Magnepan, Best midrange?

kennyc, I would go with the 20.7s and subwoofers.

When it comes to midrange, the Magnepan .7 has strengths and weaknesses, as do all magnetic panel speakers; see my article at Dagogo.com. Even the King Sound King III and the Sound Lab Ultimate 545 (both also reviewed, and I own the King III) have idiosyncrasies associated with the panel technology. There are aspects of performance that different technologies supersede. It is easy to hear when you compare speakers in your own room. 

A speaker I recently reviewed which reminds me of Vandersteen in terms of the sound quality of the midrange, and a terrific value, but with a distinctly different, and imo in some respects better, sonic signature, is the Aspen Acoustics Lagrange L5 MkII, also reviewed for Dagogo.com. I have not heard anything else quite like the DLT (Disproportionately Large Tweeter) design, which I discuss in my article. The blend of dynamic and large ribbon gives a very precise, and yet luxurious character to the speaker. 

The takeaway is this; the DLT is winning my listening time away from even the King III ESL. I prefer ESL to magnetic planar usually. I have had a lot of great time with the King III, and it has represented for me that spacious, grand, powerful wall of sound, so I never thought that a hybrid dynamic could pull me away from that somewhat. Even what I consider to be a superior panel speaker (King III) is getting less playing time because of the unique aspects of the Lagrange L1. The midrange - all of it - is very involving, more distinct and yet as clean/precise,  more so than the panel. They are quite different experiences, but a shift in tech can cause a ruckus in terms of what the ears prefer to hear.   :) 

"Best" midrange? If you have experienced few speakers/systems in direct comparison in your room and can afford only one expression, then that would likely be your "best", wouldn't it? 

I reviewed and owned the L5 MkII. I now own the flagship L1 prototype, which can be seen at the Aspen Acoustics site, and the production model of the L1 will be coming for review. The speaker is done, but Scott is waiting on an Eton driver, a delay from the Covid shutdown. 

"Best" midrange? If you have experienced few speakers/systems in direct comparison in your room and can afford only one expression, then that would likely be your "best", wouldn't it?

fundamental problem with all 'best' threads for any gear on this and many other forums

speaks to the experience level and capability to discern of any respondent as much as the subject matter of the query -- and the former is rarely disclosed or known

best
I want the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!