Two way vs. Three way Speakers

Think about it this way: the ideal speaker would be a one-way with no power draining, distorting crossover. Unfortunately no one has yet perfected a single driver that can coherently portray all the wavelengths we prefer. Regardless, it might be fun to get a couple of twin 12-inch Fender or Marshall guitar cabinets and blast away.

The most balanced, long-term listenable speakers I've ever heard have been two-ways: Dynaco A-25's; original Large Advents; and the ProAcs Sigs I use today. There's something right about a well done two-way that defies description.

Three or more drivers usually offer greater power handling capability. More radiating area can mean bigger, more dynamic sound. I had some KEF Uni-Q three-ways that propagated a bass wave so palpable you could almost see it. They were fun, went way loud without strain but ultimately were too analytical.

If you look at graphs of many multiple (two or more) driver, speaker systems' response curves there's often noticeable dips where one driver hands off to another. Designers exploit these and other peaks, dips and resonances to voice their entire systems. For me, two-ways are models of elegant engineering. Of course no speaker does everything right. Keep searching and you'll find successful, enjoyable designs of every kind.

Given the fact that crossovers and crossover points are considered to be very tricky to implement and crucial to seamless blending of drivers, it only makes sense that having one vs. two crossover points would be easier for the builder to get a seamless transition between drivers. The statement about 'no midrange driver, no midrange' mentioned above strikes me as very bizarre considering there are many who follow the school of thought that single driver speakers are more coherent than any other design (not that I have any first hand knowledge about this - I haven't heard any single driver speakers).

Having said all that, I have owned many two ways and a few three ways, and it has always seemed to me that music from two ways seems more like a single point source than the three way designs (not that three way designs can't sound good too - many do).

When it boils down to it, in high end audio, more often than not simpler is better. But I've only been fooling around with audio equipment for 20 years... what the hell do I know?

:)

Midrange is no problem for two ways , it is bass. If you have a small room or listen to music that doesn't need to be played very loudly then two way is ideal. Three way can play louder with more bass but the midrange can suffer by being divided between two drivers. For large rooms or high DB's three way is better , but is inherently harder to design properly and more expensive. Subwoofers can give 2 ways the bass of three ways and are a good compromise. All the above is , of course , speaking in general terms. Each speaker has it's own virtues and faults.

magnepan's new speakers mmg-w are one-way

A simple 2-way with really good drivers and crossover put in a properly designed box can be absolutely stellar.  As stanwal menionted, you're most likely to give up deep bass from a good 2-way, because anything larger than an 8" woofer tends to cause other issues.  Bass output is relative to the room, and can always be augmented by a subwoofer (or two). 

A 2-way is simpler to design, and less costly to buy good parts for, so when shopping at a price point that's worth keeping in mind, but it really depends on what you're preferences are and what the specific speakers are.  I'd personally rather buy a well made smaller 2-way to get stellar mids and highs, then add a sub if necessary, than to give up that critical clarity permanently just so I get more bass output from a larger 3-way.  Just my preference.