More-way = better?

[Ric_LV]

Hi all...

It is known that's 3-way systems are better than 2-way, because they reproduce the MIDs more accurate. But if I had, let's say a 4, 5 or maybe a 6-way system, would that make things better too? And how do I choose x-over points? Should I go more on Low/Mid or Mid/High?

[Dumbass]

Yes.

[richie00boy]

No. More way = more phase errors and other integration problems.

[alean]

Systems 3-way introduce a lot of distortions in a sound than 2-way. There is a plenty of people which harmoniously enriched sound signal is pleasant. But it is very far from true and reliability.
Everyone chooses for himself.

[AKN]

2-way + sub = 3-way.

[morpheus82]

the best ever will be one way with an incredible driver capable to go from 20 to 20k(or 10 to 30k for the fanatics...) with a flat response...so no phase errors, no peaked response...but it doesn't exist!so everything is a compromise based on the ears of everyone...

[ttan98]

It is all based on good design,

easliest - full range no cross over, suffers from beaming at high frequencies if not compensated, lack of bass response if not designed as transmission line...

medium - 2 way x-over, if properly design will sound as good as 3 way.

hard - 3 way x-over hardest to design, if well designed, will sound wonderful...

It's all boils down to personal tastes...each design will sound different based on topology(1, 2 or 3 way) and types of drivers used... and these tastes will varies with time and at the time one is listening....

Each design has its advantages and disadvantages too long to mention here...

[EWorkshop1708]

A mix of 3-way plus a high efficiency fullrange IMO sounds great.

Even though you have mid's and highs, on a multi way system, a full range speaker seems to do voice more clearly and accurately than tweets or mids because the frequencies are not seperated in the midrange.

That way..........

3-way speakers play the Upper Bass, Mids, and Highs (50hz -20khz)

Fullrange plays broad range of midbass, voice, and highs (150Hz - 10Khz)

Sub plays Low Bass (20Hz-100Hz)

You get the fullrange sound, but without any lack of bass or treble.

[Kent Smith]

Only live sound is best. All else is compromise.

But then again, is this life really live, or are we part of a giant computer program?

Then there is no reality, and no best. All is futile!

Have another drink....

[3-LockBox]

Originally posted by EWorkshop1708
A mix of 3-way plus a high efficiency fullrange IMO sounds great.

Even though you have mid's and highs, on a multi way system, a full range speaker seems to do voice more clearly and accurately than tweets or mids because the frequencies are not seperated in the midrange.

That way..........

3-way speakers play the Upper Bass, Mids, and Highs (50hz -20khz)

Fullrange plays broad range of midbass, voice, and highs (150Hz - 10Khz)

Sub plays Low Bass (20Hz-100Hz)

You get the fullrange sound, but without any lack of bass or treble.

My main speakers are designed with that in mind. I have two 6.5" woofers running 4 ohms for bass, a RS 40-1354 running wide band (sans whizzer), and a Rat Shack cone tweet for extended highs. The 1354 is in its own enclosure within the cabinet (the cabinet's i.d. is 1.5 cu ft. tuned to 50hz) The x-over points are 400hz and 9khz.

The results are pretty spectacular. The 1354 makes a great wideband speaker in this application. The x-over slope is 6db w/ an Erse open air coil for the bass roll off and I'm using poly caps for the mids and tweets. Given that I bought most of the drivers on clearance long ago, the caps and coilsare easily the most expensive components of the project, but they are very worth it.