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Is the 2.5 way speaker the ideal home speaker?

Time for what I hope is another fun thread. 

One type of speaker which is actually pretty common but which gets little press / attention here on audiogon is the 2.5 way. 

A 2.5 way speaker is almost a 3-way, but it isn't. It is a speaker with 3 drivers, but instead of a tweeter, midrange and woofer (TMW) it lacks a true midrange. The "midrange" is really a mid-woofer, that shares bass duties with the woofer. Often these two drivers are identical, though in the Focal Profile 918 the midwoofer and woofer were actually different drivers with the same nominal diameter (6"). 

The Monitor Audio 200 is a current example of the concept, but I am sure there are many others. It's also quite popular in kit form. One of the most high-end kits I know of is the Ophelia based on a ScanSpeak Be tweeter and 6" Revelator mid-woofers. I haven't heard them, but I am in eternal love with those mid-woofers. I believe the original plans come from the German speaker building magazine Klan Ton. 

However many other kits are also available

But regardless of kit, or store purchased, are you a 2.5 way fan? Why or why not? 

Best,


Erik 
erik_squires
kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
@kijanki 
Sounds to me like you've got a big thing for D' Apolito areays. I'd hardly say those lack their own technical challenges. They're even more directionality challenged since the wave fronts decouple based on the distances of the centers of the drivers instead of the driver diameter itself. A 2.5 way design can be realized with 6.5 inch mid-bass and woofers and not suffer the problems you claim through appropriate alignment, crossover slopes, and polarity. 
seanheis1
359 posts
 

Usually higher tweeter points are achieved with 3-way systems which use a "true" midrange.

Best,

E

Or a small woofer like the Silverline Minuet Supreme. 3.5k crossover point giving way to a beautiful midrange. 
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
4,637 posts
 
@helomeck.  I made that point early on and it is one of the best advantages. That is why I also like a simple two way design.  Nice post.  
gnostalgick
88 posts
 
I love my ProAc Studio 148, which I think qualify... 

"The two 6.5 inch units cover bass frequencies but each one has been mechanically tuned to cover mid frequencies. To improve dispersion the upper bass driver has a phase plug whilst the lower unit has a ProAc open weave cap."

So, just idle curiosity, but can a 2.5way have with multiple woofers--that is at least four or more total drivers--or is that a different beast all together? 
tcutter's avatar
tcutter
8 posts
 
I have a pair of Wilson Benesch Vectors. My understanding of their 2.5 way system is 500hz for the woofer, 5khz for the tweeter, and a full range  “midrange”. Seems to work well. 



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