View larger

How A Crossover Is Used

The Planet Audio EC20B three-way electronic crossover is a high-fidelity signal processor that allows you to customize the low level output of your input source (a car radio), so that the signal can be applied to an amplifier or amplifiers as a part of a two-way or three-way mobile audio system. It is intended for use in a car audio system which includes amplifiers in the signal path after the crossover, and provides front, rear, and subwoofer low level outputs via RCA connectors.

Parallel Input Selection

The EC20B is optimized for head units which provide outputs for Front (UR), Rear (UR), and Subwoofer (UR) channels. But what if your head unit only provides a single pair of stereo (UR) outputs? By setting the Parallel Input selector control to Out, the signal applied to the Front (UR) EC20B inputs will also be routed to the Rear channel. This eliminates the need for external Y-adaptors, which can sometimes add noise to the system. Now you can provide custom processing to the Rear channel independent of the settings you apply to the front.

Front Channel Crossover Multiplier

Subwoofer Input Mix Option

Input, Output, Remote, and Power Connections
View larger

Input, Output, Remote, And Power Connections

1. Power LED
2. Front And Rear L/R Inputs: Connect the outputs of your head units to these connections and be sure to place the Parallel Input selector in the In position.
3. Parallel Input Selector: If your audio source only has one pair of RCA inputs, placing this switch in the Out position allows the signal source connected to the front inputs to also be routed to the rear channel of the EC20B.
4. Sub Input Source Selector: If your audio source lacks a subwoofer channel output, placing this switch in the Mix position will apply a mix of the front and rear channel of each of the left and right inputs to the EC20B sub channel input.
5. Subwoofer Channel Input: Connect the subwoofer channel of your head unit to these connectors and place the Sub Input selector in the Direct position. If no sub channel outputs are available, see "Sub Input Source," above.
6. +12V, Ground And Remote Turn-On Terminals: Use this control to select the highest frequency to be sent to the subwoofer channel. Choose a frequency between 32 Hz and 250Hz.
7. Fuse Connector: Use only fuse with 3A rating.
8. Front And Rear UR Outputs
9. Subwoofer L/R Outputs
10. Remote Level Control Connector

Front and Rear Channel Controls
View larger

Front And Rear Channel Controls

1. High Pass Crossover: Use this control to set the lowest frequency which will pass through the Front (or Rear) Channel of your system.
2. High Pass Crossover Frequency Multiplier (front channel only): This selector sets the frequency range for the high pass crossover. Choose the x1 position for 40Hz-400Hz range, or x20 for 800Hz-8kHz range.
3. Crossover Slope: Crossover slope determines how rapidly the drop-off in sound level, measured in decibels/octave, occurs at the frequency selected by the crossover. One octave is equal to one-half of the currently selected frequency. For example, if you set the crossover to 80Hz and the slope to 18dB, the level at 40Hz to be 18dB lower than at 80Hz.
4. Output Level Control: This control allows you to independently set the output level of the channel.