QuestionWhat does it mean when a speaker is 2 way, 3 way, 4 way, or 5 way? Which is best for bass and sound clarity?
AnswerHi Shaun,
A speaker's job is to reproduce a wide range of sound. A single speaker is required to play very low frequencies and very high frequencies.
It's not possible for a single speaker cone to reproduce such a wide range of sound, so the speaker manufacturer combines a number of different "drivers". A large "woofer" for the bass is combined with a small "tweeter" for the treble, and maybe another midrange driver for the frequency range in between. A part of the speaker called the crossover ensures that the right sounds are sent to the right speaker, so that the woofer only plays bass and the tweeter only plays treble.
Technically, the crossover is what determines whether a speaker is "2-way" or "3-way". If the sound is divided into low frequencies and high frequencies, then it's a 2-way speaker, and it will have at least two drivers. If the sound is split into low, midrange, and high frequencies, it's a 3-way speaker, and it will have at least three drivers.
The overall goal is to produce the widest possible sound range, with as balanced an overall sound as possible. The treble shouldn't overpower the midrange, for example; and the bass shouldn't sound loud compared to the treble. If the speaker's output is relatively even across the entire range of sound, from low to high, then it's considered a "linear" output.
If the manufacturer can produce a speaker with a wide, linear output, then it doesn't really matter how many drivers are used in the speaker construction. That means that a 3-way speaker isn't automatically better than a 2-way, or vice-versa. It's easier to make a speaker with a wide sound range (deeper bass and higher treble) if you use more drivers. However, it's easier to make a speaker with a linear sound range (smooth and even across the entire range) if you use fewer drivers. Either design is a compromise. The only thing that really matters is the final result.
Many speaker buyers automatically think that "more is better" when it comes to speakers. That's the reason for 4-way, 5-way and 8-way designs. Technically, most of them are still 3-way speakers. If you split the frequency range three ways, but you have two drivers playing the treble instead of one, then it's still a 3-way speaker even though it has four drivers. Most "4-way" designs are really just 3-way speakers with an extra tweeter. There's no real reason why extra mid-range and high frequency drivers should be needed for a good sounding speaker, so it's really just a marketing ploy. They're just aiming for those buyers who think that more is better.
In the end, there's no substitute for listening. You shouldn't buy a speaker unless you have a chance to listen to it first. Pick the speaker that sounds most natural to you--not the "brightest" or "bassiest". Look for a smooth, natural, realistic sound; and make sure you can return the speakers if you don't like the way they sound in your car. Don't worry too much about the 3-way vs. 2-way part. You can find very good speakers of either type.
Hope this helps!
Brian
