acoustic system . To obtain a bipolar system or any other to the first channel of the amplifier, a device dividing the signal is connected. This is the filter. In a complete set with acoustic systems already there are passive crossovers made and calculated by manufacturers.

But how to be, if you need to divide the sound into frequencies according to another principle? Manually do not have to count anything - in our high-tech time, even for the simplest operations there is software. Here and for these calculations there is a program, for example Crossover Elements Calculator.

First of all, the program introduces the resistance index of LF and HF speakers, which is often 4 Ohms. Next, enter the frequency that the device must separate. Immediately introduce the order and crossover. Then click on the button and wait for the program to return the result. As a result, it will give out a diagram where the necessary capacitors and coils will be indicated for the parameters entered.

Features of choice

The market offers a wide range of devices that differ in quality, cost, specific manufacturers. Choose a crossover for acoustics is not easy - you can not just take and buy what you like. The choice is made for certain acoustic systems. Imagine that your subwoofer produces a low frequency in the range from 18 to 200 Hz, the mid-range speaker reproduces frequencies from 200 to 1000 Hz, and the high-frequency speaker reproduces frequencies from 1000 to 16,000 Hz. At the same time the amplifier does not have a built-in filter and reproduces frequencies in the range from 18 to 20 000 Hz. In this particular case, you need a three-way crossover that can implement filtering in these ranges.

Also, when choosing, pay attention to the number of bands. Another important parameter is the frequency range. Must be considered throughput. Multilevel devices with high sensitivity can significantly improve the sound quality.

Conclusion

So, we found out what the crossover is and what functions it performs. As you can see, this is quite an important element in the car's acoustic system.