I
NSTALLATION
USING PASSIVE CROSSOVERS
A passive crossover is a circuit that uses capacitors and/or coils and is placed on speaker leads
between the amplifier and speaker. The crossover delegates a specific range of frequencies to the
speaker for optimum driver performance. A crossover network can perform one of three functions:
High-Pass (capacitors), Low-Pass (inductors or coils) and Bandpass (combination of capacitor and
coil).
The most commonly used passive crossover networks are 6dB/octave systems. These are easy to
construct and require one component per filter. Placing this filter in series with the circuit will
reduce power to the speaker by 6dB/octave above or below the crossover point depending on
whether it is a high-pass or low-pass filter. More complex systems such as 12dB/octave or
18dB/octave can cause impedance problems if not professionally designed.
Passive crossovers are directly dependent upon the speaker's impedance and component value for
accuracy. When passive crossover components are used in multiple speaker systems, the crossover's
effect on the overall impedance should be taken into consideration along with the speaker's
impedance when determining amplifier loads.
CAUTION: These amplifiers are not recommended for impedance loads below 2Ω
!
stereo and 4Ω bridged (mono).
L
6dB/Octave Low-Pass
C
6dB/Octave High-Pass
L = Low-Pass (Inductor)
C = High-Pass (Capacitor)
For more information, see your
Authorized Rockford Fosgate Dealer.
10
Speaker Impedance
Freq.
2 OHMS
Hertz
L
C
80
4.1mH 1000mF
100
3.1mH
800mF
130
2.4mH
600mF
200
1.6mH
400mF
260
1.2mH
300mF
400
.8mH
200mF
600
.5mH
136mF
800
.41mH
100mF
1000
.31mH
78mF
1200
.25mH
66mF
1800
.16mH
44mF
4000
.08mH
20mF
6000
51mH
14mF
9000
34mH
9.5mF
12000
25mH
6.6mF
4 OHMS
L
C
L
8.2mH
500mF
16mH
6.2mH
400mF
12mH
4.7mH
300mF
10mH
3.3mH
200mF
6.8mH
2.4mH
150mF
4.7mH
1.6mH
100mF
3.3mH
1.0mH
68mF
2.0mH
.82mH
50mF
1.6mH
.62mH
39mF
1.2mH
.51mH
33mF
1.0mH
.33mH
22mF
.68mH
.16mH
10mF
.33mH
.10mH
6.8mF
.20mH
68mH
4.7mF
.15mH
51mH
3.3mF 100mH
8 OHMS
C
250mF
200mF
150mF
100mF
75mF
50mF
33mF
26mF
20mF
16mF
10mF
5mF
3.3mF
2.2mF
1.6mF