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so 2-way speakers are just 2-ways
3-ways are coaxials?
and 4-ways are just 4-ways?

i been lookin at getting some new speakers online and some sites dont have them listed as 2/3/4 way they use coaxial and component speakers as their categories, this is real simple shit but i dont know it yet, so if u could simplify it for me, id appreicate it
thanks in advance

no....and why are you even taking that into consideration. some 5 way kenwood 6x9's arent better than some 2 way other brand because they have more lil tweeters or midrange or whatever they try cramming into a single speaker.

coaxial means one single speaker with the tweeter integrated.
component means the midrange and tweeter are seperate and come with a crossover

2 ways are coaxials
3 ways are triaxials
4 ways are quadraxials

Let see what we learned in class today.

More is not better. A nice 2 way component set will smoke a 5 way 6 by 9

Coaxials are easy to install since you only have to work with one mount, since the main speaker has the others attatched. They can be ran without an amp, and are an easy replacment for stock speakers.

BUT

Component speakers sound WAY better. They do require more power. So an amp is a must, and they come in multiple peices. So they can be a little harder to install. Components can also come in three way sets, but basically the same rules apply.

Please note, although JeremyC is correct about components sounding better, they ONLY sounds better if INSTALLED CORRECTLY. If they aren't installed and aimed properly, they can sound terrible.

yes installation is everything!

I am back to one of my old quotes.

Take a pile of shit, add water, and now you have a bigger pile of shit.

Justin's right, install means alot. Without a good install a $1000 component set can sound like crap too.

i was gonna replace my 3 way pioneer coaxials with 3 way jl component speakers, but it sounds like i cant do that until i get an amp for the speakers too ???
and im guessing same thing for 4way speakers, which i have for my door speakers

confusing and obscure nomenclature at times.

the number of ways describes the number of individual drivers. Then you need to see if you're talking about a coaxial/triaxial design (all in one package) or component speakers (separates) with their own crossover module, etc.

"3-way" can be a triax speaker pair, with the mid and a tweeter and supertweeter all stuck in one package, or it can be a set like the DynAudio system 340 and 360 speakers, where you actually get a total of two crossovers and 6 speakers to mount in various places.

Just my .02 worth, but just because you have three way now, doesn't mean you have to replace it with three way. I'd go with a two way. In my opinion, as soon as you jump to a three way you've just jumped out of the area of possible quality. At least with triaxials anyway. A three way component set is different but requires much knowledge and work to get set up. In either case, I'd stick with a coaxial or two way component. As for amplifiers, both setups will benefit from an amplifier and you could still run a component set from a HU amplifier if you wanted. But if you know ahead of time you're only going to run HU power, why spend the money and time on a component set up?