Considering 3 Way Active

[mlstrass 1]

Current set up is as follows:

2 AA Poly mids mounted in each door. WELL deadened. 80-2500Hz

Vifa XT25 mounted about 12" above mids. HP around 2800Hz

Xovers done via a Helix amp.

I'm very happy with how it sounds, but you know how the upgrade bug is. I'm considering going 3 way with a dedicated midbass to replace one of the poly mids. Something like this:

Peerless SLS 8" 60-250Hz

Poly mid 250-2500Hz

Vifa 2800+

I would also need to get an electronic xover and am not sure what yet as I haven't researched them.

I'm looking for more punch/kick up front, mostly for 80's rock/metal, so lots of kick drums. But I don't want to lose the incredible midrange output for guitars, etc... that I currently have.

Am I making a step in the right direction or not? Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

[mlstrass 1]

I should add that I'm not a SQ purist. I just like my music to be loud & accurate sounding, if that makes sense.

[ANeonRider 3]

I would use the midrange for the whole vocal range of frequencies, so at least to 3500Hz, then let the tweet take over from there.

You want to have the midrange reproducing as much of the media as possible.

Like Sean said, drivers that are great 2 way drivers, don't make that good of a 3 way driver.

[mlstrass 1]

Will the poly mids play up to 3500Hz? I had also considered adding a 4-5" midrange and keeping the poly's doing midbass duty, but not sure if that would improve the sound.

[DevilDriver 28]

The Poly's will most certainly play to 3.5kHz (they have low enough inductance to go well beyond their usable range), but most reports have been that they lack a bit of detail up top. Personally, I would rather use the Poly's as the dedicated midbass and get a 4" or smaller widerange driver.

[mlstrass 1]

The Poly's will most certainly play to 3.5kHz (they have low enough inductance to go well beyond their usable range), but most reports have been that they lack a bit of detail up top. Personally, I would rather use the Poly's as the dedicated midbass and get a 4" or smaller widerange driver.

And midrange you'd recommend to match up with what I have? Say $50-75 each and up to 4" as that's what I have room for in the current baffles.

[ANeonRider 3]

I can't say putting the midrange in the doors is very optimal. How much kick room do you have?

[///M5 2,833]

Personally I don't think the Poly's have any place in a 3way and nor do the XT25. If you are going to do it get a true midbass driver, a true mid, and a tweet that really can fill in the upper range. IMO adding another driver to what you have now will not help at all and in all likely hood probably make things worse. A 3 way would be the bomb though.

[mlstrass 1]

///M5, thanks for the response and insight. I think for now I'll stick with what I have as it's not like I'm not happy with it and I'd like to enjoy it for a few weeks. Seems like I've been tweaking/changing things all summer.

But in the future I "might" try a 3-way set up, although it seems that one of the main advantages is a dedicated midbass that will play lower and I'm quite happy with my subs crossed at 80Hz. Maybe it's my HT background as that's the norm for a THX set up.

[///M5 2,833]

No troubles. Glad we could help.

If you get some "real" mains at home, you might start to like your subs crossed lower there. The reason for the THX recommendation is that they assume that your mains are something like the chitty bose cubes and can't make any rumble down low. Generically speaking it is always better to play your run your subs as low in frequency as the rest of your system can support (assuming that you want a nice FR and aren't just looking for peak volume at any frequency).

There is one other thing that 3 way is outstanding for and that is having a near point source for most of the frequencies in the listening range. Until you have heard a full range single speaker setup play the piano, or female vocals, or other natural music it is hard to understand how much more real it can sound to have a single source playing the really localizable audible range. If you are really into staging it can be amazing while keeping your FR clean. A pet peeve that I have with some peoples tunings in their cars si that they only worry about the stage at the expense of keeping the music natural.

Either way enjoy what you have and if you get the urge post away!

[mlstrass 1]

No troubles. Glad we could help.

If you get some "real" mains at home, you might start to like your subs crossed lower there. The reason for the THX recommendation is that they assume that your mains are something like the chitty bose cubes and can't make any rumble down low. Generically speaking it is always better to play your run your subs as low in frequency as the rest of your system can support (assuming that you want a nice FR and aren't just looking for peak volume at any frequency).

There is one other thing that 3 way is outstanding for and that is having a near point source for most of the frequencies in the listening range. Until you have heard a full range single speaker setup play the piano, or female vocals, or other natural music it is hard to understand how much more real it can sound to have a single source playing the really localizable audible range. If you are really into staging it can be amazing while keeping your FR clean. A pet peeve that I have with some peoples tunings in their cars si that they only worry about the stage at the expense of keeping the music natural.

Either way enjoy what you have and if you get the urge post away!

Actually my mains, CC, and surrounds are MORE than capable of playing down below 80Hz, but unfortunately my Denon won't let me cross lower than 80Hz, and I have no issues localizing the subs, so it's not a problem. But next A/V receiver will have better bass management. I have the 3802 which is about 5-6 years old now, but works fine so I'm not upgrading yet.

I run all Klipsch Legends. Mains are dual 12" 3 ways, CC is a converted KLF-10 with 2 10's & horn. Here's a quick shot with the screen taken down. I do run the mains full range and they do quite well as I've tested things about every way possible as HT is more my passion than car audio. My HT set up is designed to make your draw drop, and it does that quite nicely.

In the car I'm mostly about remotely loud, clean, very dynamic sound that's a pleasure to listen to. I have that right now IMO, so I should just leave well enough alone.

But you can bet when I get the urge to change I'll be here asking for advice.Thanks again...

[///M5 2,833]

Ah, sucks that the receiver isn't flexible enough. I play the upright bass and am probably a bit more trained into localizing low frequencies than the average listener. I must say I love the ratio of speaker to tv!

[mlstrass 1]

Ah, sucks that the receiver isn't flexible enough. I play the upright bass and am probably a bit more trained into localizing low frequencies than the average listener. I must say I love the ratio of speaker to tv!

Sometimes there are advantages to NOT having such a trained ear

Actually the TV hasn't even been powered on in over a year. You can see the edge of the 92" screen off to the right. It normally hangs in front of the TV/CC, but I took it down to get a few pics...