Simple Explanation

How quickly a crossover fades out the signal that a speaker driver shouldn’t play.

Concise Technical Definition

The rate (in dB per octave) at which audio signals are attenuated past the crossover point, determining how sharply a speaker stops receiving unwanted frequencies.

Layman-Friendly Analogy

Like dimming a light as you walk away—steep slopes dim it quickly, shallow ones fade it out more slowly.

Industry Usage Summary

Used in both passive and active crossovers to manage the frequency transition between drivers (e.g., woofer to tweeter). Slopes like 6, 12, 18, or 24 dB/octave determine the steepness of the filter roll-off and help avoid overlap or gaps in frequency coverage. Steeper slopes are better for minimizing distortion and protecting drivers from playing frequencies they can’t handle.

Engineering Shortcut

1st order = 6 dB/octave, 2nd = 12 dB/oct, 3rd = 18 dB/oct, 4th = 24 dB/oct. Steeper slope = better separation between speaker drivers.

Full Technical Explanation

Crossover slope defines how sharply a crossover attenuates frequencies beyond the crossover point. Measured in decibels per octave (dB/oct), it determines how quickly a speaker driver stops receiving frequencies it isn’t meant to reproduce. A steeper slope (e.g., 24 dB/oct) results in a narrow transition band and better isolation between drivers, reducing distortion and phase overlap. The selection of slope affects system design, timing, and coherence across the audio spectrum.