Audio equipment reviews | The George Inn Bristol

Know about crossover frequency and its importance

What is a speaker crossover Frequency?

Cross over frequency of a subwoofer is a frequency in that woofer starts with low-frequency effect with good bass notes. The speaker cross over frequency may be analog or digital. The woofer output type may be active or passive.

Why Crossover Frequency is important?

A speaker crossover frequency used to increase power efficiency and decrease the cost of the speakers and bass. Every AV receiver feature with an auto-equalization that set the crossovers for speakers automatically based on loudspeakers capabilities.

There is a demand for any crossover that comes from the impracticability on one drive unit that deals with 10-octave spectrum besides removing a passive crossover. This helps to increase power efficiency and decrease in cost.

What Crossover Frequency should I use?

The crossover frequency is also be used on loudspeaker units to adopt such frequencies. Here are some important functions that are applicable to active and passive crossovers for speakers let’s see one by one

Audio spectrum can be split to 2, 3 or more bands
Correct the drive unit interaction and make up the diffraction.
Correct the physical alignment of the driver units
Correct the unmatched sensitive on driver units.

Below is the guideline for speaker crossover frequencies

Small center, surround shelf: 100-120 Hz.
Large center, surround and shelf: 60-80 Hz.
On-wall or small satellite speakers: 150-200 Hz.
Mid-size center surrounds speakers: 80-100 Hz.
Very large center surround speakers: 40-60 Hz.
Tower speaker with 8”-10” woofers: 40 Hz
Tower speakers with 4”- 6” woofers: 60 Hz.

How to Get a Better Bass Performance

Use small speakers for best output

To set cross over frequency on a music system, it is advisable to use small speakers for best output. It is quite interesting to listen to pop, classical, hip hop, and acoustic music. The tinier speakers have restricted bass response that is inclined with the full range on best frequency output.

To set cross over frequency effectively in small speakers with the best quality output of bass performance are the important elements for best output and better efficiently.

Add a Subwoofer

When you use a subwoofer on a music system, you must know about what cross over frequency should I use?

The crossover frequency of subwoofer is the frequency in which speakers start to roll off on subwoofer kicks with bass notes and LFEs. Modern AV receives features with auto adjustment of equalization on loudspeakers.

To set crossover frequency efficiently the AV processor must fit with the subwoofers prominently. AV processor along with DSP woofer provides a best two-channel surround set-up to get the best performance output.

A crossover for speakers through small speakers, subwoofers and DSP woofers along with best bass management function helps to experiment critical listening and achieve best output result.

An excellent way to portrait sealed subwoofer or ported box in a stereo system

The excellent way to get full rich-sounding bass in your car stereo is to add a subwoofer in the car stereo. Adding a subwoofer in your car audio system greatly improves the impact and quality of sound and music.

Generally, there are two bass camps light and bloomy. Based on the type of bass style of music get vary. If you prefer tight focused go for sealed box otherwise choose portrait woofer for best output.

In case of maximum volume with boom sound and best music then your choice must be ported box. There is a huge difference between a ported and sealed woofer.

Sealed Vs Ported Box

Sealed Box:

It is tight in nature and more accurate in bass output. In the case of louder bass, it needs more power for better efficiency and best performance. The boxes of the sealed box are smaller in size.

Ported Box:

The box is larger. The bass is less accurate and more bloomy and louder in sound output. It does not require more power still it is more efficient than a sealed box.

Ported Vs Sealed Sub

An experiment made with car listening room, in which a car is loaded with sound ordnance of sealed and ported boxes of 10” Alpine subs each and a variation in the sound difference between ported and sealed subwoofers are as follows

Sealed Vs Ported Subwoofer

Pop Music: In ported bass, it sounds more punch but muddy. In the case of sealed sound, it is better to hear the bass sound and punch.

Rock / Alt Music: In the case of sealed sub bass it is more emphatic to listen to rock music. In the case of port base listening to the rock is louder.

Classical Music: There is no difference in listening to classical music in ported and sealed bass. Sealed box shows better output than classical.

R&B / Rap Music: In case of rap music the sound on bass hears natural and enthusiastic in a ported box, whereas in sealed it is not.

Electro / Dance: For electro or dance music ported bass delivers better and best bass for this type of sound and music.

The difference between ported and sealed subwoofers shows the mixed reaction of output. We receive the best output from sealed and stereotype bass. Sealed subwoofers are best for classical songs whereas ported bass is suitable for Rap and Dance.

Before you fix up with the woofers and sound systems, it is better to choose the box according to your taste. Make sure to add either popping loud or humming low in your stereo system to get the kind of best bass.

Difference between subwoofer and speaker

The difference between subwoofers and speakers pertains on the frequency range. The subwoofers are used for the lowest part of the audio spectrum and suitable for perfect bass output and there is no such restriction in case of speakers.

Both are audio system but speakers deliver high frequency and best output of sound quality. Speakers are of different types that include tenors, sopranos, altos, etc.

In case of DJ’s bands, orchestra, music system, musical concert, the set up of the sound system is basically configured with speakers and subwoofers and also with tweeters, woofers, midranges, etc.

This article helps to understand the difference between Subwoofer and Speaker.

Subwoofer Vs Speaker

What is a speaker?

A speaker is a loudspeaker that amplifies the sound output to the audience in an auditorium. A speaker refers to an electro-acoustic transducer that converts an electrical signal to sound.

The inherent working principle of the speaker is to show the variations in the electric signal and cause the device to move with and propagate the sound waves through the medium of air.

What is a woofer or subwoofer?

A woofer is a sound system that produces the output of an audio system in an effective way. The subwoofer is actually a woofer and it used for the reproduction of low-pitched audio frequency. Generally, it called as bass.

Speaker Vs Subwoofer

The speaker causes distortion and noise and show an audible difference in an open or closed area. It plays a significant role in the audio system. Subwoofer produces the audio output in an effective way.

Design of a subwoofer

A subwoofer designed in a plastic or wooden enclosure speaker that is designed to fit with the woofers. The woofers are placed in a manner of placing several subwoofers in different places on the same area for excellent output quality.

Subwoofers are distinguished based on cost, power handling, efficiency, size, usage, and distortion characteristics.

Subwoofer Frequency

The frequency ranges the subwoofer will deliver a typical range of frequency from 20-200 Hz. The professional sound on woofers will be below 100Hz and subwoofers will be below 80Hz.

Types of Subwoofers

There are two types of subwoofers are available: Active subwoofer and passive subwoofer. The active subwoofers have built-in amplifier whereas passive subwoofers are woofer in an enclosure driven by an external amplifier.

Is subwoofer a speaker?

The basic difference between subwoofers and speakers pertains only on the frequency range.

The speaker refers to electro–acoustic transducer. While the woofers and subwoofers are used for the lowest part of the audio spectrum and for perfect bass sound.

The speakers don’t have such restrictions. It delivers a high frequency of output and best in perfection.