2 way or 3 way Speaker?

Crossovers are hard enough to get right with a two way. 3 way? What do you think? Nrchy said it best. I listen to a 2 way monitor that utilizes a true series crossover. Not used in monitors, as a rule, because it's extremely difficult to get right; but in the Caravelles they have done it. peace, warren

First of all, I wouldn’t buy speakers solely based on how many ways it is. I won’t even take that into my buying consideration.

A professor of mine once told me years ago: “Engineering is the art of optimization under constraints”. Every design has its pros and cons. If designed well, both 2-way and 3-way can sound wonderful. If designed poorly, both can sound just as bad.

If a speaker sounds good to you, it is good, don’t let a single design element clouded your judgment.

I upgraded from 2 way KEF 103.2's, also from the 80's, and had the less-is-better predudice. Today's better speaker's have improved SO MUCH from that period that I wound up with 4 ways. It doesn't mean as much now as it did then, because computer modeling and research helps the designer refine his design and reduce the trade-offs. One of the best sounding systems I've ever heard was 1 way Scottish transmission line speakers driven by 2 watt SET's and a high end T.Table. I was admiring the guys "upstairs" THX system while I installed a satellite dish, and he said you have to hear the good system! His "tip" to me was an Audio Research tube pre-amp and a bedini 25 watt class A amp that had a blown fuse. Pretty good guy- that made my day!