|   Dump question alert: what is a "cross over" point? | Brendan Kelly
Jun 4, 2001 1:35 PM | | I come across the term "cross-over" often when reading about speakers, but for the life of me, I don't know what it means.
I have Acoustic Energy Aegis Threes as my fronts, Acoustic Energy Aegis Ones for the rear, and an Acoustic Energy Aegis Center. How do I know the cross-overs for them? I'm not even sure I've got the specs and they're not on the AE web-site.
Also, I have the speaker set-up on my Harmon Kardon AVR-510 to "Large" for the fronts and "Small" for the rears and center. Is this correct?
Thanks. |
| Crossover | Bryan
Jun 4, 2001 1:50 PM | | An electronic circuit that divides frequencies and routes them to their appropriate amplifiers (electronic crossover) or speakers (passive crossover).
A.K.A. what you do using a bridge going from one side to the other. |
| re: Dump question alert: what is a "cross over" point? | manny
Jun 4, 2001 1:52 PM | | A crossover point is the frequency where one speaker leaves off and another one picks up. For instance, a 6.5" speaker may have a response of 80-1500hz. The next one would be a midrange of say 5" which would have a response of 350-7500hz. If there is a cutoff between them say 500 hz, then the 6.5" would respond to signals 500hz and lower, and the midrange would pick up from there. I'm trying to explain this simply. It all works on the theory of the human ear's ability to hear from 20hz to 20,000hz. Hertz are cycles per second. Low numbers are bass, and high numbers treble. Hope this helps. |
| re: Dump question alert: what is a "cross over" point? | paulbl
Jun 4, 2001 1:55 PM | | A 'crossover' is a passive or electronic (usually passive inside a speaker) device that directs frequencies to the appropriate driver. Since higher (generally above 2k hz or so) freqs need a small driver (tweeter) for accurate sound reproduction and low freqs need a larger driver (woofer) for accurate sound, speakers need a device that properly sends frequencies to the correct driver. Different speakers can have different crossover frequencies depending on the manufacturer, and more drivers (ie. 3 way speakers) necesitate a more complex crossover. A crossover doesn't just 'chop off' at a given frequency, but instead 'rolls off' gradually. Example: a speaker has a xover point of 2000 hz. The woofers output will then begin rolling off at that frequency, so that at say 3000 hz, its output will be diminished. Likewise the tweeter will 'roll off' below 2k. This is referred to as crossover slope and specs for a crossover slope will say something like 6db/octave (first order), 12 db/octave (second order). As far as deep bass goes, HT receivers have built in electronic xovers so that when you set speakers to 'small', the low frequencies are rolled off (usually at 12db/octave) at about 80 hz or so and sent to the subwoofer, which is designed to reproduce these low frequencies. For your setup, its usually a good idea to set all speakers to small unless they can give substantial output at around 20 - 25 hz. (most speakers cannot do this), however, the best thing to do is experiment, and see what sounds best to you. If you don't have a sub, set the mains to large. I hope this isn't too confusing (heck I think I confused myself writing this :o), and there are other posters here than can give you the engineering info (I can only explain this from a layman standpoint, but I figured that's what you were looking for anyway). |
| re: Dump question alert: what is a "cross over" point? | Brendan Kelly
Jun 4, 2001 2:36 PM | | Thanks all for the quick responses. Since I am "wooferless" for the time being, should I still set all speakers (fronts, center, surrounds) to "small"? The fronts are three-ways, but I would be surprised if they put out much in the 20 -25 hz range, so wouldn't it make more sense to designate them "small"? |
| Let your ears decide.... | RuSsMaN
Jun 4, 2001 3:12 PM | | I am not familar with your particular speakers, but I would go everything large, then play with the center and surrounds. Just because your speakers may not hit 20Hz, does not mean they should be 'small'. This is a home-theater only setting developed to accomodate very tiny speakers when used with a sub. We never had an option on our amps throughout the years, in stereo listening, to choose 'large' or 'small'.
Not saying you wont end up there, but start at large OR small, and play with it. If you want me to decide for you, I would say mains=large, rears=small, center=play with it.
Cheers,
Russ |
| For you, more important than large vs small is ..... | brian f
Jun 4, 2001 10:37 PM | | If by "wooferless" you mean you have no sub, then be sure to set the receiver's "subwoofer" setting to "off" or "none" or "no". That way all of the low frequency information in your sources, including the dedicated LFE track, will be delivered to your existing speakers. Once that is done, setting any of the other speakers to "large" or "small" makes no diference. If "subwoofer" is set to "on" or "yes", then some low frequency sound will be thrown away (routed to the dead end of the sub out jack). Also, shop for a sub. Adds a whole new dimemsion. |
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