Erik, Paradigm Studio 60 v2, I had before, was sold at about $1k. It usually means that manufacturer sell them for $500. In my company cost of materials is about 30% of the cost of the product. That would imply $170-200 for three speakers, box, xover etc. I did not like sound of the metal dome tweeter and found it to be one of the cheapest Vifa tweeters available. It is very tempting to build speaker using the best drivers available, including underhung motors etc. Unfortunately I already attempted to replace this Vifa tweeter and to redesign xover with high quality components. The purchase of Hyperion speakers was direct result of this attempt. Perhaps I'll learn more and try again one day.
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
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
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- 99 posts total
I am very happy with my Advent Heritage speakers which are a 2.5 way design. This is for two main reasons - they were a little over a hundred dollars including the refoam kit and they sound great. Also they come in a cabinet that is solid pecan front and back. Also they are fairly efficient. Lovely bass extension and nicely detailed treble. It did take several hours to replace the surrounds on all 4 drivers but so worth it. Currently powering them with Kenwood M1/C1 set at 105 wpc. |
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 |
@kijanki I think the bottom line is that if a driver is crossed over close to 4kHz, it’s covering most of a human’s vocal capability that falls within the most sensitive range of our hearing ability. It keeps the crossover away from the meat of the music. Even if harmonics do extend as far as 17kHz, many folks have trouble hearing freqs beyond 8kHz. |
- 99 posts total