Why you can't guess a speaker crossover (and what to do instead)

"Where should I cross these drivers?" is one of the questions I get asked the most. The honest answer is that nobody can tell you without measuring those drivers in your box. Here's why: datasheet graphs are measured on a big test baffle, a crossover is much more than a frequency, and a guess usually leaves dips and bumps right where voices sit. Then SB Acoustics' Ara as a real example, three good ways forward, and why you should build it anyway, even with a generic crossover to start. The written guide: https://nbaudio.com.au/blogs/guides/why-yo... The Ara (SB Acoustics' design and figures): Ara kit overview (Ara, Ara Be, Ara Tx): https://nbaudio.com.au/blogs/projects/sb-a... Ara speaker kit: https://nbaudio.com.au/products/sb-acousti... Ara assembled crossover pair: https://nbaudio.com.au/products/sb-acousti... The three ways forward: Build a proven design: SB Acoustics kits: https://nbaudio.com.au/collections/speaker... Go active with DSP: Hypex FusionAmp plate amps: https://nbaudio.com.au/collections/hypex Measure it yourself: Dayton Audio UMM-6 calibrated mic: https://nbaudio.com.au/products/dayton-umm... More guides: Passive crossovers explained: https://nbaudio.com.au/blogs/guides/passiv... Measuring speakers on a budget (REW, a mic and an interface): https://nbaudio.com.au/blogs/guides/measur... The graphs in this video are drawn illustrations, not measurements. About the voice: I made a clone of my own voice (ElevenLabs), and AI uses it to read my videos. I'm busy running a few online businesses and I'm no good at filming or editing, so AI is what gets these videos made. I write and check every script myself. 0:00 The question 0:32 The datasheet isn't your speaker 1:08 More than a frequency 1:35 What a guess sounds like 2:10 SB Acoustics' Ara 3:01 Three ways forward: 1. A proven design 3:28 2. Go active 3:50 3. Measure it yourself 4:19 Build it anyway