I've heard the question asked many times before, 'Do I really need a crossover?' Without wasting any time I quickly answer, 'Yes you do'. Whether it's a passive crossover or an active crossover, your car audio system will never sound good without a crossover. I want to make myself very clear here, so before you get confused let's talk about what a car audio crossover is and why you need one.
A crossover is a filtering device which limits the frequencies that reach a speaker. It splits a music signal into separate frequency ranges and sends them to speakers that are designed to best reproduce each frequency range. For instance, only high frequencies would be sent to your tweeters, midrange to your mid range speakers, and lows to your subwoofer.
The passive crossover is very common. It's basically a capacitor or coil installed on the speaker leads between amplifier and speaker that stops certain frequencies from reaching a speaker. It's relatively inexpensive and easy to install.
But for your car stereo system to perform better and be efficient, you need an active crossover, also referred to as an electronic crossover. It is installed between your head unit or equalizer and your amplifiers. Your electronic crossover sends the proper frequency ranges to each amplifier. Some people run three separate amps: one for bass, one for mids and the other for highs.
Active crossovers are almost infinitely adjustable. You can vary the crossover points and adjust the level of separate speakers to achieve the best overall sound in your vehicle.
If you're serious about sound you must have a car audio crossover. Otherwise your system will sound terrible. Oh what a mess it will be when your subwoofer and mid-range speakers duplicate many of the same frequencies! How about when your mid-range speaker attempts to put out high notes that your tweeters are supposed to handle. Can you bear such grief? I can't.
And this is just the beginning of your sorrow and pain. Since low frequencies are being sent to your tweeters there will be distortion. As a result of this distortion your tweeters will be destroyed. Loud bass will eventually destroy your mid-range speakers as well. Now you've got to start from scratch and buy a new set of speakers, all because you started on the wrong footing.
About the Author
Mantius Cazaubon is a successful author and publisher of Car Stereos Guide.com. A resource for information and tips on buying car stereo and audio products online.audio streaming software, audio streaming server, live audio streaming, virtual audio streaming, audio streaming service, 94.7 audio streaming, internet audio streaming, audio streaming host, live audio streaming software, audio streaming hardware, audio stream server, free audio streaming, audio stream, audio streaming hosting, audio streaming recorder, audio streams, audio stream recorder, 94.7 highveld audio streaming, streaming music, wireless audio streaming, wifi audio streaming, streaming media, mpeg audio stream, 94.7 highveld stereo audio streaming, recording streaming audio, audio streaming device, streaming audio books, video streaming, audio streaming services, flash audio streaming, online radio, live audio streaming hosting, internet radio, streaming audio player, android audio streaming, audio stream hosting, web streaming, streaming internet radio, streaming servers, free audio streaming hosting, radio 2000 audio streaming, live audio stream, usb audio streaming, audio video stream, streaming audio software, audio video streaming, online audio streaming, free audio streaming software, free audio stream recorder, audio streaming servers, shout cast, how to stream audio, html5 audio streaming, audio streaming android, stream audio, audio streaming live, wondershare streaming audio, lan audio streaming, audio stream ripper, free audio streaming server, audio hosting streaming, audio streaming 94.7, streaming audio free, audio streaming provider, cnbc audio stream, talk 702 audio streaming, audio streaming free, wondershare audio streaming recorder, audio streaming radio stations, streaming audio radio, streaming audio flash, audio web streaming, mobile audio streaming, streaming audio downloader, audio streaming encoder, host streaming, free audio streaming recorder, audio video streaming server, video audio streaming, audio stream recording, live audio streaming free, free audio stream hosting, rip streaming audio, broadwave audio streaming server, audio streaming providers, streaming audio to mp3, audio streaming bandwidth, vlc audio stream, audio stream com, upload streaming audio, save audio stream, free live audio streaming, free live audio streaming software, audio streaming wifi, free audio stream, broadcast audio streaming, cnn audio stream, what is audio streaming, internet streaming music, audio streaming server free