My proposed audio system will be fully active utlizing the Pioneer P9 combo (DEQ-P9 and DEX-P9).

My noob question is regarding the crossovers that typically come with component speakers. For example if I use the Focal Utopia 165W 6 1/2 component set, what exactly is the function of the crossovers and why are they required?

Please be as detailed and as gentle as possible. I am clueless when it comes to this techie stuff!

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Badass 1999 Silver Lexus GS400 - http://www.sounddomain.com/id/silvergs

think of a crossover as a filter, it will filter out certain frequncies from going to a particular speaker, higher freq. to tweeters and lower freq to midrange/midbass. they do this with the use of capacitors and coils, and sometimes resistors. the path you have chosen by going with electronic x-over is a good one, it will allow you the flexibility to make make x-over point changes alot quicker than with passives and doesnt have some of the negative side effects of passives like phase shift and insertion loss, hope this helps

So based on what you just said, the crossover that comes with the Focals is active and that is why it is much better than a passive crossover?

In other words if you were to rank an audio system as noted below, the ranks would be:

1 being better than 2

1. Pioneer DEQ-P9 with active crossover for speakers

2. Pioneer DEQ-P9 with passive crossovers for speakers

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Badass 1999 Silver Lexus GS400 - http://www.sounddomain.com/id/silvergs

The focals will come with passives designed to give relativly flat response in thier intended application.

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SIC Audio

Isn't active xover controlled by the DEQ-P9?

Then u will still need the passive crossovers to connect the tweeters and the mids, then final adjustments are then made on your eq or head unit

So, why not just go with passive crossovers? (assuming that if it's tuned properly, you won't have the issue of the side effects phase shift and insertion loss).

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Badass 1999 Silver Lexus GS400 - http://www.sounddomain.com/id/silvergs

silver, im sorry if i wasnt clear, the active option you have is far better than the passive option, option 1 is the best option for you, imo

[ March 31, 2005, 11:42 AM: Message edited by: defro13 ]

Active can be better, but harder to get right....the passives were designed for that speaker set by the speaker manufacture...

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Secrets of Home Theater and Hi Fi
Jared Rachwalski

defro13, why would I need any crossovers if the DEQ does the x-over tasks?

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Badass 1999 Silver Lexus GS400 - http://www.sounddomain.com/id/silvergs

SilverGS, active crossovers filter ( I like the word divide better) the sound before hitting the amps - preamp level.

Passive crossovers do their thing after the amp.

If you went active Xovers, you need to supply an amp for each divided section.

Most people use an active Xover to divide their system between the subs and the rest of system. One amp for the subs and an amp or amps (depending on front/rear) for the rest of the system.

Once that is done, passives are used for the mids and tweets. On a higher quality component set, the passive crossovers are tailored (custom made) to the needs and specs of the speakers involved. This is a typical simple system.

On more complicated systems, people use amps for every part of their system. Amp for tweets only, amps for mids only, amps for mid-bass, amps for........ you get the idea.

The advantage of going active is that you can match levels and easily change the crossover points, and in some cases, the slope of the curve - how steep the cutoff is. 6 db/octave, 12 db/oct., 18, 24 decibels per octave, 30 db/oct, etc. (I've never seen anything steeper than 30).

In some cases a steep curve is ideal, while at times a gentle slope is preferred. It all depends on the effect you want and the characteristics and capabilities of each speaer.

When using active crossovers, especially with tweeters, you have to be very careful that you don't set the crossovers too low, because tweeters are designed only to reproduce the higher spectrum in the music. Feed low frequencies to a tweeter at high levels and poof!! You would never have to worry about tweeter damage with passive crossovers that came with the components.

I hope this cleared it up a bit.

[ March 31, 2005, 12:55 PM: Message edited by: mugen1 ]

am i not typing in english, use the electronic x-over not the passives, and jr race, the passives are designed for the speakers, the problem is they arent designed for different car environments and mounting locations,