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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
erik_squires OP
16,295 posts
 
@johnk

Of course, the end result matters more than the sum of the parts. What I wanted to get at here was more about how we think about full-range, multi-way loudspeakers a little more, and whether that was lopsided. I have to admit, I don't do this "right" if we go by spend. I spent about 2x as much on my tweeters, and my mid-woofers were pricey! :)

Best,

E
ryder
1,690 posts
 
It’s not only the tweeter, midrange or bass drivers but the cabinet and crossover that make up the speaker. There is no doubt that the type and material of the drivers are important but from what I understand the crossover design and type or shape of the enclosure whether it’s a rigid or lossy design etc. are more significant considerations in speaker design. Most speaker designers would be able to advise on this aspect.

In the end, I believe the consensus would be everything is equally important ie. the sum of the parts and the way everything is assembled, combined and put up together. Nevertheless, if talking about aspects of sound quality whether the treble, midrange or bass is more important, my pick would be the midrange. Having said that, a balanced presentation will take precedence over anything else in real life.
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,727 posts
 
"Dimensional Purity......I love that. Have no ideal what it means but it sounds so audiophile that I feel like I should believe it. "....*LOL*

Absolutely...but I'm stuck between wanting to get on the street with a protest sign and a bullhorn...or.....watching the tube and *tsk*tsk*ing those that Are, hearing the talking heads trying to make some sort of sense out of it.... "WTF does it Mean?!  Story @ 11....Maybe..."

I'd copyright that phrase on Monday, srl....otherwise it's 'public domain' and subject to repetition on the level of "White Xmas"....

....another suspicious phrase that just Happens to be a song, BTW....;)
fangbian
3 posts
 
So Paradigm got it right with the Persona series then with the beryllium mids, same as TAD with their be mids.
erik_squires OP
16,295 posts
 
fangbian,

AFAIK, Yamaha was the first with a Be midrange, decades ago, but you are right, putting that in the midrange demonstrates a lot of thinking and care.

Best,

E
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