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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

Showing 1 response by tutetibiimperes

tutetibiimperes
202 posts
 
What advantage would a 2.5 way have over a true 3-way?  I'd think a real dedicated midrange driver would be better than a midwoofer that also has to handle bass frequencies.  I suppose you could have a more simple crossover with a 2.5 way, but plenty of 3-way speakers have well designed crossovers.  

KEF uses 2.5 ways in some of their Q and R series lines, and the Paradigm Prestige series is 2.5 way.  I haven't heard the KEFs, but the Paradigm Prestige is a very nice sounding speaker.  
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