7.10: Crossover Networks

Understanding Sound From Ear to Engineer · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY-SA 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Crossover Networks

    A crossover divides the incoming signal into frequency bands for different drivers.

    • Passive crossovers use resistors, capacitors, and inductors inside the speaker.
    • Active crossovers split the signal before amplification, offering more precision and efficiency.
    Audio signal paths from console to crossover to amps and drivers. Example of passive and active

    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\):“Crossover Networks”, GDunbar, (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    To reiterate, since a single speaker driver cannot reproduce the entire range of audible frequencies, separate drivers are employed to handle specific bands of the spectrum. For example, woofers reproduce low frequencies, tweeters handle high frequencies, and midrange drivers cover the middle band. The crossover ensures that each driver receives only the frequencies it is designed to reproduce, resulting in a more accurate and balanced sound.

    This page titled 7.10: Crossover Networks was last modified on Fri, 01 May 2026 02:54:47 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Geoffrey Dunbar.