2-Way Vs. 3-Way Speakers For A Home Theater: Which Is Better?

Shopping for a home theater system can be confusing on several different levels. A basic understanding of how the home theater system work is essential to the decision. Fundamental to this understanding is a clear idea of the advantages and disadvantages of 2-way and 3-way speakers.

2-way speakers systems deliver sound through two speakers that operate in two frequency ranges. 3-way speaker systems further divide the sound ranges. 3-way speaker systems are not necessarily better than 2-way speaker systems. The speakers’ location, the equipment driving the speakers, and the speakers’ quality all figure into the quality of the sound that is delivered.

There are several factors to be considered when choosing speakers for your home theater system. Among these factors you must consider are:

Speakers convert electrical signals to mechanical movement. As the electrical signals from an amplifier arrive in the speaker, the signals cause the speaker’s cone to move back and forth. The movement of the speaker cone produces vibrations that we hear as sound.

Reproducing the entire range of frequencies with a single speaker is the problem. Different frequency ranges require different speaker configurations to reproduce the sounds accurately. This need for different speaker configurations is the basis for 2-way and 3-way speaker systems

2-way speaker system used electronic systems in the amplifier or receiver to separate the range of sounds. These two frequency ranges feed speakers designed to reproduce the sound in those frequency ranges more accurately.

In practice, there is some crossover in the frequency ranges delivered to the two speakers. This crossover creates a fuller and richer sound in the mid-frequency ranges. This crossover in frequencies often results in more pleasing sound reproduction.

Theoretically, splitting the sound frequencies into more ranges creates better sound reproduction. However, this is not often the case. 3-way speaker systems typically split the higher frequency range of a 2-way speaker system. The quality of the sound reproduction is a function of the quality of the speakers.

Many so-called three-way speaker systems use the same speaker components for the two upper-frequency bands. This speaker configuration doesn’t add materially to the quality of the upper-frequency sound reproduction. The speaker design must match the frequency range of the signals sent to the speaker.

Another problem often seen in 3-way speaker systems is crossover interference. The more the system splits the frequency ranges, the more crossover that occurs between the different speakers. This crossover interference can cause the reproduced sound to degrade enough to be heard.

The solution to the crossover interference problem is not better speakers. The solution is better crossover filters. Higher-end amplifiers and receivers will incorporate crossover filters to eliminate as much of this crossover interference as possible.

As you might expect, a true three-way speaker system has three distinct speakers in the enclosure. Often, speakers advertised as 3-way use the same speakers to drive the two upper-frequency ranges. A true 3-way speaker should have drivers tuned to the frequency range they serve.

The three speakers in a 3-way speaker system use a large speaker called the woofer to drive the lower frequency sounds. A smaller speaker, termed a mid-range or sub-woofer, drives the frequencies between the woofer and the tweeter. The smallest speaker called a tweeter drives the upper range frequencies.

Three speakers, tuned for the frequencies they drive, should deliver cleaner and clearer sound reproduction. The problem occurs when the crossover between the frequencies causes interference in the sound itself.

The better the cross0ver filters in your home theater system, the better the sound reproduction. Your home theater system must match your speaker selection. A home theater system designed for driving a 2-way speaker system can’t adequately drive a 3-way speaker.

For the best sound reproduction from your home theater system, look for an amplifier/receiver that allows you to tune the crossover filters manually. Manual tuning allows you to compensate for other factors such as the speaker design or the room’s layout.

The box housing your speakers can have a great effect on the quality of the sound. The construction and design of the speaker housing are almost as important as the quality of the speakers.

Poorly designed and constructed speaker housings can create more problems with sound reproduction. A bad design can create distortion or crossover interference with the speakers. Well-designed speaker housings may isolate woofers from the mid-range and tweeters and deliver the sound through separate physical channels.

In many cases, the cost of your speakers will be more than the cost of the balance of your home theater system. Skimping on your speakers will almost always result in less than satisfying sound from your home theater system.