LNGR / Knowledge
What does a crossover do?
A crossover divides the audio band between drivers and also shapes phase, level and sometimes protection. Acoustic slopes matter more than component labels alone.
Electrical versus acoustic slopes
The driver already has its own frequency response. A filter adds to that behaviour, so a nominal electrical 12 or 24 dB/octave filter does not guarantee the same acoustic result.
Phase and geometry
Driver spacing and acoustic centre offsets influence summation around the crossover. Measurements on the intended baffle are therefore essential for serious passive or active design.
Active systems
DSP crossovers allow precise high-pass, low-pass, delay and equalisation functions. They make iteration easier, but they do not remove the need for clean driver operating ranges and good directivity matching.