3 Way Component speakers - witch do you prefer?

[ONE15ISALLINEED 1]

i am interested in a 3 way component system. reason being, one 2 way component system wouldnt be enough for me. i think a 3 way system would be more broader, with a woofer, a vocal mid range driver and a tweeter. i was looking at focals. model 165 A3 from there "Access" line. im not that particular to where i need to hear them before i buy. im sure i would be satisfied. im use to listening to factorys so any component sysem would probably do me good. anybody have suggestions or experience with a 3 way system? and also is the rated rms power totaled between all speakers on each crossover?

Edited November 16, 2009 by ONE15ISALLINEED

[CrazyKenKid 64]

question: how do you know that 2way comps isn't going to be loud enough? how much rms are you pushing in the rear?

currenty all i have is a pair of zapco rb 13.2 (5.25) comps in my front doors fully deadened and amped to 100rms each! and i have 1-15inch sub on 2krms and i have no issue with them.

as for your question "is the rated rms totaled between all speakers on each crossover" if you give the crossover the required rms you will be good!

for my components my tweeters are rated for 100rms, my mids 60, and the crossovers are 160rms and rated required is 100rms!

http://www.zapco.com/prod/Speakers/Reference/2_RB-13.2_Comp_Frame.htm

Edited November 16, 2009 by CrazyKenKid

[TheSundownFire 0]

A 3 way wont necessarily be louder. I will sound clearer due to less frequencies per driver. If you want loud get some high power 2 ways and a strong 2 channel or 4 channel and call it done.

[ONE15ISALLINEED 1]

A 3 way wont necessarily be louder. I will sound clearer due to less frequencies per driver. If you want loud get some high power 2 ways and a strong 2 channel or 4 channel and call it done.

do you mean the hi power line from hertz? i did not really mean louder but yes maybe a powerful 3 way component system. more clear is what i was looking for. seeing as tweeters have there limitations, i think a vocal mid range driver in a 3 way system would comfort me. along with a nice 2 channel amp as i would not want to amp the tweeters by themselves.

[TheSundownFire 0]

A 3 way wont necessarily be louder. I will sound clearer due to less frequencies per driver. If you want loud get some high power 2 ways and a strong 2 channel or 4 channel and call it done.

do you mean the hi power line from hertz? i did not really mean louder but yes maybe a powerful 3 way component system. more clear is what i was looking for. seeing as tweeters have there limitations, i think a vocal mid range driver in a 3 way system would comfort me. along with a nice 2 channel amp as i would not want to amp the tweeters by themselves.

No I just meant something with a high RMS rating. I was looking into 3 ways for my car. 3 ways are harder to come by and are usually like $150 to $200 more than 2 ways from what Ive found. But yes the 3 ways will be clearer than 2 ways of the same quality.

Your tweeters would still be amped because theyre on the same passive crossover as the mid and woofer. If you want control of the power going to the mid and tweet look into some biampable crossovers and get a 4 channel. So you can runn one channel to the mid and tweet and one channel to the woofer.

[///M5 2,833]

Take a step back.

IMO passive three ways are not worth buying, unless the passives were designed in the mounting locations in your car. Louder maybe, maybe not. Clearer maybe, maybe not. Higher RMS rating means jack shit other than they take more power which has very minimal to do with output. You really need to state your goals and not ask a question without details. The noob posting guidelines in my sig will help you make an effective thread.

[ONE15ISALLINEED 1]

i wasnt looking for a top knotch SQ setup down to the tee and dampining and everything. i was just differentiating between 3 way and 2 way. if there really not that effective, compared to 2 way in a significant way, i guess i could go with a 2 way system. i dont care to amplify the tweeters by themselves. i understand they run off the crossover, therefore if im running ONE 2way component set then i only need a 2 channel amp. to match the rms and ohm load as best as possible. you see it, you hear it, you like it, it lasts, all that matters. i dont need anyone telling me noob this and that. thanks though

[///M5 2,833]

Well had you actually followed the terms & conditions you agreed to when you joined (which are the noob threads in my signature) then I wouldn't have said anything.

