Do I Need A Crossover For My Subwoofer?

Do I need a crossover for my subwoofer? I bet you have already asked this question several times. When we think of building up a sound system, we focus on things like – speakers, amplifiers, headsets, and so on. However, it would be dumb to leave crossovers out. Why?

As you already know, different subwoofers produce frequencies of different levels. That’s when crossovers come into play. It can direct a specific frequency to a specific type of subwoofer or speaker. So you can enjoy high-quality audio without any distortion.

However, there are different types of crossover. So, which one will suit your subwoofer the most? In this article, we have explained subwoofer crossover in detail. Hang on with us till the end, and go for the best one now!

What Is A Crossover? 

Even most music enthusiasts are not really aware of crossovers. But trust me, it’s really a basic component of a system. 

It might sound weird. But every music system comes with a built-in crossover. For example, coaxial speakers feature a built-in crossover. Component speakers also use external crossover to deliver perfect frequencies. So, what is a crossover? 

There are different types of speakers in the market. Subwoofers are well-known for creating low-frequency sounds without distortion. Tweeters perform best with high frequencies. Thus, crossovers are designed to direct different frequencies to specific speakers or subwoofers. So the sounds will be highly audible and clear.

Types of Crossover

Crossovers are basically composed of coils, capacitors, and resistors. In order to minimize audio distortion, you must go for a specific crossover in specific situations.

Passive Crossover 

Passive crossover lies between the amplifier and the speaker. It uses amplified signals from external amplifiers. Then, it splits the frequency and sends it to their specific speakers. Thus, it can easily cut off unwanted frequencies. However, it may waste a significant amount of energy to filter the amplified sounds.

Installing the passive speaker on your audio system is super easy. In the market, you will often come across speakers with built-in passive crossovers. 

Active Crossover

Active crossovers are a bit more complex than passive ones. They require a direct power supply to deliver specific frequencies to specific speakers. So, it’s also pretty expensive. 

However, compared to passive crossovers, it is more efficient in power usage and signal filtration. It acts on the signal before amplification. First, it splits the signal according to the level of frequency. Then, it directs a specific signal to a specific amplifier and speaker subsequently.

Active or Passive Crossover: Which One Is The Best Crossover for Subwoofer?

	Passive Crossover	Active Crossover
Power Source	Indirect	Direct
Easy To Install	Yes	No
Energy Wastage	Yes	No
Controlling System	Good	Excellent.
Efficiency	Less efficient	More efficient.
Cost	Relatively affordable.	Expensive.

As per this comparison, active crossover is indeed the best choice. Yes, it’s a bit pricey. But still, it will offer the best performance with minimum distortion and power wastage. 

It performs best in the digital domain by using digital signal processing systems. So, there is no risk of manipulating any information from the signal.

You will definitely love active crossover for its overall control. 

Do I Need A Crossover for My Subwoofer? 

Are you building a system with full-range speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofers? Things may get a bit complicated when you add multiple subwoofers to the system. In that case, you will need a separate crossover to minimize distortion. After all, you are dealing with audios of different frequencies. 

Likewise, a system with multiple subwoofers requires multiple crossovers. Thus, it can deliver individual amplified sound to an individual speaker. 

In the market, you will also find amplifiers with typical built-in filters. In that case, you don’t need a separate crossover in your car. The low-pass filters will drive low frequencies to the subwoofers instead.

 

How Do You Install A Crossover for A Subwoofer? 

As you already know, installing a passive crossover is super convenient. 

• First, connect the amplifier to the crossover’s input. 
• Now, wire the tweeter to the tweeter output to deliver high frequencies.
• Wire up the woofer to the woofer output as well.

Passive crossovers are pretty small and compact. You can easily mount it on the car door close to the woofer.

In contrast, installing an active crossover will need some work. 

• First, set up the crossover near the amplifier.
• Add up a power source with remote turn-on and ground wiring.
• Connect the crossover with the amplifier.

Now, the crossover will first filter the sound and send it to the specific amplifier accordingly.

Crossover or Equalizer: Which One Is Better? 

Crossover and equalizer are pretty different in terms of their purpose and functionality. A crossover first splits frequencies and then directs different frequencies to different speakers. On the other hand, an equalizer helps you to achieve a high-quality tone by balancing out the frequencies. It can significantly make up for the acoustic deficiencies.

	Crossover	Equalizer
Purpose	Split frequencies to specific speakers and minimize distortion.	Adjust the frequencies to improve the tone of the audio.
Function	It ensures delivery of low frequencies to subwoofers and high frequencies to tweeters.	It is designed to boost up or cut off specific frequencies.
Types	Passive crossover. Active crossover.	Graphic equalizer. Parametric equalizer.

So, you can’t really choose one in between them. Instead, we would suggest using both of them together. The equalizer will tune up the audio, and the crossover will improve the overall audio quality.

What Is The Best Crossover for A Subwoofer?

In order to produce mesmerizing sound with the subwoofer, you should set up the crossover at 40 Hz to 80 Hz. However choosing the best one in the market is certainly not easy. After surfing through the market, we have chosen Clarion high pass electronic crossover for its specific subwoofer level control. This 3 way crossover features 5 volt, 6 channel RCA output. The noise reduction system can efficiently transfer clean filtered signals. So, its sound quality is indeed crispy. 

FAQ

1. Does Every Speaker Need A Crossover?

– Yes, crossover is an essential part of every sound system. That’s why, in the market, you will come across amplifiers and speakers with built-in crossovers. In fact, the very basic system features a built-in crossover.

2. Do I need A Crossover If My Amp Has One? 

– No. The filter within your amplifier will split the frequencies and deliver them to their specific speakers. So, you don’t need to invest in a crossover separately.

3. Do You Need A Cross for Component Speakers? 

– Component speakers also come with a passive crossover. So you don’t need to install it separately. However, if you plan to pair up the component speaker with subwoofers and amplifiers, a crossover is indeed necessary.

Final Verdict 

Do I need a crossover for my subwoofer? As you already know, the answer will vary from situation to situation. If you are up for a basic system, the built-in filter with the speaker will do the job for you. If you plan to mix up different types of subwoofers, then going for a crossover is a must. Most active and passive crossovers are pretty good. However, for high efficiency and straightforward performance, we would definitely recommend an active crossover. So, are you ready to add up a new dimension to your music experience with a subwoofer?