Bipolar Speakers | 4 Driver vs 3 Driver

[FerrianX]

Good day folks,

I have a humble little 5.1 home entertainment setup which is multi purpose for TV, Music, Gaming, and of course Movies.

My wife has agreed to let me expand into a 7.2.4 set up in our basement and while looking for bipolar speakers I noticed that some are 3 driver while others are 4 driver.

So my question is, what is the difference between the 2 types, if any?

I'm sporting a beginner set up with Fluance SXHBT speakers, and 2 svs pb1000 pro subs. Am considering either the Fluance Reference 2way bipolar speaker (4 driver) or their Signature 2way bipolar speaker (3driver).

My advanced apologies if this question is in the wrong section.

Appreciate any help in understanding the nuance behind the speaker types.

Cheers!

 

[Kvn_Walker]

Which speakers specifically?

Are you talking about rear surround speakers (which are actually dipole) or front towers?

I have 3 different pairs of (vintage) bipolar towers. One has 2 drivers on the front and 2 on the back, one has 4 on front and 2 on the back, and one has 3 on the front and 3 on the back. All of them are nice speakers with their own pros and cons, so there's not necessarily a right or wrong.

 

[FerrianX]

Which speakers specifically?

Are you talking about rear surround speakers (which are actually dipole) or front towers?

I have 3 different pairs of (vintage) bipolar towers. One has 2 drivers on the front and 2 on the back, one has 4 on front and 2 on the back, and one has 3 on the front and 3 on the back. All of them are nice speakers with their own pros and cons, so there's not necessarily a right or wrong.

Hi Kvn, I'd be referring to the rear surrounds in this case.
I'm infact looking for more of the pros and cons rather then right or wrong. Just wanted to know how people feel about 3 vs 4 driver and again what difference do they feel are present.
Thanks again

 

[ryanosaur]

The only time Rear Bi- or Di- Pole speakers are recommended is if they are very close to your Listening Position. Having a Monopole speaker right by your ears can be distracting. The Bipole/Dipole type (sometimes called FX or other catchy name) speakers diffuse the sound more. If placed further away from your LP, these speakers tend to muddy the sound field because of that diffuse dispersion: spatial cues can be less effective due to this.
Hope this helps.

 

[FerrianX]

The only time Rear Bi- or Di- Pole speakers are recommended is if they are very close to your Listening Position. Having a Monopole speaker right by your ears can be distracting. The Bipole/Dipole type (sometimes called FX or other catchy name) speakers diffuse the sound more. If placed further away from your LP, these speakers tend to muddy the sound field because of that diffuse dispersion: spatial cues can be less effective due to this.
Hope this helps.

Thanks Ryanosaur, that helps

 

[Pogre]

Kinda the wrong questions. Regardless of the number of drivers, build quality, component quality and accuracy are what I focus on. That and goals. If deeper bass is a factor then in general more drivers can give you deeper bass, but not always and as usual it depends. Sometimes speaker A will have deeper bass with fewer drivers than speaker B.

PS, I'm with Ryan on the subject of using bi/di-pole speakers to begin with. I prefer regular ol' monopole speakers myself.

 

[ryanosaur]

If deeper bass is a factor then in general more drivers can give you deeper bass,

More drivers can add SPL... how they are wired (series, parallel, series-parallel) determines the extent of added SPL.
Quantity of drivers can never increase the frequency extension a driver may be capable of. Deeper extension is solely a function of the driver capabilities and the cabinet design.

Everything else I agree with.

 

[Pogre]

More drivers can add SPL... how they are wired (series, parallel, series-parallel) determines the extent of added SPL.
Quantity of drivers can never increase the frequency extension a driver may be capable of. Deeper extension is solely a function of the driver capabilities and the cabinet design.

Everything else I agree with.

Well, if the 4th driver is a 12"... I qualified that statement!

I just didn't word as well as you did.

 

[lovinthehd]

Another vote for not using bipolar speakers for surrounds. Number of drivers without design details don't tell you much, too (or better yet, specific make/model of speaker)....

 

[ryanosaur]

Well, if the 4th driver is a 12"... I qualified that statement!

I just didn't word as well as you did.

In my perfect world, every Speaker would be built on a down-firing 18" Subwoofer!

To be fair, I should specify that the difference between a 1-, 2- or 3- matching woofer design is as I described. This different than a 2-way or 3-way Speaker.
You can put 4 ea 4-Ohm 6" drivers in series parallel and maintain a 4-ohm load, you will gain SPL, but you will not increase extension.
Taking any speaker design you want to come up with, say a 3-way with a tweeter, mid, and 6" woofer... the only way to increase the extension would be adding a larger driver with the appropriate cabinet volume (and port tuning if vented) necessary to achieve the potential of said driver.

 

[Pogre]

In my perfect world, every Speaker would be built on a down-firing 18" Subwoofer!

To be fair, I should specify that the difference between a 1-, 2- or 3- matching woofer design is as I described. This different than a 2-way or 3-way Speaker.
You can put 4 ea 4-Ohm 6" drivers in series parallel and maintain a 4-ohm load, you will gain SPL, but you will not increase extension.
Taking any speaker design you want to come up with, say a 3-way with a tweeter, mid, and 6" woofer... the only way to increase the extension would be adding a larger driver with the appropriate cabinet volume (and port tuning if vented) necessary to achieve the potential of said driver.

I think we're both right, but I was sloppy with my wording. I have a bad habit of that sometimes. I can see now how what I said could be misconstrued and should have been more clear. I think it was a justified callout. We good bro!

 

[ryanosaur]

We good bro!