Is first-order enough for hi-fi?

It is a starting point; measured driver response usually needs steeper slopes or baffle-step compensation.

Passive Crossover Calculator

First-order and 2nd-order Butterworth starting values for a 2-way passive crossover.

Crossover frequency (Hz)

Nominal impedance (?)

High-pass to tweeter

How the passive crossover calculator works

For a chosen crossover frequency and nominal impedance, first-order high-pass/low-pass values and optional 2nd-order Butterworth starting values are computed. Always verify with driver impedance and acoustic measurements.

Key terms

Crossover frequency - point where energy splits between drivers.
6 dB/octave (first order) - gentle slope; simple single-cap/inductor networks.
Nominal impedance - typically 4 or 8 ? for home and PA drivers.

Frequently asked questions

Is first-order enough for hi-fi? It is a starting point; measured driver response usually needs steeper slopes or baffle-step compensation.