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What is a crossover? I know it has somthing to do with using more than 2 speakers.
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Well there are 2 different categories of crossovers. Passive and Active/electronic crossovers. Basicaly a crossover splits the audio frequencies to send them to the proper drivers. ie low frequencies > Subwoofers. Mids > midrange, and Highs > horns/tweeters. An active crossover is a unit you use between your mixer and amps. This is used to send certain frequencies to certain amps and then to the proper speaker cabs. This is also known as bi-amping/tri-amping ect. A passive crossover is the built in crossover inside of most full range speaker cabs. This crossover takes the already amplified signal and seperates and sends the proper frequencies to the correct drivers. Due to the nature of passive crossovers, there is a minor loss of signal and is not quite as efficient as using an active crossover system.
In case you want more.......
Active Crossover:
A crossover is a filter. It is used to block some frequencies while allowing others to pass with little or no effect. An electronic crossover is a set of active filters which pass/reject part of the audio band. The crossover point is determined by changing the value of resistors and/or capacitors in the active filter circuit. A high pass crossover will allow frequencies above a predetermined point to pass. The frequencies below the crossover point will rolloff at a rate determined by the crossover's design. A low pass crossover would let low frequencies pass while reducing the level of the high frequency part of the signal. The signal from the head unit feeds the crossover. The signal leaving the crossover goes to an amplifier. If the high pass output is connected to an amplifier, that amplifier would be connected to smaller speakers which may include tweeters. A low pass xover would drive an amp connected to larger speakers, including woofers.
Passive Crossovers:
A passive crossover has no active filters as were used in the electronic crossover. It uses coils (inductors) and capacitors to cause a rolloff of the audio level. The simplest types use a single coil OR capacitor connected in series with the speaker. If a capacitor is used, it will reduce the lower frequencies getting through to the speaker. If an inductor is used, it will reduce the higher frequencies getting through to the speaker. In this configuration, the rate of rolloff is 6dB/octave. In a more complex configuration combining both coils and capacitors on each speaker, a steeper rolloff is obtainable
In case you want more.......
Active Crossover:
A crossover is a filter. It is used to block some frequencies while allowing others to pass with little or no effect. An electronic crossover is a set of active filters which pass/reject part of the audio band. The crossover point is determined by changing the value of resistors and/or capacitors in the active filter circuit. A high pass crossover will allow frequencies above a predetermined point to pass. The frequencies below the crossover point will rolloff at a rate determined by the crossover's design. A low pass crossover would let low frequencies pass while reducing the level of the high frequency part of the signal. The signal from the head unit feeds the crossover. The signal leaving the crossover goes to an amplifier. If the high pass output is connected to an amplifier, that amplifier would be connected to smaller speakers which may include tweeters. A low pass xover would drive an amp connected to larger speakers, including woofers.
Passive Crossovers:
A passive crossover has no active filters as were used in the electronic crossover. It uses coils (inductors) and capacitors to cause a rolloff of the audio level. The simplest types use a single coil OR capacitor connected in series with the speaker. If a capacitor is used, it will reduce the lower frequencies getting through to the speaker. If an inductor is used, it will reduce the higher frequencies getting through to the speaker. In this configuration, the rate of rolloff is 6dB/octave. In a more complex configuration combining both coils and capacitors on each speaker, a steeper rolloff is obtainable
bump... this needs to read again...