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Crossover point of 5.25” vs 6.5” in two way bookshelf

So I noticed that the sonus faber sonetto G2 speakers have significantly different crossover points for the two bookshelf speakers.

Sonetto I 5.25” woofer xover at 2100Hz

Sonetto  II 6.5” woofer xover at 3100 Hz 

why the 1000Hz difference? And shouldn’t the smaller driver play up higher than the larger driver? Is this just due to the drivers design or is there another reason for this? How different will these two speakers sound? 
it just seems odd to me that there is such a large difference in crossover frequency and that the smaller driver is crossed over lower.

mattldm
erik_squires
17,549 posts
 

Just two things.  One, there’s lots of excellent 2 way speakers with 6.5" class mid-woofers that sound really good.  Second, remember that the tradeoff for a low cross point is also reduced dynamic range and higher distortion.  It is a "compromise" no matter how you do it, but so is every single speaker out there. 

knotscott's avatar
knotscott
1,391 posts
 

@erik_squires 

It is a "compromise" no matter how you do it, but so is every single speaker out there. 

Exactly right.....no free lunch.  Speaker design is twisted game of whack-a-mole.

mattldm OP
14 posts
 

Well I’m not sure what the actual crossover point is (lol)… but I picked up the Smaller Sonetto I’s and they sound wonderful paired with the SVS micro 3000 and Rotel RA-1572mkii. My room is not huge and I don’t listen at rock concert levels so the smaller speakers are more than enough I think. 

erik_squires
17,549 posts
 

As the saying goes, "the proof of the pudding is in the eating." 

tomcarr
1,818 posts
 

We have three systems at home. One of them uses 2-way speakers.

But I personally feel the best two-way is a three-way, unless you really like not having the best sounding top and bottom octaves.

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