Tweeters :)

[Andrew S]

Hi All

I have cross over units as shown to filter sound to mid range speakers and tweeters in the back. Have recently noticed that I’m not getting a lot out of the tweeters and wondering if it’s the settings as described in the attached photos. The head unit is the pretty much standard 50w per channel and I have the settings on the head unit as 5 out of 8 mid range and 8 out of 8 on treble but tweeters just don’t seem to have enough output.
For any audio experts can you help with me understanding the 0, -2db and the -4db? First of all why a minus db?
Could it be that I have the cross overs set as 0 and there not cutting in until the power is driving them?
Unfortunately currently I don’t know what settings I have them on as crossovers are hidden behind the speakers in the rear pockets
Another thought, could it be that I have the polarity of tweeters round the wrong way?

Any advice appreciated
Cheers
Andrew

[marshman]

First the -ve symbol means it is a reduction. 0dB is full power or volume, i.e. no attenuation. -2dB is a bit less and -4dB is quite a lot less. For reference a level of -3dB is a halving of power.

You will have to physically look to see what yours are set to. Tweeters can be quite "fragile" in that they are not that tolerant of being overdriven. If the amp or "head unit" is too powerful and turned up then the driver coils in the tweeters can over heat and initially "swell up" reducing their sensitivity, i.e. they go quiet. Continued overdriving will eventually kill them all together. Not saying that is what has happened to yours but I gave repaired quite a few hi fi speakers for mates when they have "blown" due to being driven too hard (loud)

Polarity doesn't matter as long as they are both wired the same. Even if different, tweeters are not affected as much as if bass or mid range units are wired "opposite".

[Andrew S]

Hi Roger, very interesting. I don’t have it up too loud, not point. Clarity is great.

So, going by what you have said, possibly if my crossovers are set a -4 there is a chance they are not kicking in due to me running too lower power