Tell me all about a three-way!

[Chris D]

(no, not THAT kind, you sicko)

Okay, all my time in A/V, and you know, I've never asked this question or found out the answer--

Why are some speakers listed as "two-way" speakers? That to me means that it puts out sound, but then also takes in sound as a microphone. Obviously this is NOT the case. And what the heck would "three-way" speakers be?

[Stoney]

I've always understood 3-way as having 3 separate drivers (frequency ranges). Woofer, midrange and tweeter. A two way would have 2 drivers. I suppose a system having multiple drivers at the same frequency range would still be considered 3-way. example-- 2 woofers, a mid, and a tweet would still be a 3-way under this definition. Perhaps 3-way or 2-way would be better defined by the crossover; how many frequency ranges the system is split into.

[Paul H]

Perhaps 3-way or 2-way would be better defined by the crossover; how many frequency ranges the system is split into.

That is correct :T

Paul

[Pieter]

Amen

[Chris D]

Okay, that makes sense. But to clarify, it would be how many frequency ranges the speaker crossovers split into, not the drivers? For instance, My Klipsch KLF-30 speaker is listed as "three-way". But it has two woofers, one midrange horn, and one mini-tweeter horn. So the three-way would be the speaker splitting frequencies to the two woofers, the midrange, and the tweeter?

http://www.klipsch.com/product/product.aspx?cid=10

I think I've seen a five-way. Is that really necessary, dividing frequencies into 5 ranges?

[Glen B]

Once in a while you can also find 2 1/2-way designs where two or more similar drivers handle slighly different portions of the same general frequency range. For example, a system with one tweeter and two woofers where one woofer handles the midrange and mid-bass and the other handles the low bass.

The Paradigm Monitor 5, 9 & 11 are examples of 2 1/2-way speaker systems:

http://www.paradigm.ca/Website/SiteParadigmProduct/ParadigmModels/MonSeries/MonitorSpecs.htm

[Glen B]

Chris, yes the three-way is splitting the frequencies to the tweeter, midrange and two woofers.

In a four-way or five-way design, each driver can be designed to handle a narrower range of frequencies, which can be a good thing because it makes the job of each driver easier. Of course, the crossover design will be more elaborate and extra drivers more costly. If the more complex crossover is not properly designed, performance can be worse than a simpler 2-way or 3-way design, defeating the purpose of the more elaborate system.

[Paul H]

Okay, that makes sense. But to clarify, it would be how many frequency ranges the speaker crossovers split into, not the drivers?

Correct.

I think I've seen a five-way. Is that really necessary, dividing frequencies into 5 ranges?

Necessary, no, but this forum isn't about 'necessary' :wink:

There are a pile of trade-offs in sound quality for large multi-way systems; drivers dedicated to a small range of frequencies (good), many crossovers (potentially bad), cost (bad), complexity (bad), and for a diy'er the challenge and potential for one absolutely awesome speaker if done right (very good).

Just yesterday I stained the panels for a new dipole speaker. The overall setup for each speaker will include two 15" drivers, two 10" drivers, one 6" and one tweeter - that will be a four-way, but with the separate sub for the very bottom octave will essentially be a five-way.



Paul

[Chris D]

Cool, Paul! :T

[georgev]

Awesome. Are these going to be rear speakers or front speakers?
In spite of the two 15' drivers would you still need a sub?

[Paul H]

Thanks, these will be fronts. Dipole bass is very inefficient - hence the four 15" drivers - but I should be able to use them full range for music with good extension close to the bottom octave.

I'll probably still use a sub for movies - not because I'll need to as much as to save the dipoles from the possibility of bottoming during very low frequencies.

Paul

[aud19]

Cool DIY speakers Paul! :P

I believe B&W also uses the 2.5 way design, at least in the 600 series if my memory serves.

My Energy Connoisseurs C-9's have one Chambered 1" Aluminum Dome tweeter and three 6.5" drivers in Energy's "Tapered Crossover System". This directs midrange frequencies only to the upper most woofer, and the other two woofers are for low frequency support. (Crossover Point: 2 kHz, Woofer 1 to 2 KHz, Woofers 2 and 3 ~ to 550Hz)