What is a Crossover and How Does it Affect Speaker Configuration

What is a Crossover and How Does it Affect Speaker Configuration?

When we talk about speaker configuration, we are talking about the number and type of drivers that a speaker has. Drivers are generally classified according to the frequency range of sounds they reproduce. Woofers play low frequencies, tweeters play high frequencies and midrange drivers play frequencies between these two extremes.

The most common configurations in modern speakers are 2-way and 3-way configurations, which indicate the number of drivers the speaker has. A 2-way speaker has a woofer and tweeter, whereas a 3-way speaker has a woofer, tweeter and midrange driver. In the case of our signature series floorstanding speakers, there are two woofers, in this 3 way configuration. A subwoofer typically only has one driver.

The reason that speakers have multiple drivers is that drivers perform optimally only within a certain range of frequencies. For example, low frequencies require the driver to move a lot of air slowly, so the driver needs to be larger. However, high frequencies require the driver to move small quantities of air quickly, which requires a small driver. 

It’s natural to assume that a 3-way speaker is better than a 2-way speaker because it has an extra driver, but the truth is more complex. A 2-way speaker only requires a single crossover frequency. Sounds above this frequency are sent to the tweeter, while sounds below this frequency are sent to the woofer.

In a 3-way speaker, the designer must use two different crossover frequencies, one between the woofer and midrange, and another between the midrange and tweeter. This means more parts, and more cost, so sometimes a 2-way speaker might sound better than a 3-way speaker in the same price range.

What is a crossover frequency

Each driver in a speaker should only receive the frequencies that it’s able to handle better than the other drivers. The crossover frequency is the frequency at which one driver hands off to the other.  Think of it like the speaker telling the drivers: 2.5kHz is our crossover point. Woofer: you handle everything below that, Tweeter, you take everything above that. 

The crossover frequency is set by the speaker maker, and it is a very critical decision - especially in multi-driver speakers. Poorly chosen crossover frequencies are one of the most common reasons that speakers of otherwise high quality don’t sound as good as they should.