3-way VS. 4-way

[06goat 10+ year member]

How do you guys feel about 3-way vs. 4-way, that is, front stage + Sub. With 4-way does it just allow for an overall louder sound stage?

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[kramer_212 10+ year member]

4 way just allows more adjustment so you don't have to use passive crossover s

 

[kramer_212 10+ year member]

Just for an extra speaker set for example could have, an 8inch 6.5 subwoofer ant tweeters on there own channel with separate cross over adjustments

 

[06goat 10+ year member]

Just for an extra speaker set for example could have, an 8inch 6.5 subwoofer ant tweeters on there own channel with separate cross over adjustments

I know what active is. Have you ever ran an active 3, or 4-way?

 

[kramer_212 10+ year member]

im running 3 way active right now, but i have ran 5 way active, the only reason i would run 4 is if you are running 3 or 4 difference size speakers, or if you feel the need to have those extra adjustments.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

in the past 4 years i have experimented with the following:

tweet, woofer, sub

tweet, midrange, woofer, sub

fullrange, midrange, woofer ,sub

fullrange, woofer, sub

fullrange was a 2" driver

midrange was a 3"-4" driver

woofer was a 6.5" driver

sub has varied between 10's, single 12, dual 12

I have experimented with various brands as well.

in the 13+ years before this i have also experimented with many other configurations, but the above was in the same vehicle, using consistent locations, and i feel is more telling.

4-way using a dedicated midrange playing from 200Hz and up is my favorite and what i will continue to run. i can maintain excellent clarity and low distortion since my woofer isn't being asked to provide any high frequency detail while it is working down to 60Hz. The dedicated midrange is also easier to locate (less required airspace + smaller size) so that PLD and ITD are easier to control.

unless you are using underhung woofers - at louder volumes the woofer cone is going to lose detail as its voice coil leaves the magnetic gap. this is a known issue with normal drivers.

i've heard the MLK-165 properly installed and i don't feel a need to add anything to it.

 

[06goat 10+ year member]

in the past 4 years i have experimented with the following:tweet, woofer, sub

tweet, midrange, woofer, sub

fullrange, midrange, woofer ,sub

fullrange, woofer, sub

fullrange was a 2" driver

midrange was a 3"-4" driver

woofer was a 6.5" driver

sub has varied between 10's, single 12, dual 12

I have experimented with various brands as well.

in the 13+ years before this i have also experimented with many other configurations, but the above was in the same vehicle, using consistent locations, and i feel is more telling.

4-way using a dedicated midrange playing from 200Hz and up is my favorite and what i will continue to run. i can maintain excellent clarity and low distortion since my woofer isn't being asked to provide any high frequency detail while it is working down to 60Hz. The dedicated midrange is also easier to locate (less required airspace + smaller size) so that PLD and ITD are easier to control.

unless you are using underhung woofers - at louder volumes the woofer cone is going to lose detail as its voice coil leaves the magnetic gap. this is a known issue with normal drivers.

i've heard the MLK-165 properly installed and i don't feel a need to add anything to it.

Is the "4-way" at the beginning a typo or did you not mention a tweeter?

The only reason I am considering 4-way is because of the ex-anarchy mids. I dont want to ask them to play too high to meet up with my tweeters.

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

KHA pretty much nailed it. I loved my 3 way front. The midrange stays crystal clear despite how much midbass is going on at the same time. Thats the main advantage to 3 way front stage to me...having most of the vocals coming from one driver and letting the others "accent" it. Alot of people get by with good 2 way comps though. Its really all in how picky your ears are, as well as how good of a midbass/midrange you choose if you go 2 way. Like KHA said, most sacrifice clarity when that midbass really gets going.

That said, as much as I loved my 3 way front, its ALOT of tuning. I will probably be sticking with 2 way fronts unless I decide to go ahead and get that Pioneer P99 or an Audison Bit One. If you have the processing to tune everything out for a 3 way front then I'd say its well worth it. Or sometimes even better, if you can make it work, try tweeterless with midbass and a full ranger.

with that exodus driver, I think I'd go 3 way or midbass and full range driver.

 

[06goat 10+ year member]

KHA pretty much nailed it. I loved my 3 way front. The midrange stays crystal clear despite how much midbass is going on at the same time. Thats the main advantage to 3 way front stage to me...having most of the vocals coming from one driver and letting the others "accent" it. Alot of people get by with good 2 way comps though. Its really all in how picky your ears are, as well as how good of a midbass/midrange you choose if you go 2 way. Like KHA said, most sacrifice clarity when that midbass really gets going.
That said, as much as I loved my 3 way front, its ALOT of tuning. I will probably be sticking with 2 way fronts unless I decide to go ahead and get that Pioneer P99 or an Audison Bit One. If you have the processing to tune everything out for a 3 way front then I'd say its well worth it. Or sometimes even better, if you can make it work, try tweeterless with midbass and a full ranger.

with that exodus driver, I think I'd go 3 way or midbass and full range driver.

Thats what Im thinking. I think a nice 3" fullrange would be in order. Although I have heard of many people running the anarchys up to like 22-2500hz.

Heres what Im thinking, The midbass(anarchy) and Tweeter will be in the door. Im wondering if I could see any benefit of molding the 3" midrange only into the kickpanels. The reason I only want the midrange in the kick is because its a stick so I only have so much room with my left foot. What do you think?

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

Thats what Im thinking. I think a nice 3" fullrange would be in order. Although I have heard of many people running the anarchys up to like 22-2500hz.

Heres what Im thinking, The midbass(anarchy) and Tweeter will be in the door. Im wondering if I could see any benefit of molding the 3" midrange only into the kickpanels. The reason I only want the midrange in the kick is because its a stick so I only have so much room with my left foot. What do you think?

Why not pillars? Then you can do the mid and tweeter up there.

 

[06goat 10+ year member]

Why not pillars? Then you can do the mid and tweeter up there.

My tweeter is already placed into my door, I cut a hole for it.

 

[The_Grimy_One 10+ year member]

Why not pillars? Then you can do the mid and tweeter up there.

Man, you guys got me thinking of going back to components already. Lol. I was really thinking of running that PPI 3 way set with the passives, so I dont gotta tune it. But I would have to make pods or something. :/

 

[06goat 10+ year member]

Man, you guys got me thinking of going back to components already. Lol. I was really thinking of running that PPI 3 way set with the passives, so I dont gotta tune it. But I would have to make pods or something. :/

In car audio even when you think you have everything planned out, nothings planned out.

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

My tweeter is already placed into my door, I cut a hole for it.

you can still put the mid in the pillar even with the tweet in the door. I mean kicks can work, but its just crazy sometimes trying to get them right and with it being a stick that just makes it harder IMO....but alot of ppl love kicks...

Man, you guys got me thinking of going back to components already. Lol. I was really thinking of running that PPI 3 way set with the passives, so I dont gotta tune it. But I would have to make pods or something. :/

lol this site is like bug bro. I swore after I did my last setup I was gonna leave the system alone and spend money on other stuff!....never happened....now I'm rebuilding my front stage again. I think this time after I get it all in...I'm just gonna disappear from the audio scene for a while ha.

You will def need pods...I'd suggest either going in your door or pillars for 3 way. I never could get my Kicks to do right with my mids but they were great for midbass in my car.

 

[06goat 10+ year member]

you can still put the mid in the pillar even with the tweet in the door. I mean kicks can work, but its just crazy sometimes trying to get them right and with it being a stick that just makes it harder IMO....but alot of ppl love kicks...

That or I can put them in the door inbetween the midbass and tweeter. Theres room there. But thats just another hole in my door LOL