2way vs 3way speakers: different or is one "better"

What is the point of a midrange? To handle midrange frequencies better than a large woofer. Do bookshelf speakers have large woofers? No. So what is the point of a midrange in a bookshelf speaker?

Good question.

it 
all
depends

I have owned many different types of speakers over the decades, including box (monkey coffin) speakers, electrostat (Accoustat 2+2s, planar magnetic (Magnepan 2.5Rs) and several so-called book shelfs, Reference 3A MM deCapos, and a pair of Callo Classicos 2s (mylar tweeter); these are small and terrific while they lack bass , a matching sub was available https://www.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-gallo-cl-2-huge-monitor-closeout-save-72-2016-01-12-speak... , but all this leads to my recent purchase...

Emerald Physics open baffle 3.4s, 8ohm nominal, 96dB, easy to drive, with 12" carbon fiber driver and a concentric polyester tweeter per side. Now, it’s a floor stander, but only 38" high to the top of the 12" driver. Alas, the XOs won’t be here until Monday, but these should be tremendous imagers with excellent mids and upper bass

I would look for a pair of these, especially if you can find a pair of factory closeouts https://www.emeraldphysics.com/products/ep-34

hth

Everybody knows 3 way is a fuller sound with better bass.HELLO!!!!!