In a car audio system, the crossover settings determine at what frequency sound is sent, or crosses over, to a certain speaker. A simple setup may include a two-way crossover that will send treble and mid-range frequencies to the tweeters and low frequencies to the subwoofer. More complicated systems utilize a three-way crossover to separate out a third bandpass signal exclusively for the mid-range frequencies. Setting your crossover properly takes only a few steps and can greatly improve the sound quality of your car audio system.
Instructions
1. Determine if your system uses a two- or three-way crossover and whether this crossover is passive or active. Active crossovers will be placed before the amplifier stage of your audio system. Passive crossovers alter the signal after the amplifier, and are usually used in stock car audio applications. If your crossover is active, make sure that its crossover channels are routed to the correct amplifiers, which should in turn be routed to the correct speakers.
2. Locate your crossover and its controls for adjusting cut-off frequencies. A two-way crossover will separate the high frequencies with a high-pass filter and the low frequencies with a low-pass filter. Three-way crossovers also will have controls for bandpass settings. Refer to the operations manual of your crossover for more information on adjust the specific controls.
3. Refer to the literature that came with your tweeters to determine the recommended frequency. Set the high-pass crossover point to match this frequency. If the tweeter is designed to play down to a frequency of 3,800 Hz., set this as the starting point for tuning your system. Adjust the frequency to taste, raising the cut-off frequency if distortion is produced or to increase the volume of your tweeters.
4. Set the bandpass adjustment for mid-range if using a three-way system. Set the high end cut-off to match the frequency cut-off you determined for your tweeters. Set the bottom frequency starting at around 150 Hz or higher. Adjust the bottom cut-off point to taste, and tweak the high-pass and bandpass frequencies to produce a smooth blend between speakers.
5. Set the low-pass frequency at the low end cut-off you determined for the bandpass filter, or if using only a two-way system, set the cut-off to the point you determined for your high-pass cut-off. Adjust to blend the subwoofer output with your tweeter and mid-range output.
6. Listen to music at a typical volume and further adjust the various crossover points to reach a balance that sounds good with your system.
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