3 way vs 2 way Speakers in Homestudio?

[Tamate]

Hello Can be a good idea to have 3 way speakers in a small room? (something like 3x4 meters)
Do you prefer 3 or 2?
Or 2 way speaker + optional sub?

Thank you

 

[witzendoz]

Well, this should make some interesting discussion,

Most monitor companies build 2 way systems due to them not having as many issues as 3 way due to the crossover points, the crossovers themselves and phase issues caused by the multiple speakers. In fact the most accurate system phase wise would be a single speaker monitor (auratone, berritone, etc) but the demands on a singe speaker for larger systems is beyond the frequency range of the singe speaker.

However there is another train of thought that to get a truly accurate reproduction a 3 way system is need to accurately reproduce mids so that the same speaker is not reproducing bass. Most 3 way monitors will be 3 way because the bass driver is large for better bass reproduction and the separate mid speaker is needed because of the bass drivers large size messing up the mids.

In a small room stick with a 2 way, max 6" driver and don't use a sub unless the room acoustics have been worked on, and then only a small sub.

Thoughts from others?

Alan.

 

[Ethan Winer]

Do you prefer 3 or 2?
Or 2 way speaker + optional sub?

In theory, a 3-way system is potentially a little better than a 2-way. But to do that properly costs a lot more, and 2-way speakers can be very good indeed. Especially self-powered models. So unless you have a lot of money to spend, I'd stick with a good 2-way.

As for a subwoofer, unless you're mixing 5.1 surround music for movies I think you'll do better with good speakers that can get down to at last 50 Hz (or lower). Integrating a sub properly is not simple, because bass frequencies come from three locations instead of only two.

--Ethan