I have been trying to gain some understanding into 2 Way vs. 3 Way Speakers. I have read lots of information that talk about the technical difference, and that makes sense. What is hard to find is insight into the differences/advantages in the actual sound.

For those of you that have experience with both, are there notable distinctions in the sound performance between two way and three way speakers?

  • homeboi808@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    The best 3-way speaker is better than the best 2-way speaker.

    Speakers radiate sound all over, but when the frequency is high relative to the speaker’s diameter, the sound starts to narrow. When an 8” woofer without any waveguide crossover over to 1” tweeter at 2kHz, the sound will be narrow around 1kHz but widen back up when the tweeter kicks in.

    So a 3-way allows for more consistent/linear performance of radiation, it also should lower distortion.

    But if you are talking a $600 3-way, that’s more drivers and more crossover parts to fit into that budget, and some enclosure size restrictions as well, so no guarantee it’ll be better than a $600 2-way.

    This is where measurements come in handy.

    • dustymoon1@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      The more complex the crossover, the harder it is to get right. I prefer 2-way speakers.