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Is the 2.5 way speaker the ideal home speaker?

Time for what I hope is another fun thread. 

One type of speaker which is actually pretty common but which gets little press / attention here on audiogon is the 2.5 way. 

A 2.5 way speaker is almost a 3-way, but it isn't. It is a speaker with 3 drivers, but instead of a tweeter, midrange and woofer (TMW) it lacks a true midrange. The "midrange" is really a mid-woofer, that shares bass duties with the woofer. Often these two drivers are identical, though in the Focal Profile 918 the midwoofer and woofer were actually different drivers with the same nominal diameter (6"). 

The Monitor Audio 200 is a current example of the concept, but I am sure there are many others. It's also quite popular in kit form. One of the most high-end kits I know of is the Ophelia based on a ScanSpeak Be tweeter and 6" Revelator mid-woofers. I haven't heard them, but I am in eternal love with those mid-woofers. I believe the original plans come from the German speaker building magazine Klan Ton. 

However many other kits are also available

But regardless of kit, or store purchased, are you a 2.5 way fan? Why or why not? 

Best,


Erik 
erik_squires
erik_squires OP
16,063 posts
 
Hi Kijanki!

You say beaming is a disadvantage? I disagree! :)  A speaker with tight dispersion can sound better in the sweet spot, especially with an acoustically messy room. 

It all depends on your listening style and location. 

Some of Magico's smaller speakers are very wide dispersion. Great stereo imaging no matter where, but the trade off is they need a lot of room or great room acoustics. 

Best,


E

cedargrover
302 posts
 
Hi Erik,

Are there challenges in designing a crossover for a 2.5 way given that a large portion of the frequency range (bass) is shared by two identical drivers, but another large portion (midrange) is handled by just one driver?  I was thinking in terms of level matching due to that transition from two drivers to one driver.  

Thanks!
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,428 posts
 
Erik, please read at the link I provided.  You might not care about size of the sweet spot,  but you asked about "ideal home speaker".
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,428 posts
 
A speaker with tight dispersion can sound better in the sweet spot
Different speaker - not the same one.  It appears that you like 2.5 design and not listen anymore.
rlb61
789 posts
 
I really don't think there's any reason to be insulting. Everyone likes what they like, and one person's preference is no more valid than another's.
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