I have been finding that fewer and fewer manufacturer's actually list the crossover slope of their products these days, why? It seems people are focused on sensitivity, which only goes so far and paints half a picture but doesn't reveal the audible separation and detail potential of the speakers crossover design. Generally first order cross overs are 6dB second order 12dB etc. However when a manufacturer lists nothing, are we to assume that they are all the common 2nd order LR crossovers because others are?
In closing, here's a giggle: There is a speaker manufacturer that lists their Frequency Response using a -6dB spec and thus the low end results in an amazing spec. They explain the a reason is because a speaker that is in a normal room will often bass load depending on positioning so the bottom end is generally lower than accurate measurement would provide. In order to provide accurate FR below 180Hz, you need a room that is at least 120' square (a gym with a sky high ceiling perhaps?). So instead of posting an accurate measurement, and quickly dismissing all other measurements as inaccurate, they offer a GUESS as to what the actual room frequency response will be by offering a -6dB spec as their low end frequency.
Of course that is not printed on material in any relevant way except to suggest a 5.25" speaker delivers a 31Hz response -6dB/+ or -3dB.
Yeah that'll confuse the customer and make them just consider comparing numbers. !
So from now on, when looking at frequency responses and comparing graphs, don't forget to remove another 8 dB or so from the low end to get a more accurate idea of how they will sound in an untreated room when corner loaded.
