Choosing the best crossover car audio system for your vehicle can be a rather daunting task. There are so many types to choose from, and they come in various shapes, sizes, and prices. We’ll also provide you with some general guidelines to take into consideration when making your purchase decision. The first step should be determining what you want out of your speakers.
If bass is a priority for you then you should consider purchasing a high-powered subwoofer with dual voice coil technology to help ensure that all of the deep frequency content is channeled through it without distortion.
What is a Crossover Car Audio System and How Do They Work?
A crossover is a network of circuits, filters, and amplifiers that divide an audio signal into one or more frequency ranges so that it can be delivered to loudspeakers of different sizes. So in short, the crossover divides the frequency spectrum so that the speaker’s membrane moves back and forth mechanically less than if it was not divided up.
A crossover car audio system is an electronic device installed in cars which helps filter the car’s signal. It helps divide the frequencies for individual loudspeakers in order to get better clarity and sound quality.
Reviews of the Best Crossover Car Audio Systems on the Market
The crossover car audio system is a type of speaker system designed to reproduce the performance of the original recording. When you go for a ride in your vehicle, it’s important to have a car stereo that can provide an enjoyable experience. You need to find a system that will enhance the sound of your favorite music and movies.
Below is a list of reviews on some of the best crossovers for cars on the market:
This recommendation includes a variety of price ranges so you can choose the speakers that fit your budget. Here are some of the best car audio recommendations that are suitable for you.
Harman Kardon
Harman Kardon is one of the best car audio brands that can be used at home, in the office, and in cars. The best products from this brand are products that are not new, but until now, this brand is still the best brand in terms of quality. The sound quality provided by this brand is very good. The bass and treble are released by the device in a harmonious manner and also has a loud beat coupled with a loud bang but will not hurt the ears.
Although this brand is known for its high quality, it has been criticized a lot because of its high price. Even though this brand uses materials that can last a long time, This Harman Kardon product is intended for the upper middle class. All products in this series have a fairly expensive price. This product also does not use cables and the battery lasts for 8 hours.
Bose
Although many use it as a bluetooth speaker, Bose can also be used as car audio for your car. The sound of this product is quite good and the price is also affordable. This product can produce a powerful, loud sound, but not buzzing or breaking.
Bose is suitable for use as an internal audio system without the need for additional dampers. You only need about 90 W of power to produce a frequency of 50 Hz. The drawback of this speaker is that it is quite large, so you can only put it in the trunk. The price for this car audio is around $120.
Kicker This
Car audio comes from the Kicker brand. The Kicker is a car audio that has been on the market since the 1980s. This brand has many versions for their speakers. This speaker is perfect for those of you who want to get the best car audio at a low price.
The shape is a classic black box and the placement is hidden. Although hidden the resulting sound is not kidding. Not only is this one speaker affordable, but it has a smooth sound quality and you can adjust the volume well. This car audio also requires a minimal amount of power to play music.
Alpine
Alpine is also one of the best car audio brands you can get. The system offered by speakers from Japan is very complete. In one set, you can get 8 speakers at once. The music you listen to when you travel in the car will certainly feel very maximal.
Although there are 8 speakers at once, the price of this one speaker is quite cheap. It puts out up to 40 watts of power at a frequency of 60 to 20 KHz. Several online shops sell this product at a price of around $100. This price is fairly cheap for a speaker set that has 8 pieces of content.
Stetsom STX
Stetsom car speakers are the right choice for the world of sound systems in your car. If you have enough cash, then the great quality and system of this product will ensure that you can get the maximum enjoyment out of the music you listen to. Many Stetsom products are also suitable for use as an audio competition, meaning that this speaker is one of the best speakers on the market. The speakers provided by this brand will provide the best sound quality for your car, even for other vehicles.
Pioneer
Pioneer is the best car audio brand that is very well known. The sound quality provided by this brand is very high and you can use it as a subwoofer. Although the sound equipment provided by this brand is usually used at home, the Pioneer is also suitable for use in the car.
This is because the design of this speaker is very good, so the interior of your car will also look more attractive. One of the products of this brand has a 4-channel amplifier that you can convert into two-channel models with different features. The price of this speaker is also very affordable, even though the quality is very good. This speaker has also been used by many people for 20 years.
Sony MEX
If you’re looking for a single DIN stereo, then the Sony MEX is one of the strongest models you can get. Sony has never once failed to provide good design and quality, especially when you’re given 100-watt speakers and 4-channel speakers that are provided directly.
If you love music, you’ll never get tired of the bass and volume this amp brings to your car speakers. Unfortunately, what this product lacks is integration with your smartphone. You can’t just use Bluetooth, but you have to use an app to be able to turn on a song that you have to open every time you want to turn on a song.
Kenwood
There are many variants and types of Kenwood car speakers to choose from if you want to upgrade your car audio system with a new one. All the variants of this brand put out up to 500 watts of power and the woofers are made of polypropylene mica cones. You’ll also get really vibrant bass on all your favorite music.
This product can play radio, CD, and MP3s, as well as audio from a line-in or out port. This speaker won’t get too hot while playing music. There are several interesting features that this product has, so you’ll want to buy it. The sound quality provided by this brand is fairly good.
The Kenwood car speakers will give you a great sound experience. If you want to be blown away by the difference, add Excelon speakers. Kenwood car speakers are durable and ready for any terrain. Kenwood speakers cost a lot less than certain other brands, but still offer exceptional quality in return.
Rockford Fosgate
In general, Rockford Fosgate is a speaker with very good sound quality. However, they do have some drawbacks that might make you not want to buy them. It is very important to know all about these speakers before you spend money on them. You want to compare the advantages and disadvantages of this one brand before you make a purchase. The advantages and disadvantages of this product will help you to determine whether you want to buy this sound system with hard-earned money. The system owned by this brand is full audio with two-way to 3-way configuration, system components.
You can request a complete installation and pair these speakers with a suitable amplifier to maximize their performance. This bass speaker and subwoofer from Rockford is made of durable materials. Some models are available with shallow frame construction for shallow applications. To reduce cone distortion and piston flex, the cones are reinforced with Kevlar fiber.
Compression terminals make it faster to connect cables. The speakers offer two types of bass: sub-bass and mid-bass. The size of the speaker ranges from 10 to 15 inches. Rockford Fosgate speakers use a flexible mounting system for easier installation.
JBL GT-BassPro12 This
JBL Car speakers have a relatively small head speaker that is 12 inches. The frequency response of the speaker can reach 35 to 120 Hz. You shouldn’t underestimate its energy output, which is only around 450 watts RMS. Even with this power, the resulting bass boom is still very strong. Another great thing about this speaker is that it is easy to install, as you only need to plug in the RCA cable. This product also has a remote control with a cable length of up to 5 meters.
Types of car audio crossover
In general, the crossover function is divided into two: active and passive. Each has different frequency settings and advantages and disadvantages for the audio system. To find out the difference between the two, see the review below.
Active Crossover
The active crossover function is the frequency at which the sound signal is shared by the power amplifier. With this active mode, you can easily adjust the sound frequency of the car audio for each speaker. You can determine the sound of each speaker by using the time alignment feature, but the downside of this active crossover is that you need to use more amplifiers.
Passive Crossover
This passive version will divide the frequency after the sound signal is amplified by the power amplifier. The advantage of using this type is that you can more freely adjust the frequency of the sound. If the passive crossover system is made optimally, it is impossible for the sound quality to be clearer than the active system.
The sound from the audio will sound natural, but the drawback of this passive system is that timing becomes more difficult. The crossover function in audio is dangerous because it affects the sound quality produced by the speakers. Without these components, the sound of your audio will be less than optimal.
Electronic Crossovers
Electronic crossovers work using active electronics that filter the signals inputted into the amplifier in order to separate the frequencies that are amplified. Unlike passive crossovers, active crossovers require an amplifier. The use of crossover filters allows electronic crossovers to be used with multiple speaker types because they are able to distinguish which frequency range each speaker should produce.
Recommended Crossover Frequencies
Frequency ranges for a speaker system will vary depending on the specific one you have.:
- Subwoofers: 70-80 Hz (low pass), the most essential purpose of a subwoofer crossover is to block midrange sounds.
- A car speaker’s most critical element is to block low-end bass, which is usually 80 Hz and below
- 2-way speakers: 3-3.5 kHz (high pass)
- Midrange: 1-3.5 kHz
- 3-way system: 300 Hz and 3.5 kHz
Setting The Crossover Frequency
The crossover frequency is the point where you can hear for yourself how difficult it is to hear the individual instruments. If you have a modern car with a receiver that features auto-EQ, you are lucky. That receiver will assign the right crossover frequency automatically.
source: Wikipedia ImageSo just leave it there, because it’s already specifically tailored to your car audio system. To set the crossover frequency, you must listen carefully to find the best sound. These are the steps for doing it:
- Determine the frequency range of your speakers. Play music with dynamic frequency range (with bass, mid-range, and high-range sounds) for a bit, and determine in what range it currently sounds the best.
- Set the crossover point at 10 Hz below the lowest frequency your speakers can produce without issue. (Keep in mind that most people recommend a crossover frequency of 80 Hz).
- Play some music. But this time, slowly turn up your receiver’s volume until you hear it begin to distort. Just as you reach the volume level where the distortion starts, turn the volume down until the music sounds clean again and note the receiver’s volume at that point. This value represents the volume threshold of your receiver.
- Set the gain of your subwoofer amp to its lowest possible value. Then, switch the low-pass filter on and set it as high as it will go.
- Play some audio. Listen to the audio and pay attention to the transition between speakers as well as the bass. Ideally, you will not be able to distinguish the bass signal; it should sound like everything is playing in unison.
- If you have a bass bump when you set a crossover frequency, try adjusting the volume control until it matches your main speakers’ output. To do so, turn up the receiver’s volume to its maximum, distortion-free position (the threshold). From this point, slowly turn up the gain on the subwoofer amp until the bass sounds balanced with the rest of the audio spectrum.
Note: You can also read more about how to increase bass sound in car.
Do You Need A Professional?
Installing a crossover may seem complicated, but it’s not that hard if you know the basics. All you need to do is plug in a passive crossover between your amp and speakers. Installing a crossover cable may require a few additional steps and may require the user to know what they are doing.
Active crossovers require power, so be sure to connect the power and ground cables to each unit. If you’re going the DIY route, the best thing to do is connect your crossover in the same place you connected your amplifier. If you’re new to audio sound, this may be more difficult. It would be nice if you need a professional car audio installer for the job. There are many reasons why one should contact an expert when it comes to car audio. This includes the need to have a cross-reference defined by professionals.
Three Reasons Why You Should Invest in a Crossover Car Audio System from Now On
Top 3 reasons to invest in a crossover car audio system today :
– Sound quality: The crossover car audio system will allow you to enjoy the sound quality of your favorite music and podcasts.
– Safety: A crossover car audio system will not distract you from driving. It won’t be a distraction for other drivers, either.
– Installation: It is easy to install a crossover car audio system in any vehicle.
Conclusion: Why You Need the Right Kind of Filter for Your New Subwoofer
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If you’re in the market for a new subwoofer, you should know that there are two different types of filters that can be used. The first is a low pass filter, which determines the frequency range. The second is high pass filter, which determines the frequency range for low frequencies. Choosing the wrong one will mean missing out on some really great sound!
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