I am slowly growing up. It probably takes more time than it should (I am almost 40) but better late than never.

Anyway, I finally realised that the only way to get me a good pair of speakers is build one for my taste and my room. So I tried and built a pair of two-ways with very promising results.

I am not happy with few things with them, and I am sure that two-way configuration is good part of the problem. So my next project is going to be either three- or even four-way.

Question - what crossover frequencies should I look at in 3 and 4 way systems? Why?

Alex,

contrary to the numerous speculation that many people more or less reasonably spread about the subject, my experience indicates that there are no such a things as “preferable crossover frequencies". The chosen optimum crossover frequencies are explicitly the subject of the specific drivers and the way in which they were used. It is always possible to say what might be “preferable” as a crossover points for a specific family of drivers or a topology of the drivers but this it only because they would share some, more or less common, performance characteristics. However, even within that family of the drivers you might find some radical deviations that would violate the “rules”.

Trust me, those people, who stubbornly proposed that “upper mid range should be reproduced by a single driver”, “the tweeters should kick in at the middle mid range due to the issues with phase integration and group delays”, “upper bass should have a high order low-pass slope” and so on… those people are mostly clueless. They build theories and unnecessary logic based on thier accidentally found settings, and then by building “after-factum” those “rules”, they try to justify and rationalize thier own actions.  (Not to mention the mostly thier systems sound like garbage…)

Anyhow, my answer would be: do not worry about the crossover points. Find better drivers; define this best operation parameters for them and THEN the crossover points will logically flow out of your research. In the best scenario you not only do not suppose to worry where your crossover point would be but also, you should not exactly know where they were. I am not kidding....

Rgs,
The Cat

Nope, I would not recommend anyone. There are plenty of them, vary in prices and the level of attitude they express, but my experience of dealing with them showed me that the best wood-maker was the one who will LISTEN YOU and do exactly what YOU requested. Ironically, it is hard to find such a woodmaker....

The experienced wood-makers who know how to do the things have too much ego and unfortunately execute too many of their own “shortcuts” than might not necessary benefit you. The inexperienced people will listen you but will not understand you and as a result, they will not be able to execute your wish at the level that you might expected.

A good woodmaker acts like a desing partner who understand and embrace your design intention and who contribute his experience to server your intentions (I do have a horn maker like this). In most of the cases, at least that I have seen, this arrangement possible only with people who have personal relation with you and do it for “love of art” or.... for a very larger reimbursement rate.

I personally do not know any good box-cabinet builders. However, here is word of wisdom for you: when you will be interviewing the prospective candidates then when you approach to a “right” person you should be benefited and feel gratified even by taking with him...

Rgs,
The Cat