The ESS Monitor has a fairly complex crossover for a 2-way, so if crossover development is the measure, ... and I feel that there have been 2-way speakers through the years that will absolutely cover the entire spectrum, the JBL M2 for example, many of the best speakers in the world have been 2-way.
The AMT Monitor is set up with a decent crossover design, if you don't like that then it is also set up with external terminals to both drivers to externally crossover or bi-amp, so the concern is that the original woofer isn't fast enough? If so which one? Seems that replacing the woofer is much less work than you've put into your AMT-3s.
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The thing that you can't get around with any passive crossover, times 2 in the AMT-3 is phase distortion which affects many things negatively. The higher the order the worse the phase shift at crossover point.
With your mods on the 3 you have basically saved (but modified) the cabinet, and kept the Heil, everything else is replaced?
I was a 3-way fan for most of my life until I started to work in filter design. There are and always will be fans of full-range speakers, 2-way, 3-way, x-way, line-array, ribbons and electrostats, cones and domes, I have examples of most of these in my home or at least have had. There is pretty much a trade-off to each design and many of them are designed to a market (3-way speakers have traditionally been more accepted to be higher-end speakers for example) and I believe that was the case with the AMT-3. Whether you like Rick's direction with 2-way doesn't really matter, you seem to talk him down pretty regularly, the fact is that 3-way isn't better than 2-way, just a different way to skin the same cat with its own tradeoffs.
Show us what you can do with a pair of ESS AMT Monitors next.
Both pairs of AMT 3's are using original AMT3 foam mids, and Great Heils. One pair had a recapped stock crossover-the other a complete new hardwire crossover. All have bracing mods lined walls and fiberglass damping. Different woofers in a sealed enclosure. The db output of the replacement woofers, including room gain is more on par with the Heil, and mid. It's a lower distortion design, better transient response, and can handle power better with out distortion/compression. I.E. play at louder volumes then the stock woofers without distorting. It's a noticeable improvement in bass/upper bass detail MHO-others as well they have heard most of my mods over the years.
I understand phase shift. And the advantages of electronic crossovers (and the disadvantage of additional equipment). FIY-the AMT3 mid is run opposite phase of the AMT, and woofers.
In a ideal world, speakers would have internal amps, specialized in driving their complimentary drivers.
The AMT is a wide range driver-but not so much in the lower range. Conversely larger cones, located near the floor aren't the most ideal for lower midbass/mids. As many have noticed with the 2ways, there is a lack of detail in this region. For some music, frankly it's not a big deal, or even a blessing for compressed rock music, for example.
My musical taste are all over the place-so I want a speaker that has a nice, even, detailed and musical response in my listening room, with all types of program material. The 2 ways didn't cut it for me. The AMT3's did, except for the bass. That's in part is what started the Mojo mods.
And I'm very happy with the end result, phase shift errors and all. One of the most enjoyable and musical speakers I have heard over the years. And the ability to project that same quality from my living room to the rest of the floor, and even part of the basement, still blows my mind.
Which is 'better'? 2-way, 3-way?
IMHO what ever works for you.
But a close side by side listen to a AMT3, and 2 way monitor, or AMT-you can clearly hear what you missing with the 2-ways. There is no doubt about that, and it's been fairly well documented here over the years by others. So I will let you, and other be the judge-I'm stating my opinions.
As far as Ricky-same deal. I have a pile of very old emails, from a member here that used to work for Ricky-and even taking out his personal ego, I am just passing on both our opinions. He has a library full of ESS/Great Heil/Oskar Heil/RIcky knowledge. And as I mentioned in the past-he seems content rehashing old designs, with little improvement.
What ever-he runs his business-I have been in business myself 25 years. I get it. But just a side by side listen to a 2 way monitor, and AMT3-you understand pretty quickly- that there is some information missing with the 2-way. Better, worse, again your choice, his as well. Just stating my opinion.
Sure, the ideal 2 way, would be as Oskar Heil intended-a small woofer very close to the AMT, a slimmer more modest cabinet.
ESS went a different route, with large woofers and big cabs. THE AMT3 was a attempt to eliminate the lack of detail in the crossover region, the "the disconnect' have you, many have mentioned, of big woofer Great Heil speakers.
IMHO it worked very well.
And I could live with the stock AMT3's, (not so much the 2-ways)-but I wanted something a little different-hence the mods.
Thanks!
