the dB/octave specification of the crossover?


Hello,
I have a dumb question the dB/octave specification of the crossover. A speaker designer wrote on his Facebook that dB/octave is like the resolution of a television. For example, for the same set of drivers, if we apply a crossover with 12dB/octave, the sound won’t be as detailed as with a 50dB/octave crossover. If this is true, I wonder why there are many speakers with 12dB/octave only. Why isn't there a race in dB/octave just like 4k, 8k TV?
Thank you. 
Huy
quanghuy147

Showing 1 response by avanti1960

it really depends on the drivers involved.  
a blend between a woofer and tweeter needs to "sum" to fill in the frequencies through the crossover range.  
if both drivers are cut off sharply at the crossover frequency that missing summing could come off as recessed and lacking detail.  
but there are exceptions to the rule, especially if the drivers have a rising response or extended response beyond the crossover.
if a driver has a natural acoustic roll-off at the crossover and you compound that with a steep crossover- e.g. 24 db per octave, then yes the system could sound dull and recessed.