Before we get started, it’s important to understand that all of these speakers below are coaxial speakers. If you are unsure about the difference between coaxial and component speakers, make sure to refer to our article that establishes the main differences between the two. When purchasing speakers, it’s good to be aware of the options that are available to you.

There are three distinct types of coaxial speakers, 2-way, 3-way and 4-way speakers. This article is going to dive into the key differences between each so that when you go to buy, you will know which will be best for you. The differences between the three types are fairly simple. The number simply explains the amount of drivers each speaker contains.

2-Way Speakers

2-way speakers have two separate, distinct frequency bands. One of which is the woofer which produces the lows. The other is the tweeter which produces higher frequency sounds. This allows you to get some bass and clearer sounds at higher pitches as well.

3-Way Speakers

3-way speakers simply contain three separate drivers that produce audio at three separate frequencies. They produce sounds in the highs, mid-range and low frequencies. They contain a woofer and a tweeter just like 2-way speakers do, but they also contain a mid-range driver. Just as it sounds, mid range drivers produce the mid-range frequencies.

4-Way Speakers

A 4-way speaker is very similar to a 3-way speaker except it actually provides an additional tweeter to help produce more of that high-end sound. This gives you a great range of sound at all frequencies.

Which is Best?

A speaker with more drivers does not mean it is inherently a better speaker. A 2-way speaker could very well produce a much higher quality sound than that of a 4-way speaker. A 2-way speaker with two high quality drivers will sound much better than a 4-way speaker with 4 cheap drivers. It may have a larger range of frequencies, but none of those ranges would sound any good. With that being said, if you are looking at two high quality speakers and one is a 2-way and the other is a 4-way, the 4-way would give you that larger range of sound that would give you more detail in the mids and the highs. There are options with even more drivers, but as previously stated, more drivers does not necessarily mean better sound quality.

Refer to our blog to get a better understanding of car audio equipment in general. We also have various articles that will help you purchase and install products that will best fit your needs and your budget.