JL Audio CR-1 Subwoofer Crossover

Highly controllable crossover designed by audiophiles, for audiophiles.

The lucky few who have heard a well-integrated subwoofer in a great audio system know that the subwoofer’s effect is profound. While everyone expects the bass extension to improve, most are shocked at the transformation that occurs in the main speakers. They simply open up, delivering improved dynamics, superior imaging and more low-level detail. Many describe it as the greatest speaker upgrade they have ever made.

Over the years, JL Audio has calibrated many subwoofer systems in highly critical listening environments, and has been frustrated by the limitations of active crossovers. Tired of struggling with “blunt instruments”, the CR-1 was created. When properly set up, CR-1 creates a listening experience in which the subwoofers and main speakers become one, delivering a cohesive and compelling sonic presentation.

The CR-1 is built around two banks of precision Linkwitz-Riley low-pass and high-pass filters. Multiplying DACs with monolithic ratio matching are employed to adjust the analog circuit’s filter frequencies. This offers superior tracking behavior and far more precise left/right channel balance, compared to conventional approaches.

Another of CR-1’s unique and powerful features is a pair of rotary controls that control the damping of each filter bank. These damping controls dramatically improve the acoustic summing through the crossover region, by compensating for each speaker system’s frequency response. At the center of the front panel, a single intuitive, rotary control permits quick adjustment of the relative level between the subwoofer(s) and main speakers.

To minimize distortion and noise, CR-1 employs top-grade component parts in its all-analog audio circuitry: 1% precision resistors, JFET-input audio-grade op-amps, polypropylene film-and-foil capacitors and metallized-polypropylene film capacitors, to name just a few.

CR-1’s input-output design makes it equally adaptable to studio, mastering suite or audiophile two-channel playback environments. To accommodate dual-mode systems, JL Audio includes a bypass feature that engages a pass-through from a dedicated “Managed Bass Input” on the rear panel, to the CR-1’s subwoofer outputs. This makes it convenient to switch from two-channel to multi-channel mode.

Features

• Crossover Function Bypass or On, selectable via front panel switch
• Subwoofer Output Modes Mono L+R or Stereo, selectable via front panel switch
• Crossover Frequency Range 30 Hz – 150 Hz, variable with independent high-pass and low-pass filter frequency controls on front panel
• Subwoofer/Satellite Balance Control +/– 12 dB, fully variable via front panel knob
• Filter Damping Controls
• Filter Slope(s) 12 dB/octave or 24 dB/octave, Linkwitz-Riley selectable via front panel switch
• Output Muting independent for each output, via front panel push-button switches
• Ground Lift Isolated/Grounded, via rear panel switch

Specifications

Inputs
Main Stereo: 1 x stereo RCA, 1 x stereo XLR/TRS 
Managed Bass: 1 x stereo RCA, 1 x stereo XLR/TRS

Outputs
Satellite Line: 1 x stereo RCA, 1 x stereo XLR, 1 x stereo TRS
Subwoofer Line: 1 x stereo RCA, 1 x stereo XLR, 1 x stereo TRS 

Max. Input Voltage: 8 Vrms 

Input Impedance (Unbalanced, Balanced): 50 kΩ, 20 kΩ 

Max. Output Voltage: 8 Vrms 

Output Impedance (Unbalanced, Balanced): 150 Ω, 300 Ω 

Low Pass Frequency Response: +0, -1 dB from 5 Hz to 1/4 of filter frequency

High Pass Frequency Response: +0, -1 dB from 4x filter frequency to 80 kHz

Dimensions (WHD): 17.40″ x 3.8″ x 15.67″

Weight: 22 lb.