Two Way Vs Three Way Loudspeaker, Which Is Better?

Which is better – a two way or a three way loudspeaker? There’s a lot to this question. The move from a simple two-way with a woofer and a tweeter, to adding a third driver as a midrange (creating a three-way speaker) changes so many of the design aspects.

Chief Product Officer Andrew Welker shares his experience designing speakers, and the changes that happen with drivers, frequencies, cabinet build, and crossovers. Hang in there - he does get into the Family Of Curves, but first he gives you just enough detail to show what the complexity of adding a third driver does to the design process.

Looking forward to your thoughts and questions on this topic. Have you experienced the difference between a two way speaker and a three way speaker, and were they in the same model line?

Fall in love with your music🎵 all over again❤️
Get speakers you’ll listen to at any volume for hours on end.🎚

-
#asktheaudioengineer #midrangedriver #speakerdesign

[dfknyc]

Andrew Welker, you are the f*cking man. Your videos are always educational with legit science and engineering explanations, something of a rarity on YouTube. Then again, do I expect anything less from the protege of the two famous Ian's (Ian Paisley and Ian Colquhoun) and a direct lineage of the God Father of modern day loud speaker design, the one and only Dr. Floyd Toole?

I currently have some PSB and Revel. Once I sell some speakers to clear some room, an Axiom will be the next speaker in the house.

Keep up the good work.

[stephenc]

I have a 2.5 way and in comparing it to the same model in a 2 way, there definitely was an improved extension in bass, more revealing and overall, more open, less congested.

What I would like to see in another video, is explaining why Axiom uses metal cone drivers versus polypropylene or doped paper cones etc.?

[perrysmiles]

Is this logic the same for the Center channel in a Home Theatre set-up?... being that we're referring to one speaker alone.

[naconitu]

After 10 years of having Technics SH-EH 790 its time to upgrade and man thats difficult task ! I want to stick to 3 way system but there are limited options to chose from and to be satisfied with purchase i should be aiming at ~4k $ for simple stereo system and im not happy with that. 2 way is something im not convinced to yet so im a little bit pissed.

Bad thing is i allready sold my Technics 😂

[meckblad]

I am no audiophile, but I love audio and have listened to many loudspeakers. Maybe it's suggestion created by my appreciation for increased precision, but I tend to prefer speakers with three or more driver types to those with two. However, as you say, there are lots of other variables, and I have auditioned some excellent two-ways.
I always learn something from these videos and hope the series continues for a long time. Andrew, your delivery always makes you sound knowledgeable but never pedantic. You are a great spokesman for Axiom.
Where do I submit questions I wish you would address?

[Sooopa_Doopa]

My Snell 2 ways chuckle at this conclusion. So do Audio Note, Tannoy, and DeVore owners

[bart]

Excellent information explained clearly. Thank you so much. I am quite intregued to know more aboot the design process of crossover circuits, specially in center speakers where the drivers are next to each other, but the sweet spot needs to be wide. A lower crossover frequency would be better right? But how does that match with the left/right channel. What are the real conciderations between designing say a VP100/160/180. I am trying to find my next left/center/right spreakers and the more I read into it, the more I think that the center speaker is king. Sadly it is not a sexy king as most reviews are about the left and right channel speakers. Everybody tells you to mach the center speaker with your left and right, but should it not be the opposite? As I understand it, your VP160 is the best design (low 500HZ x-over and tweeter over mid-woofer) but I understand the need for smaller (vp100, High X-over @ 2.7 kHz) and biger (vp180, needs a VERY low X-over at 150HZ is this because of how wide it is?). What are considerations while designing the center and its cross-over circuitry (size, cost, impedence)? Again, thank you for the lesson, I am trying to get my head around this.

[harleypub]

Are there any manufacturers that make 4 way crossover systems for speakers?

[klauspeterpeter]

Hi sir which one is better for only...movies..2.5 was or 3 way...thanks

[johngault-]

Looks like, 3 way if you can afford it, 2 way if you can't...