[TheSundownFire 0]

Active crossovers arent for people who just got into audio. Its not easy getting things to sound right with the crossovers and for someone getting into audio passive is the way to go in my opinion.

How does it feel looking down on everyone from you pedestal?

[jcarter1885 995]

Active crossovers arent for people who just got into audio. Its not easy getting things to sound right with the crossovers and for someone getting into audio passive is the way to go in my opinion.

How does it feel looking down on everyone from you pedestal?

Man stop getting emotional (thats a females trait), you simply gave out false information and he corrected you. Obviously he is tyring to get that person to understand that by going into all this detailed information so he can make the right decision for himself. Yeah active is hard to do but not the most difficult thing in the world (takes alot of time to tune and get it just right).

OP if your willing to put in work and some time in to tune it correctly (you wont get it right your first or second time) but its worth it in the end, it just depens on how much you will put into it to get the best results. If you dont plan on giving it that much time or work then stick to passive. Just my .02

[TheSundownFire 0]

Im not getting emotional. I dont really feel I gave any wrong info. Ive learned from some very experienced people and have never heard any bad things about passive networks. Besides lack of tunability but since the OP isnt looking for super high SQ then passive seems more suited for him.

[///M5 2,833]

A 3 way wont necessarily be louder. I will sound clearer due to less frequencies per driver. If you want loud get some high power 2 ways and a strong 2 channel or 4 channel and call it done.

No I just meant something with a high RMS rating. I was looking into 3 ways for my car. 3 ways are harder to come by and are usually like $150 to $200 more than 2 ways from what Ive found. But yes the 3 ways will be clearer than 2 ways of the same quality.

Im not getting emotional. I dont really feel I gave any wrong info. Ive learned from some very experienced people and have never heard any bad things about passive networks. Besides lack of tunability but since the OP isnt looking for super high SQ then passive seems more suited for him.

The take a step back comment was geared for the OP not you. Way to over react.

Wrong info indeed. Sound clearer due to less frequencies per driver -- not correct. It surely may not sound "clearer".

High RMS rating means jack shit. Shouldn't be part of the discussion.

I didn't say don't go passive either, I said passive and 3 way makes no sense. Please read before reacting emotionally.

[hispls 23]

i am interested in a 3 way component system. reason being, one 2 way component system wouldnt be enough for me. i think a 3 way system would be more broader, with a woofer, a vocal mid range driver and a tweeter. i was looking at focals. model 165 A3 from there "Access" line. im not that particular to where i need to hear them before i buy. im sure i would be satisfied. im use to listening to factorys so any component sysem would probably do me good. anybody have suggestions or experience with a 3 way system? and also is the rated rms power totaled between all speakers on each crossover?

I'm still running my old Boston Pro series 3 ways (from the 90's). There's a set or two on eBay at a decent price. I'm really happy with them and they sound really good off low power. Honestly if they died tomorrow I'd probably look to replace them with the same thing. They hold 250W a side easily if crossed over @60hz.....my only beef is the huge ass crossover...which would be great for display if that would work in your install but they're a bitch to try to hide.

That being said, if you're careful with your install 2 way speaker systems are very capable, and RMS power handling is no where near the whole story. More important is what will sound good/loud enough for you with the space/power/budget you have to invest. Many lower power handling speakers will get very loud off of little input...it's called efficiency.

[ONE15ISALLINEED 1]

do the active crossovers simply have adjustments on the crossovers themselves? and the passive you just wire them up and they automatically filter the frequencies themselves? i wouldnt mind getting a active set of components. i would take the time to adjust them. no biggie at all, i have worked in sound studios witch use the same measures for sound tuning. i just have never owned a set of components. i want something with precision and fairly loudness. maybe im under estimating tweeters. i just dont known how well they do with mid range vocals. my local shop sells hertz and bostom also. there prices are pretty high though