Conventional wisdom(re:audiophiles)says that a 3 way will be heavily compromised compared to a 2 way because of increased cabinet size & component count..They say the same thing about all in one electronics vs separates as well..I just DO NOT hear it that way..
IMO the 3 way floor standing speakers I've owned have all sounded more coherent,with better bass & superior mid range performance thanks to the dedicated mid driver..If it were not for certain set up constraints I would have stayed with a 3 way floorstander..I also feel an all in one electronics component performs as well as any seperates thanks to better synergy & optimized circuits..
Conventional wisdom in our hobby is DECREPIT DOGMA & should have died out decades ago!
Which sounds better 2 way or 3 way speaker design
Seeking to purchase one of the following 3 speakers:
1. Proac K3-2 way design
2. Totem Element Metal V2-2 way design
3. Triangle Cello-3 way design
I am under the impression, (which I may be incorrect) that a three way design is superior to a 2 way design. All of the above speakers listed below retail for about $18,000 per pair. Am I correct to assume that a 3 way design will give the listener a much better chance to hear the full audio spectrum as opposed to a 2 way design?
Thank you.
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I agree with freediver "IMO the 3 way floor standing speakers I’ve owned have all sounded more coherent,with better bass & superior mid range performance thanks to the dedicated mid driver". about better mid, but keep in mind the typical larger woofer which does what the IRON LAW says must be done for bass: move more air! I want to add, the 3 models you mentioned are all limited by the too common 6-1/2" driver, used alone or in multiples, long throw versions designed to MMA. Larger magnets not only move the cone, they do a better job stopping/controlling the cone. I encourage you to look for 3 way designs with larger woofers, keep an eye on higher efficiency/sensitivity, avoid too low impedance dips or designs, consider horn tweeter horn mid, ports, none, or, if any, front facing, optional port plug is good, especially if rear port. |
It depends on the design. There are pros and cons with each, but there are a lot of outstanding 2-way speakers. They're simpler and can typically offer higher quality parts because there’s simply fewer of them to buy. Because of they can be built for less, many are indeed marketed to the more affordable price ranges, but a TOTL 2-way can still be amazing, depending on the recipe used. With that said, there are a lot of great sounding 3-way + speakers out there too. Keep an open mind, buy what you like, and what works in your room on your system, and you won’t go wrong. |
@toddalin , I always am interested in your perspective. After reading your above post, how would you answer the OP's question? Also, if one was going to go with a two way speaker, is there a sonic advantage in a two way that is built into its own floor standing cabinet versus a two way that is intended to be placed on a speaker stand? |
- 67 posts total