Slope rate

Above its limiting frequency, a crossover restricts the signals which are allowed to pass through it. The extent of this damping depends on the design of the filter. Each high-pass and low-pass filter consists of complex electronic components (inductive resistors, capacitors) the number of which will determine the degree and type of signal damping, or slope rate. Each complex component strengthens the damping effect by 6 dB per octave. In other words, a first degree filter will have a slope rate of 6 dB per octave, a second degree filter one of 12 dB per octave etc.