2-way, 3-way, What? - Toyota Yaris Forums

xbr3akd0wnx · 12-17-2010, 04:59 AM

I was looking around on Crutchfield and i noticed that speakers came in 2-way, 3-way, and sometimes even 4-way. I don't really understand what this means? If i buy 2-way speakers, does it mean that i can only use 2 speakers in the car? If i buy 4-way, does that mean i can use 4?

sickpuppy1 · 12-17-2010, 06:26 AM

It means the speaker is dividing the sound into 2,3, or 4 sound groups.They have more or less 2 or three smalller speakers built into the same housing. They are trying to make one speaker into a sub, midrange and tweeter to give better sound. Some companies do a better job of it than others. Read all the reviews and start with the lowest rating first, thats my suggestion. Its a a compromise between the factory speaker and going to individual speakers or component speakers like some around here are doing. If you read some of the audio threads about the sound upgrades they are doing to their cars, you'll see mostly component or seperate speaker used to get the best sound quality.
But if your just into better than stock and dont want to go the more "extreme" route, then a good 2 or 3 way speaker will still be better than stock by far. Never heard a 4 way yet that sound worth a poop, but thats just me.
One thing I will say is the stock radio does not have much power at all and probably wont get much sound out of ANY after market speakers, so I would suggest replacing the head unit(radio) at the same time as the speakers or getting an amp(or both,lol)

12-17-2010, 04:59 AM	#1
xbr3akd0wnx Meow Drives: 2008 Yaris, White Hatchback Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA (90045) Posts: 141	2-way, 3-way, What? I was looking around on Crutchfield and i noticed that speakers came in 2-way, 3-way, and sometimes even 4-way. I don't really understand what this means? If i buy 2-way speakers, does it mean that i can only use 2 speakers in the car? If i buy 4-way, does that mean i can use 4?

12-17-2010, 06:26 AM	#2
sickpuppy1 Drives: 2010 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 871	It means the speaker is dividing the sound into 2,3, or 4 sound groups.They have more or less 2 or three smalller speakers built into the same housing. They are trying to make one speaker into a sub, midrange and tweeter to give better sound. Some companies do a better job of it than others. Read all the reviews and start with the lowest rating first, thats my suggestion. Its a a compromise between the factory speaker and going to individual speakers or component speakers like some around here are doing. If you read some of the audio threads about the sound upgrades they are doing to their cars, you'll see mostly component or seperate speaker used to get the best sound quality. But if your just into better than stock and dont want to go the more "extreme" route, then a good 2 or 3 way speaker will still be better than stock by far. Never heard a 4 way yet that sound worth a poop, but thats just me. One thing I will say is the stock radio does not have much power at all and probably wont get much sound out of ANY after market speakers, so I would suggest replacing the head unit(radio) at the same time as the speakers or getting an amp(or both,lol) __________________