Multi-way loudspeakers - Explanation of multi-way systems

The drivers (also known as chassis) are largely responsible for the sound of a loudspeaker. The aim of every hi-fi floorstanding loudspeaker is to reproduce the human hearing range, which extends from 16 to 20,000 Hz, as accurately as possible.

This is known as linear reproduction, but in practice this cannot be achieved as manufacturers cannot take the acoustics of the listening room into account. Some manufacturers even go far beyond the human hearing range in the upper frequency range and design speakers with a frequency response of up to 40,000 Hz.

In general, the listening range is divided into low, mid and high frequencies, which ultimately led to the development of multi-way systems. Of course, the area of application of a loudspeaker box must also be taken into account. The number and arrangement of drivers for a centre speaker is different to that of a large surround system, for example.

The term bass reflex system is often used in connection with one of the multi-way principles: In order to amplify and simultaneously optimise the reproduction of low frequencies, the enclosure of many loudspeakers is designed according to the bass reflex principle. The enclosure is not completely closed and has a bass reflex opening, usually at the rear. The entire principle utilises the rear sound radiation of the bass drivers and thus ensures hi-fi bass reproduction.

Acoustically convincing reproduction of the listening area is only possible to a limited extent with a driver, a so-called full-range speaker. The requirements that need to be met for linear reproduction are simply far too high. In addition, many acoustic problems are exacerbated by the one-way speaker principle.

However, such broadband drivers are still used, as they are installed as announcement loudspeakers or in telephone systems, for example. These are usually mid-range drivers that are precisely tuned to the speech range between 300 Hz and 3 kHz.

Several drivers are used in hi-fi and home cinema speakers, each of which has been optimized for a specific frequency range. Basically, the larger the driver, the lower its frequency response. As most speakers have several drivers installed, one or more crossovers separate the incoming electrical signals and then feed them to the appropriate driver.

Depending on the speaker principle, the crossovers always separate in a specific frequency range and are usually designed to be passive. The following classifications in the hi-fi and home cinema sector result from the design of the drivers: