Phase Alignment
We are summing two sources producing the same message at slightly different times. If phase is not aligned, the sum cancels rather than builds.
Article 03
Crossover Architecture
The point where two drivers stop speaking separately and start speaking together.
Philosophy
The sum must disappear behind the music.
The success of a crossover is measured negatively: if the listener notices it, something has gone wrong. The transition between the woofer and the tweeter should be acoustically transparent, even when moving in front of the system.
Design Pillars
What this article is built on
Filter Slope
12 dB/oct or 24 dB/oct is not a fashion choice. It is a decision that impacts dispersion, out-of-band distortion, and tweeter power handling.
Selected Components
Metallised polypropylene film capacitors, air-core inductors on the high frequencies, low-inductance resistors. Component choice is not the secret, but its consistency is.
Tuning in the Chamber
Each crossover is first tuned in simulation, then measured in anechoic chamber, finally validated in five vehicle models representative of the dealer network. What works on the bench does not always work behind a dashboard.
Measured Datum
±0.5dB
Smoothness across the crossover region
Measured on the MS-C65 2-way system at 30° off-axis, 1.6–3.2 kHz window.
“A well-built crossover is not the one that shines. It is the one that disappears.”
Continue
More readings from the Lab
01
Cone Geometry
Why a cone weighing a few grams decides the difference between sound that is sharp and sound that is dull.
02
Motor Thermal Design
A speaker does not die when it breaks. It dies when it stays too hot for too long.
04
DSP Tuning
Good DSP does not correct mistakes. It turns any car into a stage.
Find a Dealer
Discover