Hi all. I have various Dynaudio drivers ready to install in a custom front stage. My question is what is the general opinion of Dyna 3 ways as opposed to 2 ways.

To be more specific, I need to decide whether to use a front stage consisting of either MD170 (my first preference if i can fit them) or MD160, MD 140 mids and MD130 tweets, or go for a 2 way front stage consisting of MD170 and MD130 only.

The reason for not automatically going for 3 way is that I have worked out how i can build front pods to give absolute on axis angles, but given the size of the modbass drivers, I will be really pushing it to fit the 3 ways in well.

Will i be cutting down potential SQ by only using the 2 ways or is it worth the extra effort for the 3 ways???

any help is greatly appreciated.

thanks, Dan.

perfectly installed 2 ways will sound much better than 3 ways that have been installed with compromise.

If you can get the right angles going, have time for extensive testing/tuning/trial and error and are able to give them sufficient power then I'd go the 3 ways as if installed for optimum performance they will sound better.

Will you hear a huge difference? probably not, but car audio at high level isnt about huge differences as every small difference is a huge leap in quality and effort. Its the small things that make a good setup great.

So IMHO, it depends on what your after, if you're after the best system u can ever have, and have the ability of having them installed perfectly, then 3 ways should be the choice without any contemplation. Otherwise, go for 2 ways as they'll still sound great and it'll be a much 'safer' option

You pretty much hit the nail on the head James

The only other thing to consider is power. If you're running anything less than 200WRMS per side, then definately stick with 2ways. The 3ways will suck up any amount of power you can throw at them!

The 3 ways are excellent and many members will testify to that.

We have seen many of them running the LRx2.500 which is 2 x 200 RMS with a great deal of sucess.

Phil K

the three ways are very nice. no doubt at all.

but there is a saying in high-end circles that the fewer pieces you chop your sound into, the easier it is to put it back together.

i'd have a md160/170 and esotar over any other split on the market, including the dyn three ways.

having said that, cyberpunky runs dynaudio threeways with a basic md100 in his oldschool corolla and, while i haven't heard it for myself, is regarded as one of the nicer systems in caa members cars.

d

....... and remember who to call when you're offloading your "spare" Dyn mid drivers

im glad u reminded me buddy, i lost the email. sending u a pm.

.... and replied.

Now, this is going to sound somewhat biased, but I swear I'm being impartial here!! GO 2-WAY!!

I've tried two different 3 way set-ups, and have failed to be impressed both times. If I ever get tempted to go 3 way again, it'll be with a PASSIVE crossover supplied with the speaker set: fully/semi-active is enough to make me weep in frustration.

I'm still yet to better a set of Boston Pro's 2-ways with supplied crossover for sheer simplicity and quality.

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what do you mean "biased"??

thanks for all yr replies guys. the advice really helps. but although i think i have finally worked out how to build these things (not that it will be easy), i am beginning to feel tempted to go for a simpler 2 way setup with the 8s and the MD130 tweets, for the whole simplicity and purity factor.

does anyone else have an opinion on this that might tip me further in one particular direction. i am starting building the enclosures tomorrow, so i might actually build 2 sets of basic frames, and just have a set of front panels for each possibility. bit of overkill, but if i can not decide beforehand it might be the go.

To be honest, if you want 8"s, go with 3ways. There is a pretty big gap running a 2way setup with just 8"s and tweets. You will find it will sound a lot smoother running the 3ways.

I would only go 2ways if using the 6.5" mid and tweet.

hmm i tend to agree there too... 8s are perhaps a bit big for a 2way setup. the dyn 7s are the max i would run cos they're the biggest i've heard that sound good. all other 2way 8" mid setups sound like they're missing a whole chunk in the upper midbass region.

d