Best midranges...

Geez, I just realized that I answered an 18 year old thread... sorry

Some of the best midrange I've heard is by Fritz Heiler's speakers. His Carbon 7s have a slightly mellower roll off on the top end than the Carreras (beryllium tweeter, there) but both speakers have unexpectedly strong bass and a glorious, intimate, human mid-range. I've compared them to a wide range of others — Focal, Martin Logan, Klipsch, Paradigm and more. The midrange is always the standout aspect.
Video review, here: https://youtu.be/Hn3h3Tk6PzE
Audiogon reviews:
1. Carrera: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/review-fritz-heiler-s-carrera-be-bookshelf-speakers
2. Carbon 7 SE Mk 2: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/review-fritz-heiler-s-carbon-7-se-mk-2-bookshelf-speakers

What size do you need? What sensitivity are you looking for? Impedance?

But here is One. 5 Inch, 86db, 8 ohm, beautiful curves.

Morel CAW538.... It’ll drop in a sealed box, easy to use, will go down to your requirements as well as extend out past 3k. Plus Easy to use impedance curve in your range of 120 to 3000 hz.
There are ton's of things available,  you really need to supply more information. 

Good Luck, Tim

The VMPS "planar midrange driver" mentioned about was actually invented, designed, and manufactured by Bruce Thigpen of Eminent Technology. Bruce named it the LFT (Linear Field Transducer), and it is available today in his marvelous LFT-8b loudspeaker. Bruce employs the LFT driver in that loudspeaker to reproduce frequencies 180 to 10kHz, WITHOUT A CROSSOVER! Reread that sentence. ;-) 

"Linear Field" is used in relation to the magnetic design of the driver: Bruce uses magnets on both sides of the Mylar diaphragm, creating a true balanced/push-pull magnetic-planar driver. Magnetically balanced/push-pull operation results in very low-distortion; in Robert E. Greene’s TAS review of the LFT-8b, he stated the loudspeaker had the most direct, lowest distortion sound he has heard ever heard, out of any loudspeaker. Harry Weisfeld of VPI stated the LFT-8b produces the best midrange he has ever heard, out of any loudspeaker, at any price.

In spite of all the above, everyone here will continue to ignore the best value in all of hi-fi. So be it. I have the LFT-8b (and LFT-4), the Quad ESL, and Magneplanar Tympani T-IVa, so I’m happy. How ’bout you? ;-)

lonemountain104 posts07-02-2021 2:30pmThe ATC mid dome is a very unique and high performance part. With a motor larger than 99% of midrange drivers

~~~ As Troels calls it **  a  meaty beast** at 14 lbs!!!!\
Massive midrange, 
does not make any fq's over 90db. 
= Dated.  IN-Efficient./Non Efficient - = working against the music. Lots of xover components nedded to make it work. 
xovers such the life out of music, Once again, wide band high sens really is the only way to enjoy music.

The ATC mid dome is a very unique and high performance part. With a motor larger than 99% of midrange drivers, a dual suspension for linear behavior even at higher levels, short coil long gap for low distortion, sealed so enclosures volumes don’t affect it, its own waveguide for very consistent off axis, its near the top of the list for engineering achievement in mids. 380Hz to 3500Hz bandwidth. Its the life work of Billy Woodman......
Brad

I'm wondering what you all consider to be among the top midrange drivers.

I'm looking at drivers that play the best between 120hz and 3khz roughly

I've been impressed with the SEAS magnesium coned drivers that are in the Tyler Acoustics speakers, but I have limited exposure to the highend driver market and would value any opinions!
Thanks!
Geoff
geoffgarcia


10-16-2003 12:44p




Yes I have the Seas W18E001, same  midwoofers Tyler used in his designs.
Although the best in their day, the new W18 has a Graphene cone and Titanium VC. 
Superior? yes, but 2x;'s the price. 
Still the main issue with this great midwoofer, is the low sensitivity, at 87db. 
Thinking outside the box, better, bestt mids are voiced in the new wide band higher sens like 91db++ drivers. 
So lets say you geta  pair of W22 Graphene + Mundorf Caps 
For about the same price you can geta   wide band which has all 3 ranges
Bass
mids
Highs

The new high tech now is wide band as a  complete all in one speaker, and if you need more bass, go ahead and add a  woofer

The ultimate midrange driver from 120 Hz to 3 kHz might well be a good pair of original Quads (the "57's"). Add a big dipole woofer or two for the bottom end and maybe a nice ribbon for the high treble, and you're pretty much set.

The requirement to go down to 120 Hz eliminates many otherwise excellent drivers. The big 3" ATC dome midrange is superb, but will need to be crossed over around 400 Hz or higher. The Pioneer 4001 compression driver is stunning, but now the minimum crossover point is up around 650 Hz (unless you use a very large horn). The 120 Hz requirement means we're really looking at midwoofers, not midranges.

The Seas Excels seem to, ah, excel in this range - but if you're building your own, roll 'em off fast on top. Some of the Bohlender-Grabener (sp?) planar magnetic drivers may also work quite well here; I'm not sure how low they can go. Audax's carbon fiber cone midwoofers are very nice as well. If it was my money we're spending, I'd probably go with Etons. Note that these drivers will probably deliver their best midrange performance either on an open baffle or in a transmission line (yes, even the planars - though the line geometry is a bit unorthodox).

Best of luck with your project!

Duke

The Scanspeak drivers seem to be pretty popular with some manufacturers...Merlin being one.

Ribbons tend to have the most REAL..she is in my room singing to me sound IMO. I have a pair of small speakers that use 26 inch ribbon midrange, I've yet to hear a cone that can compete, I think ribbons have a added depth that gives notes a more rounded picture in the soundstage. This depth along with the speed with which the ribbons bring forth all wind/brass/horn/stringed types of insturments is always an amazement that I never tire of.

Dave

I like a lot of what the accuton drivers can do when employed well...

VMPS planar midrange driver. 166 hz to around 10 KHz.

Those are what i think sound better than most..

Focal 7K707's