Where are passive crossovers intended to be placed in the audio signal path?

Passive crossovers are specifically designed to be placed after the amplifier and before the speaker. This placement is crucial because a passive crossover divides the audio signal into different frequency ranges using capacitors and inductors, which only work effectively in the signal path when they are connected to the load, in this case, the speaker.

When passive crossovers are positioned after the amplifier but before the speakers, they ensure that the full amplified audio signal passes through the crossover network. This allows the crossover to filter the appropriate frequency ranges to each corresponding driver (such as woofers and tweeters) without requiring external power. Connecting them at this point also means the crossover can utilize the full voltage of the amplified signal to perform its filtering effectively, ensuring that each driver receives only the frequencies it is designed to handle, thereby improving sound quality and preventing damage to the speakers.

In contrast, placing a crossover before the amplifier (as in the first choice) would mean the crossover is filtering the signal before amplification, limiting the efficiency and potentially degrading the sound quality. Similarly, the other options either place the crossover in inappropriate positions within the signal chain that do not leverage its intended purpose, such as after the speaker, which would not allow it to function correctly, or between RCA inputs and