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

Showing 1 response by boss302

It’s been a while since I posted but this discussion is good. In 2004 I bought on an Audiogon auction the Soliloquy 6.3 2.5 way speakers designed by Phil Jones. An excellent review can be found here including crossover specs: https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Soliloquy+Model+6.3+loudspeakers-a097823139  I’ve changed every component of my rig, currently Butler TDB2250, Krell KBL and Denon DVD-3910 and the Soliloquy’s have allowed me to hear the changes. I vote that when done right the 2.5 ways are wonderful.

Boss302