![]() ![]() The two slopes cross at the crossover frequency (2 kHz in this example) where they are both 6 dB below their nominal level. In most SVS speakers, that slope is 12 dB/octave. The rate at which the level decreases to the woofer and increases to the tweeter is the crossover slope (sometimes called the rolloff). At the same point, the highpass filter starts increasing the level sent to the tweeter until it reaches its full level somewhere above 2 kHz. ![]() However, as lower frequencies approach 2 kHz, the lowpass filter starts reducing the signal level sent to the woofer. In this case, frequencies below 2 kHz are sent to the woofer, and frequencies above 2 kHz are sent to the tweeter. In fact, the frequency ranges of the filters overlap, and both drivers reproduce frequencies in the transition zone.įor example, let's say the crossover frequency between the tweeter and woofer in a 2-way speaker is 2 kHz. ![]() As the frequency rises, the output of one filter ramps down as the output from the next filter ramps up. An abrupt, sudden transition causes all sorts of sonic problems, so it must follow a more gradual slope, called the crossover slope. If a driver tries to reproduce frequencies outside of its linear operating range, it might sound weak or even distorted.Įqually important is how the crossover transitions from one range to the next. Ideally, each driver should be asked to reproduce only the frequencies it's most comfortable with-in other words, its linear operating range. This depends on the capabilities of the drivers. One part of this process is deciding exactly where to divide the entire frequency range into smaller ranges the dividing points are called the crossover frequencies. To avoid these and other issues common to inferior crossovers, SVS uses premium components, sophisticated circuit design, detailed computer-aided modeling, and extensive real-world and anechoic testing, which we will discuss a little later, to achieve uncompromised performance from its speakers. If a manufacturer tries to save costs by utilizing cheap components and a simplistic design, the speaker can sound distorted and strained at high levels, the soundstage and imaging can be degraded, and the frequency response can be inaccurate and uneven. SVS engineers spend a lot of time on the crossover circuit, because it has a huge impact on the final sound of the speaker. But the devil is in the details, and the specific design of the circuit-exactly which components are used and how they are laid out-is an important part of the speaker designer's art. It consists of three basic electronic components: inductors, capacitors, and resistors. 1).Īt its heart, a passive crossover circuit is simple. ![]() This circuit accepts a full-range signal from the power amp or AV receiver and sends the high frequencies to the tweeter using a highpass filter, the lower frequencies to the woofer(s) using a lowpass filter, and-in a 3-way speaker-the middle range of frequencies to the midrange driver using a bandpass filter (see Fig. How is the full range divided into smaller ranges and directed to the corresponding drivers? That's the job of the speaker's crossover circuit, which consists of two or more filters. Some speakers, especially floorstanding towers, have more than one woofer since the lower frequencies require more oomph to balance the high end.ĭivide Frequencies and Conquer Accurate Sound 3-way speakers divide the full range into three smaller ranges using three drivers: a tweeter, a woofer, and a midrange driver that reproduces the middle frequencies between the tweeter and woofer. So, most speakers have more than one driver mounted within a cabinet.įor example, a so-called 2-way speaker divides the full frequency range into two smaller ranges, and each range is reproduced by a different driver: A tweeter handles high frequencies and a woofer takes care of lower frequencies. That's slightly less than the entire extent of human hearing, but it's still a very wide range, and most speaker drivers can't cover all of it by themselves. Realistically, most speakers can encompass eight or nine octaves, from 20 kHz or even higher at the top down to somewhere between 40 and 80 Hz, though some can go lower. Humans with normal hearing can perceive up to 10 octaves of frequencies, from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and full-range speakers are designed to reproduce as much of that span as possible. SVS SoundPath Stereo RCA Audio Cable Pair SoundPath Tri-Band Wireless Audio Adapter ![]()
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