Calculate audio crossover network component values for Butterworth and Linkwitz-Riley filters with 1st through 4th order designs.
A crossover network is an essential component in multi-driver speaker systems, directing specific frequency ranges to the appropriate driver—bass to the woofer, treble to the tweeter, and midrange to dedicated drivers. Without a properly designed crossover, drivers would attempt to reproduce frequencies outside their optimal range, leading to distortion, reduced power handling, and poor sound quality.
This crossover calculator computes the exact capacitor and inductor values needed for passive crossover networks from 1st order through 4th order Butterworth and Linkwitz-Riley alignments. Simply enter your desired crossover frequency, speaker impedance, and filter order to get precise component values for both the high-pass and low-pass sections of your network.
Understanding crossover design is crucial whether you're building custom speakers, upgrading a car audio system, or designing studio monitors. The calculator supports common topologies including 1st-order (6 dB/octave), 2nd-order Butterworth (12 dB/octave), 3rd-order (18 dB/octave), and 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley (24 dB/octave) designs, each offering different trade-offs between phase response, lobing behavior, and driver protection.
Designing a passive crossover from scratch can be complex, especially for 3rd and 4th order networks with multiple components. This calculator eliminates tedious manual calculations and helps you quickly compare different filter topologies for optimal results in your speaker building project. Keep these notes focused on your operational context. Tie the context to the calculator’s intended domain.
Butterworth 2nd-order crossover: High-pass capacitor: C = 1 / (ω × Z × √2) High-pass inductor: L = (Z × √2) / ω Low-pass inductor: L = Z / (ω × √2) Low-pass capacitor: C = √2 / (ω × Z) Where ω = 2π × f (crossover frequency) and Z = speaker impedance.
Result: HP Capacitor: 5.63 µF, LP Inductor: 0.72 mH
A 2nd-order Butterworth crossover at 2500 Hz with 8Ω speakers requires a 5.63 µF capacitor in series for the high-pass and a 0.72 mH inductor in series for the low-pass section.
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The crossover frequency depends on your drivers. A typical 2-way bookshelf uses 2000–3000 Hz. For subwoofer-to-main crossovers, 60–120 Hz is common. Choose a frequency where both drivers can perform well.
Butterworth filters have a -3 dB point at the crossover frequency, while Linkwitz-Riley (4th order) has a -6 dB point, resulting in flat combined response. LR crossovers have better lobing behavior.
Yes, the impedance directly affects component values. Using the wrong impedance will shift the crossover point. Use the nominal impedance (4Ω or 8Ω) of your driver.
Yes, you can combine standard capacitor values in parallel to reach the calculated value. For example, get 5.6 µF by combining a 4.7 µF and 1.0 µF cap in parallel.
1st order is simplest with best phase response but poor driver protection. 2nd order is the most popular. 4th order Linkwitz-Riley offers steep rolloff and flat summed power response.
Yes, a 1st order low-pass uses a single inductor in series, while the high-pass uses a single capacitor in series. It is the simplest crossover topology.