Available in a range of sizes and cabinet shapes, compact 2-way loudspeakers are an MVP (Most Valuable Player) in the live sound world. They serve as mains, monitors, side fills, center fills, near fills, front fills and delays, and can quickly be ground stacked, flown, or placed on a stand. In addition, they can almost always be carried by one person.
Many (most) of these boxes are trapezoidal in shape, with many offering an enclosure angle for stage monitoring. Smaller 2-way boxes incorporate a single 8- or 10-inch woofer, but the most popular models offer 12- or 15-inch woofers for additional low-end performance.
Usually the woofers are accompanied by a compression driver on a horn or waveguide for mid and high frequencies, although ribbon drivers have also emerged as a viable option from certain companies. Also don’t overlook coaxial models where the individual driver units radiate sound from the same point/axis, which, when designed properly, can offer enhanced coherence.
When evaluating 2-way loudspeakers, start by defining the right box for the job – size, scale, portability, and so on. It all depends on the requirements of the application(s). Further, many models are available in either passive or active versions with (usually) class D amplification and DSP, and increasingly, networking.
In getting to a more refined “apples to apples” comparison, factors to consider include dispersion, power handling, sensitivity/maximum SPL, and mounting options.
—Dispersion, a measurement of the pattern of MF/HF sound that emanates from the box. This is stated in degrees for the horizontal and vertical planes.
—Power handling, which, for passive cabinets, is usually stated as an “RMS” or “continuous” rating in watts. An increasing number of these loudspeakers are now self-powered and also have onboard DSP.
—Sensitivity, stated in decibels (dB), is a measurement of the sound level the loudspeaker can produce with a given input signal, generally measured with 1 watt input at 1 meter distance. (By the way, we’re seeing an increasing number of manufacturers who prefer to provide a maximum SPL specification.)
—Mounting, which includes integrated flypoints as well as things like pole mounts that can come in quite handy for true portable applications.
Our tour of recent models that is linked here is intended, by design, to present the “state of the market” in terms of options. But for each type of model presented here, understand that there are dozens of potentially viable options, so further homework is strongly recommended.
The real workhorses of pro audio are traditional 2-way loudspeakers. They remain invaluable for a range of very good reasons, with versatility that translates to “great bang for the buck” topping the list. Whether placed on a stand for a speech at a groundbreaking ceremony, stacked on top of subwoofers at the local music venue, or flown at a corporate event, the ubiquitous conventional 2-way loudspeaker gets the job done
Enjoy our Real World Gear Photo Gallery Tour of recent 2-way loudspeakers.
