Ah, now I'm questioniing that yet again
OK, opinion time - Some of you obviously know your stuff quite well (disagreeing with you doesn't mean I don't recognize and respect that
)
I have a position I'm predisposed to... But the options available are making me rethink it.
Given - I know opinions differ on this, but I'm devoting all full range outputs from the amp to the front stage. So that gives me two configurations - 2-channel or 4-channel. The good news is, available options allow me to maximize output either way, so all that's really important to know is 2x200w or 4x100w.
Option A - Standard 3-way system (sub + 2-way components). Front channels 200w per channel, passive crossover. Available in a million varieties. I was looking at the infinity perfect 6.1 above, but since all it needs is 4 ohm, I could choose from almost limitless variety, and I'm looking now at maybe the Image Dynamics set... but anyway.
Advantages: simple. single point of origin for speakers reducing phase/time delay issues. (likely kickpanel)
Disadvantages: 2-way component sets tend to stretch to below the range the mid is optimized for, midbass reproduced by same speaker in most cases as lower vocal ranges, and crossover point between mid & tweet usually in vocal range as well.
Option B - Active 4-way system (sub, 2 channels to dedicated midbass, 2 channels to 2-way components). 100w per channel, 2 channels per side. Passive crossover still on components. Options a little more limited since this would require 2-ohm drivers. Likely options are http://www.woofersetc.com/p-3943-cxs52-image-dynamics-525-2-way-component-system.aspx AND http://www.woofersetc.com/p-7175-cx62-v2-image-dynamics-65-2-ohm-mid-bass-drivers.aspx (all image dynamics)
Advantages: midbass reproduced by dedicated driver, allows for a little lower crossover point making it easier to creat illusion of sub-bass originating in front stage, cleaner lower vocals because midrange not reproducing midbass. Active pre-amp crossover generally regarded as cleaner with more stable output
Disadvantages: multiple points of origin (doors & kickpanels), kickpanel speakers relatively large, mid-high crossover point still in vocal range
Option C - Passive 4-way system (sub +3-way components). Front channels 200w per channel, large passive crossover network. Very limited selection, but some of those are really nice. DLS UP36 components look amazing, or maybe even stepping up to the ur36i's...
Advantages: midrange now effectively dedicated to vocal range, including upper crossover now above vocal. midrange able to extend very low to keep sub-bass "in-front" illusion. passive crossover network specifically designed for these drivers. Also, smaller midrange driver makes kickpanel pod creation much simpler.
Disadvantages: multiple points of origin, large passive crossover network likely reduces output. Theoretically could be impedence stability issues presented to amp, but I would think these would be minimized as network is engineered specifically for drivers.
Between those options, I was initially thinking of A because I thought power would be more limited than it is. However, with 200x2/100x4 available, I think B or C are both very feasible.
Historically, I'd have immediately selected option B (or even taken it further and done 4-way all active). However, as I look at the advantages of option C, the smaller drivers and devoted midrange are huge advantages ... and with 200w per channel, I think the crossover network losses may not be too big a deal. Especially since there's still a passive crossover involved in option B, so comparative losses should be minimal.
Also, another huge bonus I just realized- All the other systems use traditional magents on the drivers, but the midbass in the DLS sets are all neodymium, so the total weight of those 3-way systems is probably less than even the 2-way systems. And mounting depth for the midbasses should be easier to deal with as well.
So now I'm thinking I'll probably go passive 3-way.
Anything obvious logical errors I'm making?