2. speakers
  3. 141405-8458

Speakers with the most detailed midrange? (non-ESL/planar)

Anyone care to give their opinion on what dynamic speaker has the most detailed/revealing midrange? Not including electrostatics or planar speakers. Approximately between the frequencies of 400Hz to 3kHz. Also, just to clarify what I mean by detail: when there is a musical passage that entails many different layers of instruments, the speakers' ability to separate all the elements so all the instruments are heard clearly and nothing is obscured. Also the ability to retrieve every last bit of information on a recording, such as random sounds in the studio, distortion in recordings and reverb tails.

As far as price goes... 2 categories... below $12,000 USD (new) and any price range. Thanks.
woofer72

Showing 4 responses by helomech

helomech
1,525 posts
 
Stirling Broadcast LS3/6 - reference level midrange by any standard. Doesn't get any better and they're only $5500/pair.
helomech
1,525 posts
 
@prof 

I can't speak for all their speakers, but the Bliss Silvers I own are very neutral. I've compared them back to back with my Spendors and the JMRs were only a tad more forward. They're certainly not anymore forward or bright than ATC or Harbeth. But I wouldn't be surprised if your description is apt to their ribbon tweeter models. I've encountered only a couple ribbons that were non-fatiguing. 
helomech
1,525 posts
 
Jean Marie Reynauds also have an excellent, neutral and detailed midrange without the all-to-common fatiguing excess in the upper mids.
helomech
1,525 posts
 
It was mentioned before but its worth repeating - prob some 3 way design in which one driver handles only the midrange. Sure there may or may not be integration / crossover issues but you can't get a purer midrange than that.
My experience has been quite the contrary. I believe the multiple filter slopes and phase issues involved with a dedicated midrange are of a bigger detriment, especially when the crossover is right at the middle of the mid freqs where our hearing is most sensitive and music is most energetic. 

Dollar for dollar, I find that a good 2-way nearly always outperforms a 3-way in the midrange. 
More to discover