How to set crossover frequency for speakers

Most of the speakers come with a crossover frequency of 80Hz. But what exactly is crossover frequency, and how is it useful? Every speaker has its crossover frequency, which filters out low frequencies to power amplifiers and high frequencies to tweeters. 

Setting crossover frequency for speakers might not be a priority for most people, but it should be. Not setting proper crossover frequency can reduce the quality of your system, and this is something that shouldn’t be ignored. This blog will look at why it is a priority and set crossover frequency.

How to measure crossovers?

Crossover is one of the most significant and essential determiners of a speaker’s ability to produce realistic sound. It’s a measure of how a speaker’s woofer cone moves about its drive unit, usually the tweeter. Crossover determines the output of a speaker and how accurately it reproduces the audio range. A speaker with a good crossover will result in better sound and more volume.

How to set crossover frequency for speakers?

The crossover frequency is when the speaker begins to produce both high and low frequencies. Although it varies from speaker to speaker, the crossover frequency is generally between 1 kHz and 3 kHz. Most crossovers have a dial to adjust it to set the frequency where the speaker produces high and low frequencies. 

You can adjust it to a low frequency if you want to add bass or a high frequency if you want to add highs and clear the bass. Remember to set the crossover frequency at a range that does not overlap both speakers’ frequency ranges. You don’t want the speakers to overlap each other’s frequency ranges.

Setup crossover frequency:   

Go to Control Panel -> Sound -> Speakers -> Adjust the crossover frequency depending on the subwoofer that you’re using.

 If you’re using a typical 5.1/7.1 speaker system, you can check the manual of the subwoofer to determine the crossover frequency that it’s using. 

If you’re using a subwoofer with a built-in crossover, you can also use this crossover to drive the main speakers. If the crossover is adjustable, you can adjust it to 80 or 90Hz to firmly eliminate the subwoofer from the main speakers.

How to set crossover frequency for speakers when using the internal amplifier?

The crossover frequency setting for a speaker is the frequency above which boosted output from the internal amplifier is directed to the tweeter and below, directed to the woofer. The manufacturer usually makes this setting, and the speaker’s crossover frequency varies. 

Some speakers, especially component systems, have a crossover frequency control to adjust the crossover frequency to match your preferences. The general rule is that crossover frequency should be high to minimize overlap and distortion caused by combining the woofer and tweeter outputs into a single channel.

How to set crossover frequency for speakers when using active speakers?

The speaker’s crossover frequency is the range of frequencies passed on to each channel’s respective speaker drivers. When you want to set crossover frequency on active speakers, you need to find out the range of each driver, which may be different from each other. You can find the range of each driver by checking the frequency response of your speaker. 

The frequency response graph provided by your speaker manufacturer will also help you. The frequency response of each driver will be different from each other; generally, the high drivers will have a more comprehensive frequency range; for example, the high-frequency driver will cover from 200 Hz to 4 kHz while the low-frequency driver will cover from 50 Hz to 400 Hz.

How to set crossover frequency for speakers when using passive speakers?

The crossover frequency for speakers with passive speakers depends on the woofer (speaker) and the size of the tweeter (speaker). It would be best to make sure that the woofer has enough power to play the low frequencies.

Also, the speaker enclosure design should be such that it contains the woofer enclosure well. The woofer needs to be added only if you have a sealed enclosure. For ported enclosures, the passive speakers can be crossed over at around 100Hz.

Conclusion: 

The right crossover frequency is crucial to getting the best performance out of your speakers, specifically your subwoofer.

If the crossover frequency is too low, your subwoofer will not handle the low-end frequencies, resulting in a weak and muddy sound. On the other hand, if the crossover frequency is too high, the subwoofer will be required to handle frequencies that it cannot effectively reproduce, leading to a boomy, unbalanced sound.

FAQs

How do you use crossover frequency?

There are various crossover frequencies available. 20, 33, 40 and 50 are the most common ones. The crossover frequency is above which the subwoofer takes over from the main speakers. In other words, the crossover filters out the frequencies below the specified frequency from the main speakers. If you want to use the same frequency for two or more speakers, then set the crossover frequency to a higher value such as 100, 150 or 200 Hz.

How many Hz should I set my speakers to?

The number of Hz you set your speakers to depends on the type of music you listen to. Generally, the following settings work: 125 Hz for speech CD, 160 Hz for dance music, 300 Hz for jazz CD, 500 Hz for classical CD, and 1000 Hz for an audiobook CD.

Is a more comprehensive frequency response better?

A more comprehensive frequency response does not always mean better. It depends on the type of music you listen to. For example, complex music like classical music needs a comprehensive frequency response to get the best sound quality.

On the other hand, a physical activity song like heavy metal and a comprehensive frequency response doesn’t make a big difference. In loud music, a comprehensive frequency response helps reduce the distortion.

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