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The midrange is the most important driver.

OK, I don't need you to believe the topic name. Just wanted to start a friendly discussion.

Among full-range, multi-way speakers there are usually at least 3 drivers:

  • Tweeter
  • Mid-range
  • Woofer
The most exorbitant prices are usually in the tweeter, followed by the woofer, then the mid. More or less. When I read discussions that are about tech-brands, it's almost always about the tweeter. Off the shelf prices in high-end speakers can vary from $40/ea. to $500/ea. with top of the line Be and AMT. Hard diamond tweeters are even more expensive. And yeah, I've paid a lot for tweets in my mains. Still, I think maybe all of us have been convinced that the tweeter is where we should spend our largest dollars.

Maybe it is the quality of the mid that determines everything else. It is where the vocals are, and how well it integrates and extends up and down the range determines everything else. From what tweeters you may use, to the dynamic range.

What do you think?

Best,


E
erik_squires
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,976 posts
 
In many 2 ways tweeters have to cover much range thus can get costly and you may see tweeters costing more than woofers in such a set up. But in general you design a loudspeaker as a whole. Focusing on 1 aspect of a loudspeakers design as the most important shows a general misunderstanding of overall loudspeaker design. Otherwise if one wanted to give 1 part the most credit it would be fasteners and glues since without the whole thing falls apart.
whart's avatar
whart
3,059 posts
 
@erik_squires - I guess I didn't take your post literally, in that I wasn't focused on the drivers, but that part of the musical spectrum. 
erik_squires OP
16,352 posts
 
@whart

Sorry, but that's why I mentioned the "driver" in the title. :)

Johnk, some inexpensive drivers can go low. It's not as big a factor in pricing (more or less).

So let me turn this around. I think it's possible to make a good speaker with a great midrange and OK tweeter and woofer. I don't think it's possible to make an OK speaker with a mediocre mid. :)

Again, synergy matters, but I think that the idea we have (as a group) that the tweet technology determines pricing is flawed.

Best,

E
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
Unquestionably.

It is not all that matters though, of course.

Splitting the bandwidth into thirds, tweeters and bottom end MUST be represented, equally, if possible.

Pointing to anything past the mid range as being the next most important or as necessary, says as much about personal preffs as anything else.

All three sections of the bandwidth , if split only into thirds are required to deliver the information needed to recreate a musical event.

As much as I feel bass is the next priority following mid range info, it is the tweeter which IMHO has to be exceptionally well heeled for me to get into any speaker.

Until further notice, the Dynn audio Isotar, Esotar’, is the sweetest (read as best). Tweeter, I’ve owned, as it was formulated in a Silverline speaker. Although there are many amazing tweeter types, implementation and arrangement are just as vital. This tweeter resides in a number of speakers. Either its cheap or pretty good.

For the wildest tweeter technocracy check out the one in the Lanch 7s. whoa. An electrical field? Astonishing. WOW.

fangbian
3 posts
 
Esotar isn't cheap though, those drivers are expensive to buy through online sellers. And compared to a good ribbon tweeter lacks air and extension.
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