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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
snapsc
681 posts
 
@bdp24  I would also say that I haven't heard cone speakers that were quite as convincing throughout the midrange although recently I heard the KEF R500s driven by the Parasound integrated and they were pretty darn good.

Given that you own planars and stats and that both have reputations for pure midranges....if you only had $2500 to spend and you already had a good sealed sub, which would you buy...the ET's...the Magnepan 1.7i...or something else....and why???
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bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,873 posts
 
snapsc---A good sub frees one to pick the loudspeaker most appropriate for one’s priorities other than, of course, the lowest frequencies. Though vehemently disagreed with by many here, even the brilliant Ralph Karsten of Atma-Sphere, I consider that a matter best and predominantly determined by one’s musical diet. If, for instance, I listened mostly to small Baroque ensembles and Bluegrass (the two are related!), or Folk, Singer/Songwriter, and Vocal w/accompaniment, I would definitely go with the old Quad ESL. If I needed more maximum volume than the Quad is capable of providing, it would be the Eminent Technology LFT-8b, hands down. Retailing for $2499, it is only $400 more than the MG1.7i, and imo a superior loudspeaker. Harry Weisfeld of VPI recently stated he feels the LFT-8b provides the best midrange of any speaker, at any price, he has ever heard. He is not alone, yet almost everyone continues to ignore it. Weird!
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