noob question

[rsfm089]

I've never thought of running a front stage so I thought it was a couple 6.5 and a twetter here and there now after reading I'm learning its a lot more then I thought. What does active and passive mean and what are the hz for each stage bass is 1 to 80 I think but what is mid and what is high sorry so many questions

[Krakin]

Active means you have an electronic crossover determining what frequencies whatever speaker you choose plays.

Passive crossovers are boxes that you wire going from the amplifier to the speaker. Inside the box are things like resistors and capacitors.

The main thing is that passive does not need to be powered by something else. Active does need to be powered by a separate power source.

When determining where the crossover points are for the mids and highs it is more in depth then what it is to do subs. If it is passive then it is already determined, you just wire it up and go. If it is active most people start where the passive crossover starts and then start changing it based on their system and their results.

[byers319]

Taken from here - http://www.caraudio.com/forums/speakers/146726-active-vs-passive-attempt-me-explain.html

Passive Crossovers

Ok, passive crossover networks are unpowered crossovers (i.e. no external power source) that split the frequencies between the speakers in a component set. They send the higher frequencies to the tweeter and the lower frequencies to the mid(s). They accomplish this by using a combination of capacitors and coils to create certain crossover points and slopes. They are wired in line with the speakers, between the speakers and the amplifier. The amplifier's output is connected to the passive's input, then the mid(s) and tweeter are connected to the passive's output.

Now, when two speakers (a mid and a tweeter) are on a passive crossover, the mid and tweeter are not wired in series or parallel. Two 4ohm speakers (a mid and a tweet) do not make a 2ohm load or an 8ohm load. Two 4ohm speakers on a passive crossover network create a 4ohm load on the amplifier. Two 8ohm speakers on a passive xover create an 8ohm load. A 4ohm mid and 8ohm tweeter on a passive xover creates a 4ohm load for the mid's frequencies and an 8ohm load for the tweeter frequencies. Reason for this has to do with the fact that passive's are based on frequency distribution and not power distribution.

When you have components sets with passive crossovers, the power from the amp is not split between the speakers. If you have a 70 watt amp, then each speaker is going to receive 70 watts (assuming all speakers are the same impedance). If you are sending 70 watts @ 4ohm to the component set, and the mid is 4ohm and the tweeter is 8ohm, then the mid will receive 70 watts but the tweeter will only receive 35 watts.

This probably isn't a very technical explanation.but it gets the point across none-the-less Let's pretend theoretically that we are running a 70 watt @ 4ohm amp full range. That amp (theoretically) puts out 70 watts at all frequencies at 4ohms, correct?? Now, pretend that we are running that amp to a component set (with all 4ohm speakers) through a passive crossover with a crossover point of 3500hz. So, we are taking that full range signal from the amp and splitting up the frequencies between the mid and tweet at 3500hz. Now, since we are splitting the frequencies and nothing else, there is still going to be 70 watts worth of power at all frequencies below the crossover point and at all frequencies above the crossover point, just the same as there was before we split the signal (since it was putting out 70w at all frequencies).

And 80 is pretty high for sub..

Edit: passive you can NOT change the crossover, it's predertmined by manufacture. Active you set it all

[rsfm089]

Yeap I think this is why I'm not going the pro audio route thank u for all the information

[Soccerballzs]

Once you get a couple builds in your blood becomes easier to understand. I use the crossovers on the amps here. Seperate amps for highs and mids

[White Lightning]

just like going up in belts for Karate ... Start out with simple component sets and progress from there !!!

Takes time and discipline !!!